Land use change detection using remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) in Gua Musang district, Kelantan, Malaysia

A study integrating remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) was carried out in northern part of Gua Musang district, Kelantan, Malaysia to map and determine the land use change as a result of development pressure in the area. Two sets of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), dated May 1990 and July 1997, at a scale of 1: 150 000 were acquired. Land use classes were interpreted from these images and the resultant maps were checked in the field to determine ground truth and mapping accuracy. The land use map data were then transferred directly into the computer via ACR/INFO and ARC-VIEW softwares. The land use data were digitised in ARC/INFO and overlaid and analysed in ARC-VIEW. Ground verification showed that the total overall map accuracy was 86.54%. The results showed that shrub increased by 181.14% from 1990 to 1997 and newly cleared area, rubber and oil palm increased by 91.37, 45.19 and 44.72% respectively. On the other hand, other land use classes such as mixed horticulture, diversified crops, urban and paddy increased by 38.82, 11.95, 10.30 and 4.70% respectively. However, the extent of undisturbed and disturbed forest reduced by 8.10 and 27.70% respectively during the same period. Shrubs showed an increasing trend of land use while forest areas decreased in area compared with other land use classes. Rapid land use change took place in the northern part of Gua Musang district where nearly 36% of the changes were associated with shrub, oil palm and rubber land use conversions.