Assessing the Expansion of Quarries and Land Cover Dynamics Using Satellite Imagery and GIS in Hebron and Bethlehem Districts, Palestine

Abstract

Quarrying activities in the Hebron and Bethlehem districts have caused considerable environmental impacts, including the removal of native vegetation, soil degradation, air pollution, and changes in land surface temperature (LST). This study aims to monitor the spatial expansion of limestone quarries and associated land cover changes between 1995 and 2021 using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. Landsat satellite images from 1995, 2004, 2014, and 2021 were analyzed using supervised maximum likelihood classification. Four land cover classes were identified: agricultural land, barren land, built-up land, and quarry/rock land. To assess environmental change, indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Bare Soil Index (BSI) were applied. The results reveal a significant increase in built-up and quarry/rock areas at the expense of agricultural lands. Notably, quarry sites in Bani Naim, Ash Shuyukh, Taffuh, and Beit Fajar showed marked expansion. These areas exhibited low vegetation cover, low to medium NDVI values, and high proportions of bare and rocky land. The findings provide critical insights to support environmental protection strategies and guide regional land use planning.