Research Article Open Access

Environmental Vulnerability Evaluation in Basra Province based on Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Abstract

In this study, a methodology to evaluate natural and social pressure, environment sensitivity, and ecological stability in a GIS-based approach was developed for the Basrah Province, Iraq. The information used in this study was obtained from two different sources: (i) a soil survey with more than 500 soil samples positioned by GPS to quantitatively assessment land map quality with the method of integrated environmental vulnerability index (EVI) within the study area, and (ii) the environmental information implemented in the Geo-scientific map of the Basrah Province digitized on an Arc/Info GIS with remote sensed imagery (Landsat TM 1990 and ETM 2003). From the characteristics and the causes of ecological vulnerability, we established multi-objective ecological vulnerability evaluation index system framework, and a Pressure-State-Respond model is built to evaluate the environmental vulnerability. The results showed that more than 56.3% of the area has reached high vulnerability level, and nearly 1/5 of the area is at a moderate level. The integration of different factors contributing to environmental vulnerability may lead to plan a successful combating. The usage of remote sensing data and GIS proved to be useful in visualizing the sensitivity situation of different degradation parameters.

Mushtak T. Jabbar , Ammar S. Dawood

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