Geomorphological Analysis of the Spatial and Temporal Changes of Land Cover in Diyala Governorate Using RS & GIS Techniques

Abstract

    This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal changes in land cover in Diyala Governorate during the period from 1997 to 2024, using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies as effective tools for environmental monitoring and spatial analysis.

Satellite images from Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+, and Landsat 8 OLI were processed and classified using ERDAS Imagine 8.4 and ArcGIS 10.8 software to identify six main land cover categories: seasonal and permanent agricultural lands, sparsely vegetated lands, desertified areas, uncultivated lands, human settlements, and water bodies.

The results revealed significant changes in land cover between 1997, 2007, and 2024. Agricultural lands decreased from 42.7% to 25.6%, while desertified areas expanded from 18.7% to 38.7%, and human settlements increased from 0.04% to 0.9%. These transformations reflect the combined influence of human and climatic factors, including unplanned urban expansion, water resource degradation, and the decline of sustainable land management.

The study concludes that the integration of RS and GIS techniques provides an efficient approach to detect and interpret environmental and spatial transformations, offering a valuable tool for planning and sustainable land management in Diyala Governorate