MAPPING AND ASSESSING LAND USE/ LAND COVER CHANGE IN MUHARRAQ ISLAND BASED ON GIS AND REMOTE SENSING INTEGRATION

Abstract. In this study, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques were integrated to map out and assess the changes of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) maps in Muharraq Governorate (Island), in the Kingdom of Bahrain, from 1951 to 2008. The datasets used are: analogue topographic maps for the years of 1951, 1970, 1977, 1985 and 1994, Aerial photographs taken in the years of 1961, 2001, and finally IKONOS Satellite imagery, taken in 2008 with ground spatial resolution of 1 m. The methodology adopted was based on the Collection of datasets mentioned above; Map scanning; Geo-referencing and/or Ortho-rectification, Visual interpretation, and Results output. Visual interpretation was done and eight LULC maps (Classifications) were produced. The results showed that the total area of Muharraq has increased from 13 km² in 1951 to 56 km² in 2008. Accordingly, urban areas increased from 2.3 to 9.7 km² and industrial area from 0.0 to 14.0 km². Similarly, the length of coastal line has increased from 35.0 to 166.0 km and finally, the road network from 11.5 to 450.5 km.