LAND USE CLASSIFICATION BY USING LANDSAT SATELLITE IMAGES FOR YEARS 1984 TO 2007 IN TRIPOLI, LIBYA
Osama Kh Ali1
Department of Geography, faculty of Art and Sciences Almarj, University of Benghazi
Correspondence: Osama Kh Ali (email:
osa_kb2004@yahoo.com)
مجلة العلوم والدراسات الإنسانية - تصدر عن كلية الآداب والعلوم المرج - جامعة بنغازي - ليبيا - المجلد الأول - العدد الأول - 2013- ص ص 164 - 172:
Abstract :
The phenomenon of land use change influences of development and modernisation, which have been transformed from more traditional to more urbanize during a few decades as a result of many factors such as increase of economic activity, population increase and development policies. This paper analyzes spatial land use change by using unsupervised classification for land uses within Tripoli region, also the analysis uses landsat satellite images for years 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2007, satellite images will classify according to the land use types namely; urban land uses, barred and vegetated land uses.
Methodology : Remote sensing is profitable and technologically reliable, and therefore, being used for the analysis of urban growth. In addition, remote sensing techniques have advantages in the characterization of temporal and spatial patterns of urban growth using images in several steps and providing a basis for projecting future urbanization. The use of satellite images will help us to identify spatial and temporal trends of urban land expansion of the Tripoli region, and change detection stations in the region in particular as regards the relationship between urban uses and arid land.
Land use classification is to show change of land uses in Tripoli region and the analysis uses Erdas software to classify landsat images in periods 1984 to 2007 within Tripoli region administrative boundary and a result can show urban, barren and vegetated lands within the study area.
Urbanization in Libya
The purpose of this section is to explain the process of urbanization in Libya which considered contemporary. A definition of urban settlement is different form state to another state such as Libya an urban area is defined as a settlement of 5,000 inhabitants or more, but it must also have an administrative function, also in Libya there is no clear division between a large village and a small town (Attir 1992).
The definition of a city varies from country to country and the population size is an indicator most frequently used of urbanization, and it used as a measure in 33 of 133 countries (Clark 1982). Such as Denmark, The minimum population is different in a series of urban areas, but the common level is 2000 people, while this number around 20,000 in Syria or Jordan, and in Malaysia and Venezuela for example around 10,000 people would be a minimum population for an urban settlement, while the figure is 2,500 for Thailand, South Korea, 4000; most countries of North Africa around 5000 (El-Sharif 1990), and Cuba is 2000 people (Cohen 2004).
The urbanization in Libya is impacted by Islam culture, which encourages strong kin and neighborly relations and urbanization, thus Libyan urbanization differs with developed countries urbanization. As a nation, Libyans have become more accustomed to live in arbic houses than apartments or flats. However, popular conceptions about this type of living have changed, especially among young people. Thus, the condominiums of apartments and flats have contributed in addition a new attribute in Libyan cities, and the urbanization in Libya has been increased by development programs that included road construction and expansion, construction of lanes to ease traffic flow, provision of recreational facilities, such as sports clubs, gardens. Also, Flats are surrounded by facilities such as shops and restaurants to provide needs of the residents in the new settlement.
The level of urbanization in Libya is very high in comparison with other major countries in Africa. For example, the level of urbanization in Libya has been assessed as approximately 90%, thus, Libya is rated the highest level of urbanization in Africa. Also, in Libya has been much development and sustenance of urbanization helped by good structural and social infrastructure, in addition the urbanization has drawn a number of opportunities and much wealth to Libyans.
Libya is the second largest African oil producer after Nigeria. Urbanization and the economy are closely linked as the economy grows, so the urbanization of the country progresses. The phenomenon of urbanization was enhanced because of its oil, and its policies were designed to encourage urbanization and modernization. Thus, Libyan society became highly urbanized but not highly developed industrially comparing to North African countries. In spite of the phenomenon of industrialization, industry has tended to be centered on a few urban centers like Musrata city has some factories, such as manufacture plants for the export of iron and steel. Additionally, Tripoli has a number of factories for the manufacture of plastics, and these produce goods for domestic and export purposes. This phenomenon gave rise to urban growth in Libyan society by attracting migrants from rural areas (Elbendak 2008).
