Remote sensing and GIS for mapping and monitoring land cover and land-use changes in the Northwestern coastal zone of Egypt

Abstract

In this study, maximum likelihood supervised classification and post-classification change detection techniques were applied to Landsat images acquired in 1987 and 2001, respectively, to map land cover changes in the Northwestern coast of Egypt. A supervised classification was carried out on the six reflective bands for the two images individually with the aid of ground truth data. Ground truth information collected during six field trips conducted between 1998 and 2002 and land cover map of 1987 were used to assess the accuracy of the classification results. Using ancillary data, visual interpretation and expert knowledge of the area through GIS further refined the classification results. Post-classification change detection technique was used to produce change image through cross-tabulation. Changes among different land cover classes were assessed. During the study period, a very severe land cover change has taken place as a result of agricultural and tourist development projects. These changes in land cover led to vegetation degradation and water logging in part of the study area.