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Mapping LULC Change in Carroll County

 

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Mapping Rural Land Use & Land Cover Change In Carroll County, Arkansas Utilizing Multi-Temporal Landsat Thematic Mapper Satellite Imagery

 

 Carroll County AR

 

 

1984-1999

Brandon R. Bottomley

University of Arkansas, 2000

 

  Chapter 1 ............................................................. Introduction
  Chapter 2 ............................................................... Study Area
  Chapter 3 ..................................................... Literature Review
  Chapter 4 ............................................................ Methodology
  Chapter 5 ................................................... Results & Analysis
  Chapter 6 ........................................ Summary & Conclusions
Works Cited


Abstract

Anthropogenic influences on shifting patterns of land use and land cover are a primary component of many contemporary environmental concerns. Carroll County, located in Northwest Arkansas, is a rural county which has experienced moderate population growth during the past 15 years. Of more significance, county agricultural statistics depict substantial increases in the number of beef cattle on farms and broiler production over this same time period. These statistics suggest that patterns of land use and land cover may be changing in Carroll County, Arkansas. The principal objective of this research is to detect, delineate, and map areas that have experienced the conversion of forests to agricultural pastures, in Carroll County, Arkansas over the previous 15 years, 1984 - 1999, utilizing Multi-temporal Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. A 1999 hierarchical land use and land cover map was derived from the classification of three LandSat TM Images, dated May 7, October 6, and December 25, 1999. The land use and land cover classes’ accuracy is based upon ground truth data obtained by extensive GPS field collection within the county. A Band 7 Subtraction, Image Differencing Change Detection Method was employed comparing the October 6, 1999 Scene with an additional September 18, 1984 Landsat TM Scene. Subsequently, a land assessment of forest clearings was also conducted based upon slope and soil properties to evaluate the wisdom of such land use practices. By mapping and monitoring land use and land cover change in Carroll County, perhaps attention to this phenomenon may help to instill a land ethic for improved land use management practices for the preservation of forests in Northwest Arkansas.