Hassan, A., Abou-Zaid1, M., El-Kafrawy, S., Ahmed, M. (2013). Using Remote Sensing and GIS for mapping and monitoring marine habitats in Nabq (MRPA), South Sinai, Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 17(4), 59-70. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2013.2186
Abdel-Kader Hassan; Mohamed Abou-Zaid1; Sameh El-Kafrawy; Mahmoud Ahmed. "Using Remote Sensing and GIS for mapping and monitoring marine habitats in Nabq (MRPA), South Sinai, Egypt". Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 17, 4, 2013, 59-70. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2013.2186
Hassan, A., Abou-Zaid1, M., El-Kafrawy, S., Ahmed, M. (2013). 'Using Remote Sensing and GIS for mapping and monitoring marine habitats in Nabq (MRPA), South Sinai, Egypt', Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 17(4), pp. 59-70. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2013.2186
Hassan, A., Abou-Zaid1, M., El-Kafrawy, S., Ahmed, M. Using Remote Sensing and GIS for mapping and monitoring marine habitats in Nabq (MRPA), South Sinai, Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 2013; 17(4): 59-70. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2013.2186
Using Remote Sensing and GIS for mapping and monitoring marine habitats in Nabq (MRPA), South Sinai, Egypt
1Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
2Marine Science Department, National Authority of Remote Sensing and Space Science
Abstract
Egypt has sought to protect its natural resources and marine biodiversity that are located in the Gulf of Aqaba by establishing a network of Marine Protected Areas. Nabq Managed Resources Protected Area (NMRPA) is the biggest marine protectorate exists in the region and characterized by the great diversity of habitats and ecosystems in a uniquely compact setting, representing a complete terrestrial/ marine ecosystem characteristic of the Gulf of Aqaba coast. The applying of advanced technologies such as Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in recognizing the changes in the coastal zone habitats in the area; gave us the ability to map and monitor the amount and the causes of changes in the habitats in a specific, fast, accurate and a relatively low-cost alternative to traditional field studies. Using a time series of four imageries; three (SPOT-4) imageries dated 2006, 2009 and 2010 beside one (Quick-Bird) imagery dated 2010; we explored the utility of temporal texture as a diagnostic tool to detect ecological changes in coastal zone habitats. We used a time series of imageries to calculate the temporal variation in the brightness of each pixel, rather than statistically placing each pixel into a specific habitat class. Insitu fieldwork on Nabq (MRPA) coastal zone confirmed that, the mangrove stock has developed, sea-grass habitat has developed from year to year too and the coral reef habitat has been degraded. We propose that the further development of such remote sensing techniques will lead to the establishment of an index of habitat variability. Such an index could alert resource managers to potential problems on coastal zone habitat otherwise would go undetected.
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