Time Series Land Cover Mapping and Change Detection Analysis Using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing, North and West of Africa

Abstract

Land use planners require a time series land resources information and changing pattern for future management. Therefore, it is essential to assess changes in land cover. This study was to quantify the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use change over North and West Africa between 1985 and 2015 using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from the Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The total investigated area was determined by 17,328,557.16 km2. The class of Urban and Built-up, Barren or sparsely vegetated, Savannas and Deciduous Broadleaf Forests increases considerably during the last three decades. In contrast, the class of Open Shrublands, Woody Savannas and water decrease notably during the three decades. The class of croplands decreases from 1985 to 1995 and increased from 1995 to 2015. The class of grasslands recorded a first increase from 1985 to 1995, and then decreased from 1995 to 2015. The class of permanent wetlands first decrease from 1985 to 1995, then increase from 1995 to 2005, followed by a decreasing trend during the last decade. The class of evergreen broadleaf forests decreased in the first two decades, from 1985 to 2005, and increased over the last decade.

Keywords

• land cover
• random forest classification
• change detection
• north and west africa