Most of urban lands in Libyan cities are devoted for residential use. Nevertheless, there are great differences between areas. The most significant trends of urban in Libya began early in the 1920s while the urbanization has been rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. During that time Libya was built interstate highway system and interurban expressways and it could reduce the distances among many places, also the activities tied to the urban downtown. On the other side, Libya has seen widespread automobile that enabled many households for living further away from their work places. Also, there is some service functions developed in the suburban as retail to serve the rural and small town populations. But, the manufacturing and the storing require a large land and convenient access to transport moved outward in the cities only. Thus, all that driving forces continue influencing the fabric of urban lands in Libyan cities.
The world’s urban population is growing very rapidly, and Libya is no exception. Most of the country population is already living in cities and with the rapid natural population growth the urban population may be expand by 50% in the next 25 years. In addition, the country is facing macro-economic changes and rapid economic growth. These two phenomena are creating opportunities and challenges to the development of Libyan cities into first class urban areas. Here the main question is how to get the aim? Because, the classical spatial planning to control land use is no longer applicable, and modern planning processes need be used to comprehensive plan to cover needs for all Libyan cities (UN-Habitat 2007).
During the twentieth century, size of major Libyan cities has increased, that so-called ‘civilized Libya’ as mentioned, Libya is one of the most urbanized countries. Thus, increase the urban population is not strange or surprise referring to the urban history in Libya which began with Greek and Phoenician trade more than 2500 years ago. While, after discovery of oil in the 1960s a rate of urbanization has increased, since then the economic and social development programs have been implemented in the country and as a result of this development plans the rural population migrated to the cities and towns particularly Tripoli as the capital of Libya. The in-migration has begun to Tripoli because of the level of services which was better than the other regions, thus, the rapid urbanization resulted many urban problem. In year 1970 to 1981 the government drafted a comprehensive plan for the city covering urban land uses until 2000 but urban population has been increased higher than the estimation.
Land use change in Tripoli region
Urban land cover types and their areal distributions are fundamental data required for a wide range of studies in the physical and social sciences (William 2001). In recent decades, research on land use/land cover change has become an important aspect of global change, or global warming studies, since land use/land cover change is a major factor for global change because of its interactions with climate and ecosystem processes (Jieying 2006).
Before discussing urban growth, we must identify Tripoli region. Tripoli region is included city of Tripoli and that all areas around the city in three directions - east, west and south in addition to some villages around the city into the region. The region Topography is flat land and has posative impact on the urban growth. Also, site of tripoli developed as semi-circular start point from the downtown and constrained by the Meditarnian Sea in the north.
The original site in the urban land of Tripoli region was located on flatland, and Tripoli region includes one of the most fertile agricultural areas in Libya, thus site of Tripoli made attractive for rapid growth (Amora 1993). In studying a city, it is important to know its historical growth because many features can only be understood in the historical perspective. Tripoli is old city it is established 2700 years old, it established by Phoenicians in the seventh century BC, and the Mediterranean coast characterized Tripoli by fertile land, fresh water and a mild climate. Thsu, Tripoli region conditions made the Tripoli city as one of the major settlements. Tripoli location let for wide development and the potential physical and human capabilities was considered as major factor helps the development plan and primary base for a society to build Tripoli future.
