Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing Data
Land use and land cover (LULC) changes can potentially impact natural ecosystems and are considered key components of global environmental change. The majority of LULC changes are related to human activities. Anthropogenic modifications have resulted in significant changes in the structure and fragm...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Abdullah F. Alqurashi Omar A. Alharbi |
| author_facet | Abdullah F. Alqurashi Omar A. Alharbi |
| author_sort | Abdullah F. Alqurashi |
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| description | Land use and land cover (LULC) changes can potentially impact natural ecosystems and are considered key components of global environmental change. The majority of LULC changes are related to human activities. Anthropogenic modifications have resulted in significant changes in the structure and fragmentation of landscapes. This research aimed to analyze LULC changes using satellite images in the following two main basins in the Makkah region: the Wadi Fatimah and Wadi Uranah fluvial systems. First, image classification was conducted using remote sensing data from different satellite platforms, namely the Multispectral Scanner, the Landsat Thematic Mapper, the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, and the Operational Land Imager. Images from these platforms were acquired for the years 1972, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2014, and 2022. A combination of object-based image analysis and a support vector machine classifier was used to produce LULC thematic maps. The obtained results were then used to calculate landscape metrics to quantify landscape patterns and fragmentation. The results showed that the landscape has undergone remarkable changes over the past 46 years. Built-up areas exhibited the most significant increase, while vegetation cover was the most dynamic land cover type. This was attributed mainly to the dry climatic conditions in the study area. These results suggest that LULC changes have influenced the natural environment in the studied area and are likely to contribute to further environmental impacts in the future. Measuring the spatial LULC distribution will help planners and ecologists to develop sustainable management strategies to mitigate future environmental consequences. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dd134f9e83474f408de5476a1d9d4ec82025-08-20T03:48:01ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-05-0115517810.3390/geosciences15050178Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing DataAbdullah F. Alqurashi0Omar A. Alharbi1Geography Department, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi ArabiaGeography Department, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi ArabiaLand use and land cover (LULC) changes can potentially impact natural ecosystems and are considered key components of global environmental change. The majority of LULC changes are related to human activities. Anthropogenic modifications have resulted in significant changes in the structure and fragmentation of landscapes. This research aimed to analyze LULC changes using satellite images in the following two main basins in the Makkah region: the Wadi Fatimah and Wadi Uranah fluvial systems. First, image classification was conducted using remote sensing data from different satellite platforms, namely the Multispectral Scanner, the Landsat Thematic Mapper, the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, and the Operational Land Imager. Images from these platforms were acquired for the years 1972, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2014, and 2022. A combination of object-based image analysis and a support vector machine classifier was used to produce LULC thematic maps. The obtained results were then used to calculate landscape metrics to quantify landscape patterns and fragmentation. The results showed that the landscape has undergone remarkable changes over the past 46 years. Built-up areas exhibited the most significant increase, while vegetation cover was the most dynamic land cover type. This was attributed mainly to the dry climatic conditions in the study area. These results suggest that LULC changes have influenced the natural environment in the studied area and are likely to contribute to further environmental impacts in the future. Measuring the spatial LULC distribution will help planners and ecologists to develop sustainable management strategies to mitigate future environmental consequences.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/178landscape metricsland cover patternenvironmental changesWadi Fatimah basinWadi Uranah basinSaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Abdullah F. Alqurashi Omar A. Alharbi Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing Data Geosciences landscape metrics land cover pattern environmental changes Wadi Fatimah basin Wadi Uranah basin Saudi Arabia |
| title | Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing Data |
| title_full | Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing Data |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing Data |
| title_short | Changes in Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Two Desert Basins Using Remote Sensing Data |
| title_sort | changes in land use and land cover patterns in two desert basins using remote sensing data |
| topic | landscape metrics land cover pattern environmental changes Wadi Fatimah basin Wadi Uranah basin Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/178 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abdullahfalqurashi changesinlanduseandlandcoverpatternsintwodesertbasinsusingremotesensingdata AT omaraalharbi changesinlanduseandlandcoverpatternsintwodesertbasinsusingremotesensingdata |