Definition of sensitive areas in a lakeshore by using remote sensing and GIS

Abstract

In this study, the temporal changes of sensitive areas such as shorelines, wetlands, and rivers of Beysehir Lake were determined by means of 1(st) October 1987 and 4(th) July 2000 Landsat 5 TM satellite sensor data. Digital image processing techniques were conducted for the processes of image enhancement, manipulation, registration and classification for digital change analysis. Sensitive areas were digitized from both images. The obtained results were compared with each other, visualized and analyzed, using Geographic Information System (GIS). According to the results, it could be observed that the area of the lake is decreased by around 2%, that of wetlands increased by 38% between 1987 and 2000. Also the water above sea level has been decreased from 1123.05 in in 1987 to 1122.12 in in the year of 2000.