With first export of oil in 1963 Libya’s income improved and allowed to develop services in the context of the first five-year development plan (1963 – 1968, later extended to 1969). The income of oil companies and staff reflected on increase of demand on accommodation services, hotels and restaurants and increase traffic and business. Also, the demand spilled over to sectors of residential and infrastructure, in addition to public and private services like banking, thus led to construction increase. In Ainzara, Sogaljumaa and Bosleam districts there was great expansion in the poblic areas although and at that time some parts of those districts faced a lack of facilities as sewerage and potable water (Arafa 2001). While, in the last two decades Tripoli has experienced development and population growth caused a lack in the services like health, education and social resources, also shortage of lands for expansion, and now it can say Tripoli region saturated of the maximum urban population. Thus, this chapter has tracked the change of the land use in the region over 1984 - 2007 using remote sensing.
In order understanding urban growth in Tripoli region we should present traditional theories to explain out extension and growth the region of Tripoli. First the beginning wil be with the concentric ring model which explains the urban growth in the initial development. Thus, the urban growth at the initial stage was seacoast growth and surrounded by waters in a shape of a semi-island and Tripoli center district is the first part created in the region thus it is known as the old city. While, the second part has grown around the old city, and this second part has built by Italian colonial which known as modern city centered on the old city and surrounded. Thus, modern part is a mixture of land use it is inclded industrial, commercial and residential lands. While, third part of the city has come after the second part as labor residential area, these workers are come as employees by Italian companies which established several factories for giving a modern style to the city and that area included villas for Italians.
Referring to second part of the city, it has grown outside the old town. This urban growth started from (Martyrs Square), a place in the city center and branched out from martyrs square five major streets in sectoral shape and these streets are first of September, Mohamed MaqarifA, Almizaran, Omer El-Mukhtar and Alshati Street, these streets represent a second stage the urban growth, thus pattern of the urban grown has taken sectoral form. After that, the city has taken new different trend in the urban expansion in three directions East, West and South along roadways to be completely sectoral, and Alshati street its way which toward to the west along with beachline was primarily use for a recreation and tourism services and it is consisted mainly upscale residential apartments as villas established for Italians and Libyans rich, this area currently calls Andalus district and still keeping this attribute as a modern area. While, in the east of the city center appears farms that provide the city with agricultural productions, these farms located in Sogaljumaa district. At the same time, third pattern of the urban growth took a south direction, an area with medium and high income people who do business in commercial transactions and service in the city. However, this explanation was line up with Sector model.
While, in the fifties of the last century was considered the onset of the modern urban planning, and the development plans aimed to control the urban growth spatially and demographically with planning to the urban nuclei around the city. This pattern of growth was closed with multiple nuclei model and the Central place model. In short, the explanation has been taken into account the conceptual differences and other growth theories in understanding Tripoli urban growth. In general, theories which explained the growth in Tripoli show that, the city does not belong to a particular theory or model, and accordance to first stages of the growth is closed with theory of central place and concentric ring theory explained the second stage growth and lastly comes Sectoral theory to give understanding to the urban growth in the last stage. In addition, theory of multiple nuclei theory and Core frame theory especial after Tajura and Janzur districts have sprawled and become parts of the city as new nuclei for future growth.The poor migrants and indigenous residents started residing in the CBD and then transferred to the transitional zone this movement has come as a result of the economic change experienced in Libya as whole, Thus this economy improvement encouraged the development in the cities and the growth has taken a new pattern, thus Burgess theory can give understanding to the urban growth in second stage.Thus, there is similarity between Tripoli model and concentric zone theory which carried out in year 1925 by Burgess, the theory was originally looking for patterns and installation of career growth in city of Chicago (Everson 1972). The basic idea of this theory is when the city grows the central business district pushes the other lands uses and functions to suburbs, this process leads the urban area to expand in order to obtain a large area also, the theory says when the migrants come to the city firstly they reside in the transition zone ‘mixture land uses zone’ and usualy this area in low housing conditions, and includes old houses and this area attracts a new migrants and poor communities (Saleh 2000).
