Land Cover Changes in Al-A'dhamiyah Using Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Techniques

(Al-Shamasiya Neighborhood in Iraq as a Model)

Abstract

This study employed a scientific approach to detect, analyze, and produce maps illustrating land cover changes in the Al-Shamasiya neighborhood within the Al-Adhamiyah Municipality during the period 2003–2021, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing applications.

The research primarily relied on two satellite images from the QuickBird and WorldView-3 satellites to compare land cover changes between 2003 and 2021. Visual interpretation was used to prepare a land cover classification map, dividing the area into agricultural land, barren land, built-up areas, and water bodies. Some of these categories experienced increases or decreases in area. For example, agricultural land covered 0.8024 km² in 2003, then declined to 0.03237 km² in 2021. In contrast, built-up areas increased from 3.31895 km² in 2003 to 3.99726 km² in 2021. Although barren land and water bodies showed only minor changes in their extents, some variation was still observed.

The results of land cover change detection in the Al-Shamasiya neighborhood indicate an expansion of built-up areas at the expense of agricultural lands. In some cases, farmers have cleared trees to prepare the land for various types of investment.