Application of geographical information systems (GIS) in land cover mapping at UMT using quickbird image

Abstract

Study on Land Cover and Land Use by using QuickBird Image 2005 at UMT is important to gain more information which will aid in the future management strategies. It also provide a data and the information obtained based on this study also can be applied as a research reference and management of development at UMT in the future. Land cover mapping serves as a basic inventory of land resources for all levels of government, environmental agencies, and private industry throughout the world. Whether regional or local in scope, remote sensing offers a means of acquiring and presenting land cover data in a timely manner. Land cover refers to features of land surface or surface components. These can be natural, semi-natural, managed or totally man-made. For instance, forest, water, vegetation (wetlands), soils, rocks, and urban infrastructure (constructed materials covering the land surface) physically present and directly observable. Meanwhile Land use can be defined as economic or recreation and cultural activities that are practiced at a place. Mapping and digitizing of image using GIS software (Arc View version 3.2) at UMT is essential to provide or to produce total value of land use and land cover in UMT. Additionally, Comparison can be obtained through editing and compilation method in this study. The comparison of Land cover and land use were done between the year of 2005 and 2007. After done an analysis, I found that UMT have 74.861 hectares of total land area and 0.0559 Km long of stream. In the year of 2005, UMT had already used as much as 47% of its land for development. Meanwhile, by the year of 2007 UMT had use 54% of its total land for development.