AN ECOLOGICAL MONITORING MODEL BASED ON GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE HISTORICAL CITIES OF UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This study presents an innovative ecological monitoring model using Google
Earth Engine (GEE) to support sustainable tourism development in the historical cities of
Uzbekistan. By integrating remote sensing data from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellites with
geographic information systems (GIS), the model establishes a comprehensive platform for realtime environmental assessment. The model encompasses four UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Shakhrisabz. Results indicate significant improvements in the
effectiveness of ecological monitoring, with a 72.4% reduction in processing time and an 87.3%
increase in spatial analysis accuracy. The integrated system enables real-time tracking of
vegetation indices, urban heat islands, and tourist flow patterns. Pilot implementation with tourism
operators resulted in 91% customer satisfaction and a 34.4% reduction in operational costs. The
developed system offers a scalable solution for balancing tourism growth and environmental
protection in the historical cities of Central Asia.