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Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection and Prediction for Urban Planning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (13662) |
| Ghazi AlQahtani (Saudi Arabia) |
Dr Ghazi AlQahtani
Director
General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Inform
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
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| Corresponding author Dr Ghazi AlQahtani (email: g.alqahtani[at]geosa.gov.sa, tel.: 00966920000127) |
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| [ abstract ] [ paper ] [ handouts ] |
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Published on the web n/a
Received 2025-09-16 / Accepted n/a |
| This paper is one of selection of papers published for the FIG Congress 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa and has undergone the FIG Peer Review Process. |
FIG Congress 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa
ISBN n/a ISSN 2308-3441
URL n/a
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Abstract |
| This study presents a comprehensive analysis of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes in Riyadh over a ten-year period (2013–2023), utilizing the power of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform for advanced geospatial data processing. By harnessing the Landsat 8 Image collection and night-time light image collection from May to August for the years 2013 and 2023, we were able to generate insightful datasets capturing the changing landscape of the region. Our approach involved a Random Forest (RF) classification model that consistently displayed commendable precision scores above 92% for both years. A notable discovery from the study was the pronounced urban expansion, particularly around Riyadh city. Within a mere ten-year span, urbanization surged noticeably, affecting the broader ecological environment of the region. Interestingly, the northeastern part of Riyadh emerged as a focal point of this growth, signaling rapid urban growth of urban sprawl and development. A comparison between the two years indicates a 21.51% increase in built-up areas, revealing the transformative pace of urban sprawl. Contrastingly, vegetation cover patterns presented a more nuanced picture. While our initial hypothesis predicted a decline in vegetation, the actual findings depicted both vegetation reduction in certain pockets and new growth in others, resulting in an overall 25.89% increase. This intricate pattern might be attributed to shifting agricultural practices, afforestation efforts, or even satellite image timings not aligning with seasonal vegetation growth. The bare soil, predominant in the desert landscape of Riyadh, saw a marginal reduction of 0.37% over the decade, challenging our initial expectations. Urban and agricultural advancements in Saudi Arabia appear to have slightly reduced the expanse of barren terrains. This study, underpinned by a rigorous methodological framework, reveals the multifaceted land cover changes in Riyadh in response to urban development and environmental factors. The precise, data-driven insights provided by our analysis serve as invaluable tools for understanding urban growth trajectories, guiding urban planning, policy formulation, and sustainable development endeavors in the region. |
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| Keywords: Geoinformation/GI; Remote sensing; Land management; Land readjustment; Land distribution; Spatial planning; Urban renewal; Real estate development; Urban Growth; LULC Patterns; Change Detection; Land Use and Land Cover |
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