Monitoring landslides in Zawita district using remote sensing data

Abstract

The study of landslides and their effects is one of the most important topics addressed by many geomorphological studies, especially after humans invaded nature and carried out their activities near or on it, as is the case in the study area. This study aims to use remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems to detect the change in landslide areas between the years (1990 - 2023) in Zawita district. Satellite visualizations from the American Landsat satellite (5, 8) of the study area were classified into six land types: collapses, soil, rocky areas, grasses, forests, and water bodies, using the maximum likelihood method In the ENVI program environment. The study follows the Change detection model to show the changes occurring in the land cover of the study area. The study found that landslides have expanded in the region, as its area increased from (13.95) km2 in 1990 to (43.58) km2 in 2023. The study also showed the rate of transformation of each type of land cover into landslides between the selected years, as the largest transformation  occurred in forests (15.64) km2, at a rate of (5.8%), meaning that landslides cause their removal, followed by grasses (11.16) km2, at a rate of (11.55%).