An Open NDVI Dataset from Sentinel-2 Imagery for Vegetation Monitoring in Chennai.

Vegetation monitoring is essential for understanding ecological health, land use patterns, and urban sustainability. In this work, we share an open Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset generated from Sentinel-2 imagery, focused on the Chennai metropolitan region. The dataset is updated on a biweekly basis, using scenes sourced from the Microsoft Planetary Computer. Each run involves pre-processing the images to reduce cloud cover effects and clipping them to the boundaries of the study region. The Red (Band 4) and Near-Infrared (Band 8) channels are then combined to compute NDVI values at 10-meter resolution.The output includes both raw NDVI rasters and composite maps that capture vegetation health and density over time. This dataset is intended to be open and reusable, supporting applications such as urban planning, agriculture monitoring, and environmental studies. By running this biweekly pipeline, we are building a consistent record of vegetation change across Chennai and its coastal ecosystem\u2014helping researchers, practitioners, and local communities track ecological shifts more effectively.