Abstract
Changes in the nature of land use activities, in time and space, often result in land cover changes and, as such, are an indication of land management activities. This research represents an attempt to evaluate the ability of using the new version of Anderson's classification system up to the third level in the land use and land cover classifications of Ninevah Governorate using Landsat TM7 imagery. The study area represents one of the most varied and complex geomorphic landscapes in Iraq, and characterized by irregular land use and different land cover in the geomorphic distribution of landforms. Geomorphic agent represent the main factors in the spatial distribution of soil types, lithological escarpments, and the existing land use patterns. The land use and land cover map shows the whole of the apparent activities up to the third level according to the USGS system, and 27 classes of land use are shown in the final map. The results show that visual analyses of satellite images, applying methods similar to those commonly used for aerial photo analysis, are sufficient for observing features shown on 1:100,000 scale Landsat images. Digital classification is appropriate for some applications, but it was found that land use and land cover mapping projects of the type described here are not among them. These data were utilized to draw a new regional land use and land cover map of Ninevah Governorate at a scale of 1:250,000 .
Highlights
Changes in the nature of land use activities, in time and space, often result in land cover changes and, as such, are an indication of land management activities
The results presented here illustrate the potential for using visual interpretation of Landsat TM images as a tool for establishing a land use and a land cover data base of Ninevah Governorate, leading to the construction of a full view new map at a scale of 1:250,000
The following conclusions can be drawn from the thematic mapping project described here. 1- The Anderson's classification system, with a logical structure and suitable for both the image interpretation and statistical analysis of the result, was developed during the lab and field work
Summary
OF INVESTIGATION (19) Iraqi Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol 8- No 2- November- 2008. The selection of images, image products and spectral channels to be used should be based on field experience, taking into consideration the consequences these choices will have on the results of the project (Jensen, 2007). GEOMORPHOLOGY OF NINEVAH GOVERNORATE Interest in the geomorphic classification of the study area was based on the assumption that patterns of topography, soil type and vegetation covers are so related that one can be used to predict the others. The study area consists of three main genetic groups of landforms (AL-Daghastani, 2007), and based on units of tectonic, fluvial and denudation landforms types, the groups are sub divided in to 14 subunits as follows: Group one: Landforms of Tectonic Origin 1- Structurally controlled high folded topography. The seasonal vegetable plantations (with their characteristically angular pattern in the images), which were often located along the main fluvial river terraces (Tigris River and its tributaries) to ensure access to water These three classes could be mapped in all the images. Simplicity, is achieved by emphasizing the most essential information and generalizing or omitting less important information, should be a guiding principle (Yousif, 1988)
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