Urban Growth and Land Use Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Techniques in Doha City, State of Qatar PDF

Keywords

Land use changes, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, Doha, Qatar

Abstract

Doha City, the capital of the State of Qatar and its largest city, is located on the Eastern coast of Qatar. The city has been undergoing rapid growth due to increasing oil revenues leading to a sustained economic growth of the country. This was further enhanced a rapid population growth of the city from both internal migration and influx of foreign workers. The population of Doha City reached 45.6% of the total population of Qatar in 2004. During the Nineties, the State of Qatar initiated a number of infrastructural projects that included a large scale dredging and reclamation activities along the coastal areas of Doha. This research aims to use Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques to investigate the rapid urbanization rates and its effect on land use patterns along the coastal areas of Doha, as well as to detect the changes that took place in land use types within the city administrative boundaries. Data sources for the study included satellite images (Landsat (1) MSS dated 3/9/1972; Landsar (5) TM dated 28/2/1986; and Landsat(7) ETM+ dated 22/1/2002), field visits and surveys of the coastal areas, and information from technical reports and assessments available from Governmental Departments of Doha City. Using the landsat data, a set of thematic maps were developed to present the net increase in DOha City total area due to dredging and reclamation activities along the city coastline between 1972-2002, as well as a set of maps showing various land use categories of land use types. These included: vegetation area, vacant area, Sabkhat, Sandy area, Shallow coastal water, and Urban built area. The output of the application of GIS techniques using 1972, 1986, 2002 land use maps indicated that the net increase in the coastal areas of the city due to reclamation and dredging activities was 10 km2 during the period 1973-2002, and the changes that took place during the period 1986-2002 in the land use categories were: Vegetation (green) area decreased by about 1.6 km2, vacant area by 37.36 km2, an indication of the rapid transfer of land in Doha. On the other hand, Sabkhat area decreased by about 5.32 km2, while the urban (built) area within the established city administrative boundaries has increased by about 34.5 km2. The main recommendations of the study are the use of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques land use changes within the city administrative boundaries, as well as the reclamation and dredging activities along coastal areas, and to use the results for future urban planning; to plan and protect the sensitive coastal ecosystems during the reclamation and dredging activities; and conducting environmental impact assessment studies for new projects and implementation of integrated coastal zone management.