Short-Term Course: Calculating Spectral Indices (NDVI, NDWI, MNDWI) Using QGIS & Remote Sensing Tools

Offered by Track2Training

Course Overview

This short-term, hands-on course equips participants with the essential skills to compute and interpret key spectral indices—NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index), and MNDWI (Modified NDWI)—using satellite imagery in QGIS and other open-source remote sensing tools.
Participants learn end-to-end workflows: from downloading imagery to pre-processing, raster calculations, visualization, and basic interpretation for environmental applications.

Course Duration

Optimal Duration: 2 Days (6 hours/day) OR 3 Days (4 hours/day)

  • Total Contact Hours: 12–15 hours
  • Mode: Online (Live) / Offline / Hybrid
  • Format: Lectures + Hands-on exercises + Final assignment

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand spectral reflectance, band combinations, and index concepts
  • Download and prepare satellite imagery (Sentinel-2, Landsat)
  • Perform radiometric and atmospheric corrections
  • Calculate NDVI, NDWI, and MNDWI using raster calculators
  • Interpret each index for vegetation health, water bodies, and land cover assessment
  • Generate maps, legends, and export publication-quality outputs
  • Perform basic change detection using multi-temporal indices

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Remote Sensing & Spectral Properties

  • Basics of satellite imagery
  • Reflectance, bands, and spectral signatures
  • Applications of NDVI, NDWI, MNDWI

Module 2: Data Acquisition & Pre-Processing

  • Downloading imagery (USGS Earth Explorer, Copernicus Hub)
  • Cloud masking
  • Resampling & band alignment
  • Clipping study areas

Module 3: Calculating Spectral Indices in QGIS

  • Raster Calculator operations
  • Computing NDVI (NIR–Red / NIR+Red)
  • Computing NDWI (Green–NIR / Green+NIR)
  • Computing MNDWI (Green–SWIR / Green+SWIR)
  • Visualizing index outputs

Module 4: Interpretation & Analysis

  • Thresholding and classification
  • Identifying vegetation stress
  • Delineating water bodies using NDWI/MNDWI
  • Case study: Urban water monitoring
  • Case study: Vegetation health mapping

Module 5: Map Layout & Project Submission

  • Creating map compositions
  • Exporting geospatial outputs
  • Final hands-on assignment and certification

Deliverables

✔ Course PDF & datasets
✔ Practice exercises
✔ Certificate from Track2Training

Fee Structure

  • Students: ₹3,999 – ₹4,999
  • Researchers / Professionals: ₹6,499 – ₹7,499
  • Institutional / Group Rate: ₹50,000 per batch of 15–20 participants

These rates position the course as a premium, expert-led GIS–Remote Sensing training, suitable for professionals, government trainees, consultants, and university-sponsored participants.