Land use and land cover classification in Al-Rumaytha district using expert classification

Abstract

      This research classified land uses and land cover in the Al-Rumatha district using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). Satellite imagery from the Sentinel-2 satellite with a spatial resolution of 10 meters was employed. By combining human expertise with digital processing, the research achieved greater accuracy in distinguishing between land cover categories and land uses within the district. The results showed the area and percentage of each land use, and a comparison of land uses between 2020 and 2025 was conducted. The findings revealed that barren land occupies the largest area (55.38%), followed by residential areas (18.83%), agricultural areas (12.41%), natural vegetation (5.92%), roads (3.85%), salt flats (1.91%), and finally rivers (1.70%). The research indicated that human factors are the primary controller of land use patterns and changes, and that the Al-Rumatha district requires further intensive research and studies on each land use. Separately, the study highlights the environmental, biological, and social structure of the judiciary. It also demonstrates the scientific and practical importance of geographic information systems and remote sensing.