Changes in Land Cover/Land Uses inTulkarm Governorate Between2005 and 2011 by UsingGIS Technology

This study aims at identifying the patternsof land usein Tulkarm, andproviding a descriptionof the status quoin the regionduring the time periodof2005 - 2011, using GIS technology. The significance of this study is that it's the first to examine the use of geographic information systems in the study of changes in land cover and patterns of land use in Tulkarm Governorate during the time period 2005 - 2011, and it could open new horizons for several studies in the study area and other areas of the West Bank. In addition, there is a need for this kind of studies that help regulate and control land use to meet the needs of the population and to overcome the problems the people of Tulkarm face. The problem with the study is the lack of data and studies of current and accurate changes in the patterns of land cover in the study area, in addition to the problem of the Separation Wall built by Israel and the confiscation of large areas of the territory of the District. The historical Approach was conducted to monitor changes in land use and residential development during a period of time from 2005 to 2011. The analytical and descriptive approaches were also conducted to trace the course of changes in land use and residential development during the years 2005 and 2011. The study showed thatThe ability of GIS technology to produce accurate maps of land use and demonstrate the use of each space, In addition to these result The total number of changes taking place in any residential area during the period 2005 – 2011 was 1405 donums, while the changes taking place in the Israeli settlements was 1.9339 donums, As shown by the results of data analysis, the most used area of roads is the internal ones . As shown byThe results of data analysis thatthe most used areaof theroadis a kind ofinternal roads, and the form Agricultural use of land is a main mode in the District described as an agricultural area. Based on these results, the researchercame upwith the following recommendations, The necessity ofthe useof geographic information systemsin the production ofaccurate mapsinstead ofthe oldtraditional methods, And As a result of overlapping uses, particularly industrial use within the districts and villages in the District, the researcher recommends that there is a need to prevent the presence of industrial zones between residential neighborhoods because of their negative impact on the environment and the health of the population, In addition to the need for Planners tododevelopment strategyplansanddevelopment projectsat the county level.