Assessing utilization of multi-resolution satellite imageries in geological mapping, a case study of Jabal Bani Malik area, Eastern Jeddah City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

الملخص EN

The different types of satellite imageries are considered as one of important useful source of data for the lithologicl discriminations and geological mapping.

The modern and high advanced remote sensing technique supplies huge amounts of satellite imageries of different resolutions.

This work aimed to assess utilization of the different satellite imagers of different resolutions in the geological mapping.

Jabal Bani Malik area which is located to the east of Jeddah city in the Middle Eastern Red Sea is chosen as a case study for this work.

This area is composed of different igneous and metamorphosed rocks of the Arabian shield.

It is geologically complicated, sheared, fractured and weathered.

Different types of digital satellite imageries for the study area were used in this work, which comprises: Landsat MSS of 80 m resolution, Landsat TM of 30 m resolution, Landsat TM of 25 m resolution, Landsat ETM+ of 30 m resolution, Landsat ETM+ panchromatic of 15 m resolution, SPOT panchromatic of 10 m resolution and the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite IRS panchromatic data of 5 m resolution.

These data are classified into three sets concerning the spatial resolutions: 1- Satellite imagery data of low spatial resolutions (LSR): which have a spatial resolution of 25 m or smaller, 2- Satellite imagery of moderate spatial resolutions (MSR) : Which have a spatial resolutions ranging between 25 m to 10 m, and3- Satellite imagery of high spatial resolutions (HSR): which are characterized by a spatial resolution greater than 10 m.

The processed satellite imagers produced from the three data sets were used in the geological mapping of the investigated area.

Satellite imagery data of low spatial resolutions (LSR) are used for the regional studies and producing geological maps of scale 1:100,000 or smaller.

Satellite imagery of moderate spatial resolutions (MSR) are used for the semi-regional studies and producing geological maps of scale ranging between 1:100,000 to 1:20,000.

Satellite imagery of high spatial resolutions (HSR) are used for the detailed studies and producing geological maps of scale 1:20,000 or larger.

The processed HSR imageries were used for the geological and structural interpretation and producing a detailed geological and structural maps of the investigated area.

These maps are larger in scale and containing more information than the previous studies.