Land cover change analysis between 1990 and 2021 using Landsat images and object-based classification: A case study in Bodrum peninsula, Aegean Region, Turkey

Abstract

Bodrum Peninsula is one of the most important tourism centers of Turkey with its geographical location, coastal and marine tourism, natural and cultural features. It has been determined that the winter population has also increased in Bodrum in recent years, and it is thought that this may cause an increasing permanent resident population and urbanization. The objective of this study is to determine the changes in land cover due to the rapid increase in urbanization in Bodrum Peninsula. For this purpose, object-based classification analysis was applied to Landsat 4-5 TM 1990, 2000, 2010 and Landsat 8 OLI 2021 multispectral satellite images. Within the scope of the analysis, the objects were created by applying the segmentation process to satellite images. Secondly, land cover classes were determined according to the Corine land cover classification with levels 1-2-3. Thirdly, the classification process based on a decision tree was carried out with the classes defined using the threshold values determined for spectral and texture properties of the objects using multiresolution segmentation. In the last stage, accuracy assessment analysis was applied to the classification results. According to the results, it is obtained that while Urban Fabric and Burnt Areas are increased in 32 years, Forest and semi-natural areas are decreased. As a result of population pressure due to tourism, Urban Fabric areas have moved closer to Forests and Semi-Natural Areas. Wildfires with the effect of heatwaves were increased, biodiversity has been endangered in the study area located in the Mediterranean basin, where human-related climate change is most clearly detected. Significantly, there has been a wildfire in Bodrum in August 2021, which lasted for days and caused severe degradation on the land cover. For this, sustainable land cover management is recommended to protect the natural ecosystem by minimizing the risks that cause land degradation in the Bodrum peninsula.