Journal of Remote Sensing & GIS

Abstract

Altitudinal Zone Land Use Changes in I?dir Plain Using Overlay Analysis Combined with Remote Sensing Methods

Taner Aydın and Mehmet Ali Celik

Increments in populations, variations in irrigation systems coupled with drainage conditions caused significant changes in land use. In order to examine the changes in land uses between 1987 and 2017, Iğdır plain and its surrounding area were investigated using ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine. During these periods, urban area has increased by 142%. In Iğdır province, urban areas expanded towards agricultural areas. Depending upon drainage-amendment, irrigation opportunities and ever-mounting mechanized agriculture, dry agriculture areas have transformed into irrigated agriculture areas. Moreover, available urban areas expanded in favor farming and pasture areas. Herein, urban area increased from 7 to 13% by raising the area 27.000 hectares for the last 30 years. With the overlay analysis, up to recent years, the urban areas which are in the 800-1000 meters altitude zone have increased from 2 to 6%. In addition, the agricultural areas which were of 121.500 hectares in 1987 decreased 9000 hectares to 112.500 hectares in 2017. In the same years, irrigated agricultural areas that were of 27.000 hectares increased up to 72.000 hectares in 2017. However, dryland agricultural areas that were of 94.500 hectares in the same year decreased as 40,500 hectares. Thereby while the irrigated agricultural areas which occupied the 6% of total use increased up to 16%, the dryland agriculture areas which was 21% decreased to 9% in 2017. While 84% of the lands of 800-1000 altitude zone were dryland agricultural areas and 6% of the land was irrigated agriculture areas in 1987, the dryland agricultural areas decreased to 19% and the irrigated agricultural areas increased up to 68% in 2017.

Published Date: 2019-04-30; Received Date: 2019-03-19