Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)

Despite their highly recognized ecological values and ecosystem services, approved by the scientific community, wetlands are in perpetual degradation and their global spatial extension in significant regression. The conservation and sustainability of such ecosystems begins with their monitoring and...

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Main Authors: Badreddine Fathi, Abdelghani Afailal Tribak, Mariam Wahbi, Mustapha Maätouk, Boutaina Sebbah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 2023-11-01
Series:Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ecoeet.com/Remote-Sensing-at-the-Service-of-Wetlands-Mapping-A-Case-of-the-Lower-Loukkos-Complex,171782,0,2.html
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author Badreddine Fathi
Abdelghani Afailal Tribak
Mariam Wahbi
Mustapha Maätouk
Boutaina Sebbah
author_facet Badreddine Fathi
Abdelghani Afailal Tribak
Mariam Wahbi
Mustapha Maätouk
Boutaina Sebbah
author_sort Badreddine Fathi
collection DOAJ
description Despite their highly recognized ecological values and ecosystem services, approved by the scientific community, wetlands are in perpetual degradation and their global spatial extension in significant regression. The conservation and sustainability of such ecosystems begins with their monitoring and delimitation. This study aims to develop an approach using open access remote sensing data to make this delineation. Applied to the coastal wetland complex of the lower Loukkos in the Mediterranean area, the methodology followed a two-step process. Firstly, it predicted the spaces favourable for water accumulation conditions, and secondly, it identified the presence of water and its response on the soil and vegetation. The approach was based on a theoretical modelling adopting the potential, existing, efficient wetland (PEEW) approach. The approach was based on a theoretical modelling adopting the potential, existing, efficient wetland (PEEW) approach. The recordings from Sentinel sensors served as the basis for calculating indices Beven-Kirkby Index (BKI), Buffer zone Index (BZI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Modified Normalized water difference index (MNDWI) to pre-locate and model potential wetland areas (PW). Photointerpretation was used to map the existing wetland areas (EW). The estimated area of wetlands in the lower Loukkos region is 379 km2 for potential areas identified from topographic data and the hydrographic network, 120 km2 for areas dominated by wetlands detected by remote sensing of water bodies , vegetation and soil moisture, and 33 km2 for natural wetlands identified by photo-interpretation. As a result, the area of current wetlands is only about 9.5% of their theoretical past extent. The validity of this method was confirmed through a comparison of the results with field investigations and hydromorphic traits in soil surveys, as well as external soil mapping data, showing an 84% concordance.
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spelling doaj.art-0a3436291d914e1bbd4f30fd6fddd0c12023-10-17T13:08:26ZengPolish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE)Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology2719-70502023-11-0124822523910.12912/27197050/171782171782Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)Badreddine Fathi0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5722-6851Abdelghani Afailal Tribak1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2226-8750Mariam Wahbi2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1911-2593Mustapha Maätouk3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3125-9149Boutaina Sebbah4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2169-238XResearch Team on Natural Risks, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdelmalik Essaadi University, Tetouan BP 416, Tangier, Morocco.Research Team on Natural Risks, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdelmalik Essaadi University, Tetouan BP 416, Tangier, Morocco.Research Team in Geomatics Remote Sensing and Cartography, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdelmalik Essaadi University, Tetouan BP 416, Tangier, MoroccoResearch Team in Geomatics Remote Sensing and Cartography, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdelmalik Essaadi University, Tetouan BP 416, Tangier, MoroccoResearch Team in Geomatics Remote Sensing and Cartography, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdelmalik Essaadi University, Tetouan BP 416, Tangier, MoroccoDespite their highly recognized ecological values and ecosystem services, approved by the scientific community, wetlands are in perpetual degradation and their global spatial extension in significant regression. The conservation and sustainability of such ecosystems begins with their monitoring and delimitation. This study aims to develop an approach using open access remote sensing data to make this delineation. Applied to the coastal wetland complex of the lower Loukkos in the Mediterranean area, the methodology followed a two-step process. Firstly, it predicted the spaces favourable for water accumulation conditions, and secondly, it identified the presence of water and its response on the soil and vegetation. The approach was based on a theoretical modelling adopting the potential, existing, efficient wetland (PEEW) approach. The approach was based on a theoretical modelling adopting the potential, existing, efficient wetland (PEEW) approach. The recordings from Sentinel sensors served as the basis for calculating indices Beven-Kirkby Index (BKI), Buffer zone Index (BZI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Modified Normalized water difference index (MNDWI) to pre-locate and model potential wetland areas (PW). Photointerpretation was used to map the existing wetland areas (EW). The estimated area of wetlands in the lower Loukkos region is 379 km2 for potential areas identified from topographic data and the hydrographic network, 120 km2 for areas dominated by wetlands detected by remote sensing of water bodies , vegetation and soil moisture, and 33 km2 for natural wetlands identified by photo-interpretation. As a result, the area of current wetlands is only about 9.5% of their theoretical past extent. The validity of this method was confirmed through a comparison of the results with field investigations and hydromorphic traits in soil surveys, as well as external soil mapping data, showing an 84% concordance.http://www.ecoeet.com/Remote-Sensing-at-the-Service-of-Wetlands-Mapping-A-Case-of-the-Lower-Loukkos-Complex,171782,0,2.htmlgiscartographydelimitationremote sensingwetlands
spellingShingle Badreddine Fathi
Abdelghani Afailal Tribak
Mariam Wahbi
Mustapha Maätouk
Boutaina Sebbah
Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)
Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology
gis
cartography
delimitation
remote sensing
wetlands
title Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)
title_full Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)
title_fullStr Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)
title_full_unstemmed Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)
title_short Remote Sensing at the Service of Wetlands Mapping: A Case of the Lower Loukkos Complex (North-West Morocco)
title_sort remote sensing at the service of wetlands mapping a case of the lower loukkos complex north west morocco
topic gis
cartography
delimitation
remote sensing
wetlands
url http://www.ecoeet.com/Remote-Sensing-at-the-Service-of-Wetlands-Mapping-A-Case-of-the-Lower-Loukkos-Complex,171782,0,2.html
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