Applications of GIS / RS technniques in monitoring land use changes in the Upper Assi Basin/Syria

Abstract

Search aimed to mapping Land Use/Land Cover in Upper Assi  Catchment/syria, during 2000-2015-2020, using Techniques (geographic information system , remote sensing, global position system), (GIS/RS/GPS).for 8841.07 km2 area Three satillite  images were used Landsat ETM+ 7 which taken in 2000,2015,2020 with resolution 30 m for 7 bands. land cover classed using Jeffries-Matusita Distance (JM) where accuracy was  92.72%, 94.9% ,94.93% and (Kappa Coefficient = 0.86, 0.92 ,0.89) during 2000,2015,2020 straight to separated land cover elements in 2000,2015,2020 for 8 elements.

The growth of the urban area has been observed at rates of + 1.13% in 2015 compared to 2000 and by + 0.13% in 2020 compared to 2015, and this corresponds to the increase in the population and the need for urban expansion as well as the increase of vital facilities and projects, and the increase in the area of ​​fruit trees by + 1.6% In 2015 compared to 2000, and by + 3.5% in 2020 compared to 2015, which reflects the trend taken by the community towards expanding the cultivation of fruit trees, whether in the areas of the pastures that have been developed and taking care of them or instead of field crops, and an increase in the area of ​​land has also been observed. The irrigated area between 2000 and 2015 increased by +2.41%, while this area decreased between 2015 and 2020 by a -4.72%, and this corresponds to the increase in the area of ​​water bodies, which increased by +15.6 and decreased by -0.5 during the previous period.