In reference to the region of Tripoli the total area is around 31293.43 hectares, and Tripoli region area has an estimated by satellite image. This section will be classified region area into three classes; vegetated, barren and urban land. In year 1984, the area of vegetated land within the administrative boundaries to region was 3952.08 hectares or 12.5 % of the total area in the region. The barren land covered 23904 ha, or 76%. While, the urban land area covered 3707.86 hectares or 11.8 % of the total area in Tripoli region.
In the year 1988, the vegetated land area was 3826.08 hectares or 12.2 % of the total area of the region of Tripoli. Thus, the barren land area amounted to 23904hectares a percentage of 75.7 %. The area of urban land has reached approximately 3833.64 hectares or 12.1 % of the total area at the region of Tripoli. In year 1992, the vegetated land was less than the previous year. It was 4190.31 hectares or 13.4 % of the total area of the region. While the barren land in this year has reached 18839.97 hectares or 60.4 %. The 
area of urban land continued to increase to 6517.53 hectares or 20.8 %. In the year 1996, there has been a change in the land uses within the region boundaries. The vegetated land area was about 4088.79 hectares or 13.1 % of the total area of the region. This percentage has been less than the previous time. While the barren land decreased at this year to 18839.97 hectares or 60.4 %, the area of urban land area has become 8283.6 hectares or 26.5 % of the total area. At the present time, there has been a significant increase in area of urban land area as compared to the previous time. While at the year 2000, the vegetated and barred lands have decreased a little. The vegetated land area has reached to 4049.73 hectares or 13 % of the total area. Whereas, the barren land area decreased to 18012.24 hectares or 57.8 % of the total area. The urban area has expanded to be 9081.58 hectares or 29.2 %.
While at the year 2003, the vegetated and barred lands have faced a big decrease. The vegetated land area has reached to 2541.69 hectares or 8.2 % of the total area. Whereas, the barren land area decreased to 11099.43 hectares or 35.6 % of the total area. The urban area has expanded to be 17502.3 hectares or 56.2 %. In the year 2007, there has been a change in the land uses within the region boundaries. The vegetated land area was about 2541.70 hectares or 8.2 % of the total area of the region. This percentage has been same with the previous time. While the barren land decreased at this year to 8291.4 hectares or 26.5 %, the area of urban land area has become 20460.33 hectares or 65.4 % of the total area. At the present time, there has been a significant increase in area of urban land area as compared to the previous time.
Result and discussion
A change in the entire urban land uses in the region has increased and expanded to the other land uses as vegetated and barred lands. This is because Tripoli region was attractive to population. Being the capital of Libyan state, this position has led to an increase in the area of urban land at the expense of other land uses. During the 1984-1988 periods an area of vegetated land has decreased 126 hectare. Whereas, during the 1988-1992 periods, the vegetated land area got increase amounted 364.23 hectare, while during the 1992-1996 periods, the vegetated land has lost about 101.52 hectare. While during the 1996-2000 periods, the vegetated land has missed about 39.06 hectare. Whereas, during the 2000-2003 periods, the decrease of the vegetated land area was 1508.04 hectare. Finally, at the period 2003-2007, the vegetated land did not face any change it was same area. The changes in the barren land were entirely different from other land uses. Between the years 1984-1988 periods, the barred land use had lost about 96 hectare, while, during the 1988-1992 periods, the decreased area in barren land was 1750.39 hectare. Also, during the 1992-1996 periods, there was decrease in the barren land was 1750.39 hectare. At the periods of 1996-2000, the barren land had missed 827.73 hectare. And in periods 2000-2003, the increase in barren land was 6912.81 hectare. Lastly, between the years 2003-2007, the barren land area had lost 2808.03 hectare.
In short, high urbanization has led to an increase in the urban land uses, and on the other hand, led to a decrease in the vegetated and barren land in the region of Tripoli. The urban land had increased through 1984-1988 periods to about 29.78 hectare, and of course the other land uses faced decrease. The urban land had lost about 2683.89 hectare through 1988-1992 periods, and between years 1992-1996 periods, the urban land uses had got increase was 1766.07 hectare, and this increase was less than previous stage.
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