Author/Authors :
Ebaid, Hala M. National Water Research Center - Survey Research Institute, Egypt , Aziz, Medhat National Water Research Center - Survey Research Institute, Egypt
Abstract :
Modern technologies are becoming very essential tools for water resources and environmental studies analysis. One of these modern technologies is using the remote sensing for water resources and environmental studies. This study aims to monitoring, detecting, and investigating environmental changes in Fayoum region, which consists of 5 districts. Different change detection techniques; Delta Cue, Unsupervised classification differencing, Spectral Indices, and Multi temporal remotely sensed data (Landsat ETM+ 1999 and 2003) were adopted in this research. Different change detection algorithms are utilized in this study as unsupervised classification images differencing, Magnitude Diff, Tasseled Cap, Single band, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Normalized Differential Water Index (NDWI), and Tasseled Cap transformation Wetness indicator (TCW). Changed water bodies surface areas, vegetation, bare difference areas, areas changed from vegetation to bare and the opposite were all detected using the above mentioned techniques and quantified to district levels using ArcGIS methodologies. Results showed that water bodies have increased of about 10.6 km^2 in Lake Karon, 0.078 km^2 in Wadi Rayan 1, and decreased for about 3.6 km^2 in Wadi Rayan 2 during the study period. The vegetation cover has increased by 6.25%, and 11.17% in Fayoum, and Senores districts respectively and decreased by 6.63%, 8%, and 2.04 in Tamay, Ibshoy, and Itsa respectively. The bare and built up areas for Fayoum and Senores were decreased by 0.011% and 10.1% respectively, while Tamay, Ibshoy, and Itsa were increased by 12%, 11.2%, and 11.74% respectively. Results of the statistical analysis showed that there was significant correlation between the change values resulted from tested change detection techniques. The outcome of this study represents a valuable resource for decision makers to guard against the environmental changes, and for future development projects.
