MODIS-NDVI (2001-2020) response to natural factors and engineering activities along railway in Sichuan-Tibet Region

Abstract

Abstract The ecological environment of Sichuan-Tibet region is sensitive and fragile, the impact of railway construction on its ecological environment cannot be ignored. This research used the NDVI, a theoretical model of spatial-temporal pattern evolution of vegetation cover along the railway and its driving factors was innovatively proposed by integrating Geodetector and other methods. And the model was applied to an empirical study of the vegetation coverage along the major railway projects in Sichuan-Tibet region from 2001 to 2020, based on the MODIS-NDVI dataset. The results showed that: (1) There is significant spatial heterogeneity in the response of vegetation dynamics to natural and anthropogenic factors along the railway. (2) There are two-factor and nonlinear enhancement interaction of the driving factors on vegetation cover, and the interaction effect is greater than the independent effect. (3) Human activities can not only negatively affect vegetation growth and lead to vegetation degradation, but also positively promote vegetation restoration. The general theoretical model proposed in this study not only provides data support for ecological environment monitoring and restoration in Sichuan-Tibet area and areas with similar geographical characteristics, but also provides theoretical support for the study of vegetation dynamic change along major international railway projects.