| Pak. J. Bot., 38(3): 559-570, 2006. | Back to Contents | ||||
|
|
Updated: 09-07-09 | ||||
|
LAND-COVER MAPPING: A REMOTE SENSING APPROACH RIFFAT NASEEM MALIK AND SYED ZAHOOR HUSAIN* Abstract: SPOT (Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre) XS (multi-spectral) satellite
sensor data were evaluated for mapping different land-covers/uses in
the suburb of Rawalpindi to assess the impact of urbanization on the
scrub forest dominated by Acacia modesta. Various data layers
were generated and co-registered with the land-cover map. Field data
collected using GPS were employed to evaluate the land-cover map. The
results showed that several land-cover types can easily be identified
and mapped while some land-covers were difficult to identify, as they
could be confused with each other due to their similar spectral reflectance.
Thirteen land-covers were mapped using fuzzy supervised likelihood classifier.
The statistical evaluation of the classified image indicated an overall
accuracy of 72.86% with a kappa statistics of 0.70. The results suggest
that extensive and massive clearance of reserve forest occurred in most
of the forest stands. The existing scrub forest is becoming smaller
and fragmented; only patches of mature forest are left in forest stand
6, 7 and 8, which are under threat from urban encroachment evincing
that soon the remaining forest will be engulfed by concrete jungle if
Rawalpindi Authority and the Forest Department of Rawalpindi District
does not take immediate auction as a priority to save this national
heritage. Cover types map derived could be used as a valuable base for
the monitoring changes in land-cover pattern and deforestation assessment
of the scrub forest of the study site.
Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad,
Pakistan. |
|||||
| Back to Contents |
|
Back to Contents | |||