An integrated methodology using geospatial data and remote sensing techniques for sustainability indicators integration: Sustainable development assessment in the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt

Abstract

This research paper proposes a new framework for evaluating the impact of national projects on land sustainability by utilizing remote sensing techniques and geospatial data to assess various sustainability indicators. The proposed framework integrates different indicators to evaluate the three dimensions of sustainability, providing decision-makers with a flexible and customizable tool for promoting sustainable and equitable development. The study addresses the lack of a suitable framework for applying this evaluation to different study regions at different scales and highlights the inefficiency of relying on outdated census data. The proposed framework was applied to the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt, a vital and ecologically important area. we produced the necessary data for the evaluation process using different techniques after ensuring their accuracy for producing such important data. The framework can be easily modified and customized to fit the needs of study areas at different scales. The results obtained reveal that the study area has a high potential for sustainable development, with over 65% of it classified as "High or Very High Sustainability level". The study also evaluated the population equity distribution through the study area and found that approximately 73.9% of the population is living in areas categorized as "high sustainability level".