Integrating GIS and Remotely Sensed Data for Measuring Change in Agricultural Land during the Period between 1985-2024 in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. | ||
| The Egyptian Journal of Environmental Change | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 19 September 2024 | ||
| Document Type: Peer-reviewed articles | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejec.2024.319013.1043 | ||
| Author | ||
| ADEL S AL SHOMRANY* | ||
| Department of Geography, Umm Al-Qura University. Mecca City, Saudi Arabia | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The Qassim region is one of the most important agricultural areas in Saudi Arabia, particularly for date cultivation. This study aimed to investigate the changes in agricultural land in the Qassim region between 1985 and 2024. The research utilized Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and remote sensing data to analyze and measure the extent of agricultural land transformations, identifying key contributing factors. The study provided valuable insights into the environmental dynamics and land cover patterns, enabling policymakers and land managers to make informed decisions for sustainable agricultural practices and land management strategies. An object-based data analysis approach was adopted, considering both spectral and spatial properties, and combining expert knowledge with evidence from remote sensing and GIS data. The results indicated significant changes in the agricultural landscape of Qassim over the past two decades. Agricultural lands declined between 2000 and 2015 due to government policies to rationalize water-intensive practices. However, more recent data from 2024 shows a 14.4% increase in agricultural area to 2,438.16 square kilometers, attributed to strategic priorities focused on sustainable resource management, food security, rural development, and agricultural productivity. The expansion has been spatially distributed, with the Agricultural Development Fund playing a key role through promoting rational resource use, technology application, and investment facilitation. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Remotely Sensed Data; Geographic Information Systems; Qassim; Agriculture Land | ||
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