The Use of geographical technologies in land cover change detection and management in Muzarabani district
- Author
- Dauramanzi, Edmore M.
- Title
- The Use of geographical technologies in land cover change detection and management in Muzarabani district
- Abstract
- This study investigated environmental change over a twenty eight-year period and attempted to gain a better understanding of human impacts on land cover and consequences. The research also sought to use GIS and RS technologies to detect changes brought about by human-environment interactions and calculate the rate of change, thereby coming up with a land cover change map. The methodology used was mainly based on image differencing of satellite images that were acquired for the years 1986, 1998 and 2014. Multitemporal remotely sensed imagery was acquired and integrated to establish the basis for change detection and process analysis. ENVI 4.7 image processing software was used coupled with Q-GIS 2.8.1-Wien to produce land cover and land cover change maps. Land cover changes were investigated in two categories, namely categorical change using image classification and quantitative change using image differencing. The results show that human-induced land cover changes have been minor in this remote district though sudden changes are seen after the introduction of the FTLSP. The rate of land cover change was there found to be relatively small. In addition, the pace of growth of human-induced change has been accelerating since the early 1990s. The results suggest that the current trend of rapid growth may not be sustainable and that the implementation of effective counter-measures for environmentally sound development is a rather urgent matter especially building on the works of environmental institutions like EMA. Some of the regulations proffered include the finalisation of the land program in terms of ownership, broad based environmental education and conservation practices. The adoption of GIS and RS related tools in change detection and management is strongly emphasized.
- Date
- April 2015
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- land cover
- remote sensing
- Land use,
- change detection
- Supervisor
- Mr. Pedzisai
