MONITORING THE DETERIORATION OF THE VEGETATION COVER IN THE KANAAN AREA USING REMOTE SENSIN AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

Abstract

This study was conducted on the floor covering in the Kanaan area of Diyala province, central Iraq, between latitudes 44 ° 39 '21.29''- 45º 03' 19.99' and 33º 28 '34.79'- 33º 42'37.5'and an area of 882.508 km2. To study the deterioration of the vegetation cover, the field survey was based on the identification of ground control points. We also used the first satellite data for the Landsat 7 sensor ETM + (row 37 and path 168) captured on 25/4/2000 and the second satellite Landsat 7 sensor ETM + (row 37 and path 168), which was taken on 18/4/2009. The unsupervised classification on the satellite data. The results of this classification showed that the study obtained 5 categories, namely vegetation cover including forest trees and orchards, unexploited agricultural land, exploited agricultural land, buildings and constructions and barren land. They were identified and compared with the 50 Land control points. The total accuracy of the classification was 85% and 81% for 2000 and 2009, respectively. The statistical scale Kappa was also used to calculate accuracy was 0.81 and 0.82% for 2000 and 2009, respectively, as well as reached a clear deterioration of the vegetation cover by 40.65%, equivalent to an area of 31.182 km2.