Exploring Spectral Indices for Improved Water Body Classification in Landsat Imagery

Accurate identification of water bodies in Landsat images is crucial for many applications such as environmental monitoring and water resource management. This paper analytically evaluates various spectral indices such as Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), Automatic Water Extraction Index (AWEI), New Water Index (NWI), Water Ratio Index (WRI) for water classification to enhance the accuracy of water classification in Landsat satellite images. This work systematically investigates the effectiveness of these spectral indices in different landscapes and environmental conditions. Its main objective is to identify optimal spectral indices that ensure a robust and accurate classification of water bodies. The results of this work will play a crucial role in advancing remote sensing applications that will significantly contribute to the accuracy of environmental research and monitoring initiatives.