SEES 2026 Land Cover Archive: Bee Cave, Texas

Abstract

The focus of this case study is the city of Bee Cave, Texas. This area was chosen because it has experienced a major population boom that has resulted in dramatic urban sprawl. Data was collected using a custom 3x3 km area of interest (AOI) grid where GLOBE Observer land cover observations were conducted at 36 points. Data platforms, like LCMS, EarthMap, Esri mapping tools, and Google Earth Engine, were utilized to conduct a meta-analysis in which remote sensing was paired with on ground observations. Using these tools, there was a strong correlation between the rapid population boom and degrading environmental factors, like rising temperatures and loss of biodiversity. Effects like the urban heat island effect were noted to play an important role in the evolution of the city of Bee Cave.