Land Use & Urban Growth Development in Petra District for the Period of (1980 – 2015) Using GIS & Remote Sensing

This study aims to investigate and analyze the timeline progress and changes in land use and urban growth in Petra District for the period (1980 to 2015) using GIS and remote sensing. To accomplish this aim, the authors adopted a historical and analytical approach in the study’s methodology. The study used four Landsat images for the years 1980,199, 2000 and 2015 were obtained from the USGS website. Furthermore, the study utilized Aerial photographs and blueprints of the study area, which obtained from official organizations and governmental agencies. GIS & Remote sensing technologies were applied to identify the trends and patterns of land use, urban growth and changes that have taken place during the study period. The findings of this study include decreases in area classified as barren land from (204.1) km2 in 1980 to (198.257) km2 in 2015, which constitutes to 2.8%. Agricultural areas decreased from 28.1 km2 in 1980 to 17.22 km2 in 2018, the reduction in the agricultural areas was 39%. Finally, the urban area has increased from (9.8) km2 in 1980 to about (26.519) km2 in 2015, which represents an increase of (170%). In addition to the above, the study findings revealed that Petra district witnessed, during the period of 1980 to 2015, an urban growth of (6.9%) of the district total area (242) km2.