Applying GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques in Landscape Planning Studios

The demand in the Saudi markets for qualified environmental and landscape planners with Geographic Information System (GIS) & Remote Sensing knowledge, has led the Landscape Architecture Department, Faculty of Environmental Design, at King Abdulaziz University (KAAU) Jeddah to start a pilot project applying GIS and Remote Sensing techniques in a fourth year (third year department) landscape planning studio. Two projects were selected for potential application, the first assesses Ragadan forest in Al-Baha region for potential ecotourism activities, while the second one document and propose rehabilitation programme for the historical foot and camel trail in Jabal Kara, which forms part of the old craven rout between Makkah and Taif, which Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) used during his Taif visit. Three students were assigned for each project. A series of lectures introduced the students to the potential use of GIS and Remote Sensing in their studio projects, this included: applications of Remote Sensing; types of satellite images, ERDAS IMAGINE software; Introduction to GIS and ArcView software; the use of Global Positioning System (GPS); and Surfer software. The Students were instructed in class and during fieldwork in systems principles and their application in image rectification and samples collection for image classification. Aerial photographs from the King Saudi Geological Survey (KSGS), and Satellite images from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), were used to compare changes during the last fifty years, in land use, vegetation cover, and urban growth. Images used included: Aerial Photos, Landsat 5, SPOT PAN, and IKONOS. The process used included: on screen digitizing, generating contour maps; generating slope and aspect analysis, and 3D scenes; image spectral enhancement and classification. The paper discusses, the studio concept and structure; lecture series and fieldwork; and software and techniques used. A conclusion synthesizes the potential use of GIS and Remote Sensing in landscape planning studio and possible improvements to the process used.