Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Expansion in Wetland Ecosystems: A Sentinel-2 Based Assessment of Built-Up Growth in the Mesurado Wetland, Liberia

Abstract

This thesis investigates urban expansion within the Mesurado wetland in Monrovia, Liberia, by using multi-temporal Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and socioeconomic survey data. It quantifies land use/land cover changes between 2016 and 2025, showing significant growth in built-up areas alongside a decline in vegetation. The study applies geospatial techniques such as NDVI/NDBI analysis, classification, and accuracy assessment to map and evaluate land use change.