Informatics Publishing Limited

Mohamed Gana ¹, Mohamed El Habib Benderradji ¹, Thierry Saint-Gerand ², Djamel Alatou ¹

Affiliations
1 Laboratory of Development and Valorisation of Phyto-Genetics Resources, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Freres Mentouri Constantine, 25000, DZ
2 IDEES-Caen Laboratory, UMR IDEES 6266 CNRS, University of Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, FR

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aims to investigate and analyse the dynamics of land use/land change over time in the province of Constantine, Algeria, using multi-temporal Landsat imagery and ancillary data. Methods/Statistical Analysis: A supervised classification technique using Maximum Likelihood algorithm was used for land use/land cover classification, to generate thematic maps, with six major classes. The accuracy assessment was applied for each maps based on stratified random method. Furthermore, post-classification technique was achieved to provide a detailed matrix of “from-to” change between 1987 and 2015. Findings: The results showed that the landscape patterns in the province of Constantine, Algeria, have been changed. The built-up areas and agricultural lands have increased by 375%, and 13% respectively. However, significant spatial reduction in vegetation areas was observed. Both of grasslands and forestlands were decreased by 54% and 9.11%, respectively, especially in the eastern part of the province. Application/Improvements: The dramatic decline in vegetation covers in the most mountainous areas, indicating the necessity to create new policies based on protecting and enhancing the natural vegetation.

Keywords

Constantine, Land Use, Monitoring, Remote Sensing, GIS

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