Modeling Land Degradation in Drylands of the Nile Delta Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Soil degradation poses a threat to ecosystem health, sustainable development, and global food security. This study intends to measure land degradation in the north of the Nile Delta, Egypt using GIS spatial modelling based on data from field surveys and remotely sensed data.This study evaluated the hazards of soil degradation in certain soils north of the Nile Delta, Egypt using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques. The degree of degradation was evaluated using a spatial degradation model. It was feasible to create a geomorphological map using the digital elevation model (DEM) and the sentential 2 image, which demonstrated that the area under study is divided into three landscapes: the flood plain, the lacustrine plain, and the marine plain. The results of the spatial model showed that the research region had two degrees of degradation. First, a high degree was found in the low old river terraces (RT1) soils, which occupied 79.08 km2 (7.57%). Second, a moderate degree encompasses all of the remaining research area i.e., 956.19 km2 (92.43%) of the study region. The danger of chemical degradation was considered low for all landform units, except for, decantation basins (DC), depression (DP), and coastal plain (CP) units. Of the research region, these soils make up 24.34%. The risk of physical degradation was graded as very high for every landform. The findings showed that alkalinity, soil compaction, and waterlogging are the primary common degradation hazards. The model offers a comprehensive overview of land degradation in the study area and is readily applicable in comparable situations to pinpoint the factors that contributed to the land degradation, in addition to attaining environmental sustainability. The efficient use of GIS spatial modelling techniques in the assessment of land degradation may help decision makers take the appropriate steps to preserve the most deteriorated areas,. implementing practical measures to lessen the effects of land degradation and accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).