Spatial Analysis of Jabal Bekhier Elevation by Using GIS and Remote Sensing

Abstract The knowledge of the surface topography is of major importance to the earth sciences. It is essential in any discipline concerned with process modeling like hydrology, climatology, geomorphology and ecology. The present study utilized Environmental Systems Research Institutes (ESRI), ArcGIS 9.2 (with the spatial analyst extension) software, remote sensing data (DEM and IKONOS satellite image) of the study area (Jabal Bekhier lies in the north margin of Dohuk Province in the north of Iraq) to extract a different maps of exact geographical locations, like; Contour map, Slop map, Aspect map and Hillshade map. By using these maps, the land surface of the study area could be realized on a detailed understanding of its terrain variation characteristics also to the natural surface features that including hills, valleys, rivers, lakes etc. The landscape features of the study area are classified into seven geomophological units (terrain slop) which are give a detail description of the Jabal Bekhier. All the output maps were defined according to WGS84_UTM_Zone 38N system.