Detection of changes in shallow coral reefs status: Towards a spatial approach using hyperspectral and multispectral data

•Field monitoring does not take into account the spatial coral reef heterogeneity.•A spatial approach was developed based on Reunion Island hyperspectral and multispectral images.•Bathymetry, coral cover, Hyperspectral Coral to Algae Index (HCAI) and reef tongue displacement were retrieved.•Diachronic analysis was conducted to map and quantify changes over a six-year period.•Our findings open up new opportunities for coral reef management on large areas.