Using GIS model to evaluate the industrial pollution in the coastal area of Rabigh governorate, KSA

Rabigh is one of the most promising areas in the southwestern province of Saudi Arabia. Future governmental developments and vigorous activities will take place in and around Rabigh. Pollution rates have recently increased significantly in Rabigh Governorate due to industrial development, landfills designated for hazardous industrial waste, and unqualified sewage landfills. In addition, marine environmental pollution is caused by direct industrial discharge into the sea in the coastal area of Rabigh. As a result, there is an urgent need for many studies that must clarify the pollution hotspots in the city and determine the nature of pollutants on site. In the present study, soil, groundwater, seawater, and sediment samples were collected and analyzed to measure the concentration of pollutants in soil and water. Air quality measurements were also made in the study area. Laboratory analyses representing environmental quality attributes were incorporated into a multilayer geographic information system. The effective input parameters (GIS layers) as the main controlling environmental criteria (with total weights equal to 100%) were investigated to gain the spatial distribution of quality regions through the “Environmental Quality Model” for performing the environmental quality mapping. A technique of quality modeling with spatial weight was carried out using those layers to define areas of varied environmental quality. A spatial quality model output map depicting these quality areas revealed that the high and moderate environmental quality classes encompass almost the entire mapped pilot area. The environmental land–water quality map of the study area assesses five classes with varying degrees (very low, low, moderate, high, and very high) of environmental quality zones. The environmental quality map shows that the study area is in a high environmental quality zone. Still, most of the areas surrounding it are in a very high to moderate environmental quality zone Except the southern part of the study area (Landfill area), which is in the moderate quality to low-quality zone. The low-quality zones in the study area’s seawater, especially the study area, especially the study area, especially the southern part, are due to the increasing development therein. The moderate-quality environmental class (among the determined courses) is the dominant pattern in Rabigh. As an implementation tool of good planning and management, the Environmental Quality Model technique proved helpful in determining classes of environmental quality.