Brief communication &amp;quot;Determination of urban growth in catchment areas in Cyprus using multi-temporal remotely sensed data: risk assessment study&amp;quot;

D G Hadjimitsis

doi:10.5194/nhess-10-2235-2010

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of this study is to quantify the actual urbanization activity near the catchment area in the urban area of interest located in the vicinity of the Agriokalamin River area of Kissonerga Village in Paphos District. Remotely sensed data such as aerial photos, Landsat-5/7 TM/ETM+ and Quickbird image data have been used to track the urbanization activity from 1963 to 2008. In-situ GPS measurements have been used to locate in-situ the boundaries of the catchment area. The results clearly illustrate that tremendous urban development has taken place ranging from 0.9 to 33% from 1963 to 2008, respectively. A flood risk assessment and hydraulic analysis were also performed.

Highlights

Land use and cover change and its impacts on the existing environment must be investigated and monitored on a systematic basis (Masek et al, 2000)
The remote sensing techniques can be used to monitor the current situation before, during or after disasters like floods (Khan, 2005). Such image-data can be used to provide baseline data against which future changes can be compared, while Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques provide a suitable framework for integrating and analyzing the many types of data sources required for disaster monitoring such as flooding (Hadjimitsis, 2007)
This paper examines the potential for using satellite remote sensing techniques in Cyprus, and attempts to explore the need for monitoring urban expansion on a catchment scale by integrating remote sensing, hydrological and meteorological data and hydraulic analysis, with the aim to apply them in a flood risk assessment study

Summary

Introduction

Land use and cover change and its impacts on the existing environment must be investigated and monitored on a systematic basis (Masek et al, 2000). As witnessed by floods worldwide, land use and cover changes associated with human activities may affect the hydrological processes and increase flood risks (Khan, 2005; Brath et al, 2006). The remote sensing techniques can be used to monitor the current situation before, during or after disasters like floods (Khan, 2005) Such image-data can be used to provide baseline data against which future changes can be compared, while GIS techniques provide a suitable framework for integrating and analyzing the many types of data sources required for disaster monitoring such as flooding (Hadjimitsis, 2007)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion