Monitoring Land Use Changes in Mosul City Gateways (Erbil and Rabiaa) and its Environmental Effects Using Remote Sensing Data

Abstract

Time sequential remote sensing data were used for monitoring the changes in the classification of land use and land cover to the gateways of Mosul city (Erbil and Rabiaa) for the period between (2001 to 2014).Current comparison aims to predict the evolution during this time periods and appreciation in each of these gateways within the environmental framework and its reflection on the city. Have been prepared (6) thematic maps for the tow gateway of Mosul city, following the USGeological Survey System(USGS)to classify the types of land use and land cover reaching to the third level, and has been account the area of each class and its percentage of the total area. The overall classification accuracy reached to these maps between (87% -100%).The results of the environmental impact coefficient factors showed then increase in some land use classes and decrease in others, reflecting the deterioration of environmental conditions as a result of this development and urban growth, which warns that Erbil gateway may be on the verge of an environmental crisis, comparing with Rabiaa gateway.