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AUTHOR(S): Amna. M. B. Maryoud, Ahmed. H. I. Elfaig, Rihab. M. M. Alsmani, Mohamed Enour. Y. Ahmed
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ABSTRACT Land use and land cover change (LULCC) is a significant global issue, and projecting these changes is critical for informed policy decision-making. Understanding LULCC in semi-arid regions is essential for effective land management. This study aims to analyze past and future LULC in the semi-arid areas of Elkhuwei, West Kordofan, Sudan. We utilized Landsat images from 1980, 2000, 2010, and 2020 to assess historical LULC in the area. The results revealed that settlement and agricultural area in the study area increased, while bare ground decreased significantly between 1980 and 2020. The two periods exhibited different trends. Between 1980 and 2000, vegetation, settlement, and agricultural areas expanded, while bare ground decreased. Between 2000 and 2010 and 2010-2020, settlement and agricultural areas rose, while bare ground further declined. To predict land use and land cover changes (LULC) in 2030 and 2050, the Cellular Automata-Markov Chain model (CA-MC) was employed. The CA-MC model demonstrated improved results when assessing its application, indicating a trend toward increased population and deforestation. These findings contribute to developing effective land management policies and strategies to achieve or maintain sustainable development in the study area. |
KEYWORDS land use and land cover, Detection, Prediction; GIS Techniques; CA–Markov Chain |
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Cite this paper Amna. M. B. Maryoud, Ahmed. H. I. Elfaig, Rihab. M. M. Alsmani, Mohamed Enour. Y. Ahmed. (2026) Modelling and Predicting Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics in Semi-Arid Sudan Using Landsat Imagery, GIS Analysis, and the CA–Markov Chain Approach. International Journal of Environmental Science, 11, 32-53 |
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