Islam Abou El-Magd

Use of satellite data and GIS for assessing the agricultural potentiality of the soils South Farafra Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Overpopulation and food security are the main global problems alert decision makers. In developing countries, such problem put extra pressure for horizontal expansion for agricultural development. The rapid sprawl of urbanized areas on the alluvial land of the River Nile and delta to accommodate the population growth has encouraged governmental and private sector for agricultural expansion in the desert. Unless there are reliable information and accurate studies for land and soil suitability, there will be a collapse of such investment. To evaluate the potential suitability of soil for agriculture development in areas of the western desert, satellite images, geographic information, and field survey including soil profiles and artesian water samples with laboratory analysis were integrated to classify the soils according their suitability for specific crop. The main land qualities of the different mapping units and the crop requirement were rated and matched to obtain the current and potential land suitability using Automated Land Evaluation System “ALES”. The study found that the main physiographic units are plateaus, hilland, mountain, and depression floor. But there are three limiting parameters for land suitability which are the lack of nutrient elements, wind erosion vulnerability, and soil texture. The study concluded that the best crops adapted with the soil conditions and could be feasible for economic use are: (1) native vegetation such as agol, sand trees, sammar, halfaa, bawaal, qordaob, bardi, and qortom; (2) filed crops such as onion, garlic, watermelon and wheat; and (3) fruits such as olive and date palms.

Estimation of the evaporative losses from Lake Nasser, Egypt using optical satellite imagery

Water shortage in the arid region is an existing and future severe problem that threatens this part of the world. Egypt has a limited budget of 55 BM3 per year from the river Nile basin that has always been stored in the Lake Nasser reservoir, southern Egypt. It has been estimated that the water losses from the lake ranges from 10 to 20 BM3 a year−1. This paper discusses the possibility of estimating the surface evaporation from Lake Nasser using optical remotely sensed data. The surface energy balance algorithm for land (SEBAL) algorithm was used to estimate the monthly evaporation rate using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (NOAA-AVHRR) satellite images based on the energy balance components. The main variable within these components is the surface temperature, which was calculated by a calibrated split window equation from the remotely sensed data. Twenty-four satellite images during the year 2008 were used to estimate the maximum and minimum evaporative losses from the lake at 16.3 and 12.5 BM3 year−1, respectively. When compared with the Penman-Monteith mathematical formula, a high correlation was obtained with r 2=0.78. The study demonstrated that remotely sensed data can provide a robust estimate of evaporative losses from Lake Nasser that can aid decision makers in better management and Digital Earth studies.

Human Impact on the Coastal Landforms in the Area between Gamasa and Kitchner Drains, Northern Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract To detect the spatial characteristics of coastal landforms in a section of the Nile Delta region (Egypt) between 1984 and 2006, multitemporal satellite imagery was examined. The study area between Gamasa drain and Kitchner drain (Northern Nile Delta) shows significant changes that are supposed to be functions of the aeolian and coastal processes. This is, however, not the case where unprecedented human activities played a trigger factor in reshaping this area. The intervention of human activities in this area has resulted in a significant transformation of the existing landforms and introduced new land use classes. Remote sensing techniques offered a real-time source of information that aided in determining 11 landforms or use classes. A geographic information system spatial analysis model has generated a spatial matrix that quantified the rate of changes and therefore defined the controlling factors of such a highly dynamic environment. The local economy and socioeconomic circumstances have been shown to be driving forces of landforms transformation in favor of developing reclaimed land and fish farms. These two land use class were significantly increased by 37% and 11% of the total area in the last two decades, respectively.

Application of remote sensing for gold exploration in the Fawakhir area, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt

Eastern desert of Egypt is well-endowed with noble mineral resources that provide challenges for the future economy and development in Egypt. Such mineral resources are not yet well-mapped and fully understood; however, various geological maps are available. The newly advanced sensors of earth observations such as advanced space thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) images were functioned to map the lithology, the structural patterns and the alteration zones related to gold mineralization at the Fawakhir area, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Integration of band rationing and principal component analysis (PCA) clearly determined the lithological units of the study area. The alteration zones of the study area were efficiently mapped from the ASTER radiance data using reference spectra based on two supervised classification techniques including the spectral angle mapper (SAM) and spectral information divergence (SID). Field visits and laboratory microscopic examination of thin and polished sections were used for validating the process. The final resulted map of the alteration mineral zones consists of sericite, clay minerals, quartz, carbonate, and pyrite. Auto-detection of the structural lineaments, which are zones of deformation and fracturing that implies secondary porosity, was mapped from the satellite image. These structures represent significant pathways for migration of hydrothermal solutions, which influence the creation of the alteration zones and become potential zones for mineral resources. The spatial analysis showed the high correlation between the density of lineaments and the occurrence of the alteration zones, which represent high probability of the presence of gold deposits that validated against the old gold mines.

Newly Improved Band Ratio of ASTER Data for Lithological Mapping of the Fawakhir Area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

This research study aims at utilizing the ASTER data for lithological mapping of the Fawakhir area, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Short wave infrared and thermal infrared channels were processed and interpreted for the potential mapping of the various rock types at the Fawakhir area. A newly developed ASTER band-ratio of 4/7, 4/10, 4/11 is introduced to characterize the lithological units in the area of study. Field visits and laboratory microscopic examinations of selected samples collected from the different exposed rocks in the area of study were carried out. The validation mechanism was based on both calculating statistical optimum index factor (OIF) and matching interpreted lithological boundaries to field data and previously published geologic maps.

Sedimentological study of Lake Nasser; Egypt, using integrated improved techniques of core sampling, X-ray diffraction and GIS platform

Abstract Lake Nasser is one of the largest man-made reservoirs, that is located on the Nile River. To understand the sedimentation process of the lake, bottom sediments from the bottom-surface of the lake core samples from the top 1.25 m of the bottom layer were collected. These samples were mechanically analysed in the laboratory. The analysis of statistical parameters of the sediment samples has generally classified the lake into two depositional environments that reflect the sedimentation process; (1) the riverine environment that exist at the entrance of the lake between El-Daka and CC stations, (2) the lacustrine environment that extend along the rest of the lake to the High Aswan Dam. Along the riverine environment, the river processes were the prevailing, which being reflected on the bottom sediments that are nearly free from clay and composed mainly of sand (>87%) mixed with small ratios of silt (<10%). Further downstream to the end of the lake the lacustrine environment is dominating with slow deposition from quite water with bottom sediments free of sand and the bottom sediments composed mainly of clay (>57%). X-ray analysis indicated that montmorillonite, kaolinite and illite are the dominant clay minerals. GIS was used to spatially simulate the bottom sediment distribution at the bottom of the lake.

Kuwait Integrated Environmental Information Network (KIEIN-IV): a way of developing national environmental indicators for better environmental information dissemination

One of the main challenges that face Kuwait is the development of environmental indicators for sustainable development. For this purpose, the Kuwait Integrated Environmental Information Network (KIEIN) multi-phase project was initiated in 1994 with the main goal of developing an interactive environmental information platform. The final KIEIN-IV aims at developing the national environmental indicators, which will be embedded in a web service interface. Key issues behind this project are the dissemination of these indicators among society to maximise the societal benefits and foster the synergy and integration between different users to obtain the utmost benefit. The six main thematic areas, atmosphere and climate change, land, coastal and marine environment, fresh water, biodiversity, and waste management, were developed for the KIEIN GeoPortal. These themes are key environmental issues that are broken down into indicators. In this regard, six Themes, 22 Issues and 65 Indicators were listed.

Earth Observations for Egyptian Coastal Lakes Monitoring and Management

Earth observation tools started as early as 1970s with some limited technologies at both spectral and spatial resolution. Since then, this technology has advanced at both dimensions. Data availability and data sharing policies are also improved enabling data availability for developing countries. Such availability fostered various environmental researches among which, the coastal monitoring and management. The coastal lakes’ system in Egypt has been developed with the formation of the delta and undergone severe changes in the last decades. Remote sensing has been used as a good monitoring and mapping tool for physical, biochemical, and geomorphological features of the northern coastal lakes. For example, the accelerated area cutoff occurred due to the continuous human activities and infrastructures that could be delineated through satellite imageries. Remote sensing helped to determine the lost area of each lake with the highest rate at Lake Idku (73% in 40 years), followed by Lake Manzala (42% in 60 years), and Lake Burullus (38% in 60 years). Lake Bardawil – to some extent – is isolated from the excessive land use and land cover activities, and therefore it is partially saved from severe changes and area losses. On the other hand, the existence of several national infrastructures such as railways and highways has changed the shape of the coastal lakes. For example, Lake Mariout has changed from only one body of water mass into four dissected basins, and Lake Manzala is divided into two sectors by the new national coastal road.