Developing and establishing a geospatial database of the religious endowments in Hilla, Iraq

Abstract

The religious endowments (according to religious and legal contracts) are one of the important sources that acquire historical, cultural and economic importance in all countries of the world. For optimal management of real estate (non-transferable assets) of religious endowments, the proposed study introduces a new technical method for management, and under this method, a geospatial database is constructed: (satellite images, digital maps, and field survey data enhanced with GPS coordinates). Real estate that belongs to a religious institution in Iraq (Shiite endowment in Hilla city) will be investigated as a case study for the proposed research. In this proposed study, methods of statistical and spatial analysis are employed on the spatial database provided by Geographic Information Systems, in order to better manage and invest these properties.