EVALUATION AND VALORIZATION OF PERI-URBAN WASTELAND IN ALGERIA USING DATABASE INDICES

Abstract

This study examined the transformation of fertile peri-urban land surrounding large Algerian cities. Khemis El Khechna municipality in Boumerdes province was a case study for this phenomenon. Researchers utilized remote sensing techniques through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to quantify land-use change. Specifically, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) contributed to finding regions with high biodiversity and healthy vegetation, while the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) highlighted areas of concentrated buildings. This data was crucial in identifying wastelands or potential wastelands. The ultimate goal was to promote the development of such areas as an alternative to encroaching on productive farmland. The indexes and their database hold great promise for agriculture in the form of a national cadaster. The method could also be easily applied to other African countries, by promoting the utilization of wasteland and the adoption of precise farming methods.