Use of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System for the Classification of Agricultural Land Uses and Land Cover in the Al-Sad Al-Adhim sub District – Iraq

Abstract

     Land use refers to the human activity associated with a particular area of land. The land cover refers to the pattern of appearances located on the surface of the earth. Survey, inventory, monitoring and classification of land use and land cover are a fundamental step in the land use planning process, in evaluating and comparing alternatives and in choosing the best and sustainable use of land for development, accomplishment economic and social well-being. Remote sensing and Geographic Information System provided advantages that conventional methods could not provide for surveys and monitoring of natural and human resources, and classification of agricultural land uses and land cover in the area of the Al-Sad Al-Adhim sub District – Iraq. Depending on the Anderson system and others to classify land uses and land cover, through the integration of digital interpretation with the use of Digital Image Processing (ERDAS IMAGINE) software, and visual interpretation using ArcGIS software. Classification of agricultural land use and land cover up to the third level, with over all accuracy of the map 90%. the percentage distribution of the areas shows that the agricultural lands ranked first and occupy 52%, then grassland occupies 19%, barren land is occupied 17%, urban areas and built up occupy 9% water is ranked last occupy 3% of the total area of the study area.