A national-scale assessment of land use change in peatlands between 1989 and 2020 using Landsat data and Google Earth Engine—a case study of Ireland

This comprehensive study analyzes three decades of peatland land use change across Ireland using Landsat satellite imagery and machine learning algorithms implemented in Google Earth Engine.

Research Highlights

• Conducted temporal analysis spanning 31 years (1989-2020) using multi-temporal Landsat data
• Identified long-term peatland degradation trends at national scale
• Developed scalable methodology for historical land use change assessment
• Generated temporal change maps to guide conservation priorities and restoration planning

Technical Innovation

The study leveraged Google Earth Engine’s cloud computing capabilities to process decades of satellite imagery efficiently, demonstrating the potential for large-scale environmental monitoring using freely available remote sensing data.

Conservation Impact

Results from this study inform peatland conservation strategies and restoration planning efforts, providing essential baseline data for understanding long-term ecosystem changes and their drivers.

This research contributes to the broader understanding of anthropogenic impacts on peatland ecosystems and supports evidence-based conservation policy development.

Recommended citation: Habib, W. & Connolly, J. (2023). "A national-scale assessment of land use change in peatlands between 1989 and 2020 using Landsat data and Google Earth Engine—a case study of Ireland." Regional Environmental Change, 23, 124.
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