Abstract:

This article covers the determination of land cover/use classes in Konya Closed Basin (KKH), vegetation-based land monitoring and assessment studies. It is known that vegetation has a very important function for the biosphere and is a criterion that must be followed. In the study, the Collect Earth (CE) is a tool, which a multi-purpose monitoring, used for the first time by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Collect Earth is a tool that enables data collection through Google Earth. In conjunction with Google Earth, Bing Maps and Google Earth Engine, users can analyze high and very high-resolution satellite imagery for a wide variety of purposes (Land Use, Land Use Change, Monitoring agricultural land areas, land degredation etc.). In this study, land degradation/desertification and improvement/greening trend analyzes between 2000-2018 were performed using normalized difference plant index NDVI values of KKH. Because of the study, improvement in a total area of 88916 ha and land degradation in an area of 10570 hectares were detected between 2000-2018 in the basin area. It has been determined that 85% of the improved areas are in the cropland. It has also been determined that the areas of improvement mostly occurred between 2009-2011. The results obtained were discussed in terms of land cover/use classes of the basin. Evaluations were made on the causes of greening, especially for cropland. It has been emphasized that it is an effective method due to its user friendliness, smooth learning curve, performing fast, accurate and cost-effective assessments and be highly customizable for the specific data collection needs and methodologies.

Keywords: