Title: Geomatics Techniques for Evaluating Land Use Planning by Processing Google Earth Images
Authors: Samir Saify St
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
Pages: 52-60
Publication Date: 2026/04/28
Abstract:
This study utilizes geomatics techniques (Erdas Imaginary and Geographic Information Systems software) to process and analyze images extracted from Google Earth to assess land use planning and urban expansion. Most previous studies relied on satellite imagery from Landsat, Sentinel, and other sources, which consists of multiple beams requiring lengthy processing and analysis. The study focuses on the city of Hilla before and after 2003 due to the significant urban expansion and its impact, including the problems it causes. Images were analyzed using Erdas Imaginary software with a Supervised classification formula, and the original and final images were verified using the kappa coefficient. The results revealed the extent of urban expansion in the study area and confirmed the availability of adequate infrastructure and services to accommodate this expansion through field surveys. Urban planning was governed by strict laws and standards that could not be circumvented, taking into account the limited income of the population. Therefore, this research also includes an evaluation of land use planning in the study area before and after 2003, examining its positive and negative effects and offering recommendations for achieving optimal planning. The best way to observe the difference in land use between these two years was to process Google Earth images using geomatics applications, as the processing results revealed these differences.