DETECTION OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES USING REMOTE SENSING

AND GIS: A MAPPING TOOL ON DETAILED SPATIO-TEMPORAL VEGETATION

ASSESSMENT IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BACOLOD, LANAO DEL NORTE
Jaime Q. Guihawan1, Carmel B. Sabado2, Karyl Marie, F. Dagoc1, Ma. Teresa T. Ignacio2, and Sharon Rose Tabugo1
1Department
of Biological Sciences
2MSU-IIT Phil-LiDAR 2 Program on Nationwide Detailed Resource Assessment Using LiDAR

MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, Philippines

ABSTRACT RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study examines the land use and land cover changes of the Municipality of Bacolod, Based on the processed classified maps from LandSat, the vegetation in 2016 has de-
Lanao del Norte from 1989, 2001, and 2016 using LandSat datasets. It also attempts to predict creased by 1,246.16 hectares or 41.40%. This changing vegetation patterns suggest that the
land use changes for 2031 using algorithms and map processing software. LiDAR datasets vast land areas are actively utilized for agricultural crops. The expanding built-up areas also con-
specifies the classification of vegetation detected by the LandSat images. Spectral reflectance is tributed to the decrease of agricultural lands as it constantly increases by 26.13% from 1989 to
used to validate objects in the orthophotos and satellite images. 2001 and 16.79% from 2001 to 2016. This attributed by the increasing population in the munici-
The existing thematic maps of the municipality has been substantiated by the generated pality. It has also been observed that the river water surface detected by LandSat is consistently
vegetation and land use maps in the study. Based on the LandSat data, the vegetation has decreasing from its surface area of 93.64 hectares in 1989 to 65.37 hectares of surface area in
decreased by 1,246.16 hectares or 41.40% from 2001 to 2016 along with the increasing 2016. This might indicate that water volume flowing along the Rupagan River and Liangan River
population of the municipality. A total of 3,575.30 hectares of Bacolod or 56.50% are also within and its tributaries are decreasing.
the Liangan watershed. But vast hectares of agricultural plantations such as corn, coconut, and
rice are planted in these areas. No dense non-agricultural trees has been detected by the LiDAR
data inside the Liangan watershed of Bacolod.
The implementation of the NIPAS law along the coastal areas in Bacolod has been success-
ful in sustaining and protecting the mangroves and seagrasses since the 1980s. But further
extensive and sustainable planning and management of land and water resources must be done
since 80% of the municipality is allocated for agricultural, commercial, and residential uses.

INTRODUCTION
Changes in land use and land cover are direct drivers of change in the ecosystem services
which occur with a number of consequences such as changes in the atmospheric composition,
direct impact on biotic diversity, biological systems and its ability to support human needs and a b c d
environmental risks such as flooding and climate change. Figure 3. Derived land use land cover maps of Bacolod in a) 1989, b) 2001, c) 2016, and d) 2031 projected map
Land use refers to man’s activities and the varied uses which are carried on over land and
land cover refers to natural vegetation, water bodies, rock/soil, artificial cover and others noticed LiDAR-derived maps show that forty-three (43) percent or 2,752.013 hectares of the total
on the land. Land cover, defined as the assemblage of biotic and abiotic components on the land area of Bacolod consists of grasslands. These areas are mostly located in opens spaces for
earth’s surface is one of the most crucial properties of the earth system. Land cover is that herbivore grazing and under the coconut plantations that occupies about 25% of the total land
which covers the surface of the earth and land use describes how the land cover is modified (R. area or 1,581.119 hectares. Bare or fallowed lands consist of about 16.61% of the total land ar-
Gauri & J. Bhushan, 2015). Urbanization, for example, is an inevitable process due economic ea or 1,051.034 hectares. These bare or fallowed lands may be soon planted with agricultural
development and rapid population growth. Encroachment of urban settlements on agricultural crops. Corn also occupies about 1,581.119 hectares or 24.99% of the total land area. These
lands may pose dire consequences such as land degradation and desertification (Shalaby, corn plantations are mostly located at areas with 20-30% slopes especially near and along
Aboel Ghar, & Tateishi, 2004). streams and rivers.
Table 1. Vegetation Composition of Bacolod
METHODOLOGY Class Area (ha)
Water/ River/ Streams 54.955
A. Remote Sensing using LandSat data Bare/ Fallow 1,051.034
Shrubland 96.922
Grassland 2,752.013
LandSat data obtained from 1989, 2001, and 2016 were downloaded from the United
Non-agricultural trees 52.093
States Geological Surveys (USGS). These maps were then processed on the following methods: Mangrove 111.521
image pre-processing, image classification, shapefile post-processing, accuracy assessment, Building 22.38
and spatial analysis (Fig. 1). Since the downloaded LandSat images covered large geographical Developed 15.139
areas, a subset that specifically covered the sampling areas was delineated from the image. Road 2.305
ENVI 5.1 and ArcGIS 10.2 mapping software were used in the classification of objects and spa- Banana 85.889
tial anaylsis of maps respectively. Mango 31.143
Durian 0.099
Corn 181.055
Rice 32.34
Coconut 1,581.119
No data 257.77
Total 6,327.78

Table 2. Accuracy assessment of object

classification

Figure 1. General workflow on LandSat data
Figure 2. General workflow on LiDAR data processing
processing
B. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Data Processing
The LiDAR data of this study was acquired from the DREAM and Phil-LiDAR 2 (Nationwide
Detailed Resources Mapping Using LiDAR) projects, both funded by the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST). The LiDAR data of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte was acquired from its
flight mission dated May 31, 2014. Figure 2 shows the workflows on LiDAR data processing.
C. Field Validation
Field validation activities wer conducted on September 22, 2015; November 27, 2015; and
May 24, 2016 to validate the objects in the LandSat and LiDAR images. The coordinates of the
samples were tagged as validation points and recorded using Garmin GPS device. These points
were then mapped in ArcGIS for validating the classified objects. The agricultural and coastal
resources classes were also recorded in field data sheets.
Figure 3. 2016 LiDAR-derived Land Use Land Cover Map
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Satellite images such as LandSat has the ability to detect spacio-temporal land use land
cover changes through GIS and remote sensing technologies. Majority of the areas of Bacolod
are less vegetated with non-agricultural and forest trees, exposing vast hectares of lands.
Considering that 56.50% of the total area of the municipality lies inside the Liagan watershed,
streams, rivers, and aquifers must be protected from rapid evaporation, contamination, and
depletion. Thematic maps of Bacolod such as land classification maps, slope maps, and land
use maps must be updated for accurate and effective land use planning and resources manage-
ment.
Acknowledgement
The LiDAR data used in this study was acquired from the Phil-LiDAR 2 National Detailed Re-
source Mapping using LiDAR Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
through PCIEERD. The methodologies and algorithms in field spectrometry, LandSat and LiDAR
map processing was developed by the University of the Philippines-Diliman Phil-LiDAR 2 Program.