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Environmental change detection in the central part of Iraq using remote sensing data and GIS

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Abstract

This study aims to assess the potential of several ancillary input data for the improvement of unsupervised land cover change detection in arid environments. The study area is located in Central Iraq where desertification has been observed. We develop a new scheme based on known robust indices. We employ Landsat (multispectral scanner, thematic mapper, and enhanced thematic mapper) satellite data acquired in 1976, 1990, and 2002. We use the Normalized Deferential Vegetation Index, Normalized Differential Water Index (NDWI), Salinity Index (SI), and Eolian Mapping Index. Two new equations were applied for the SI and the NDWI indices. Validation was performed using ground truth data collected in 16 days. We show that such an approach allows a robust and low-cost alternative for preliminary and large-scale assessments. This study shows that desertification has increased in the study area since 1990.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Remote Sensing Group, Institute of Geology, TU Freiberg, Bernhard-von-Cotta-Strasse 2, 09596, Freiberg, Germany

    Arsalan A. Othman

  2. Iraq Geological Survey, Al-Andalus Square, Baghdad, Iraq

    Arsalan A. Othman & Younus I. Al-Saady

  3. Dept. of Geology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Al-Andalus Square, Baghdad, Iraq

    Younus I. Al-Saady

  4. Water Science Group, Dept. of Geology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Ahmed K. Al-Khafaji

  5. Remote Sensing Group, Institute of Geology, TU Freiberg, Bernhard-von-Cotta-Strasse 2, 09596, Freiberg, Germany

    Richard Gloaguen

Authors
  1. Arsalan A. Othman
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  2. Younus I. Al-Saady
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  3. Ahmed K. Al-Khafaji
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  4. Richard Gloaguen
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Correspondence to Arsalan A. Othman.

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Othman, A.A., Al-Saady, Y.I., Al-Khafaji, A.K. et al. Environmental change detection in the central part of Iraq using remote sensing data and GIS. Arab J Geosci 7, 1017–1028 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-0870-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-0870-0

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