GIS and Remote Sensing in Identification and Change Detection of Wetland Reclamation Areas in Port Moresby, PNG

Abstract

Wetland reclamation commenced in Port Moresby about 20 years ago, having started on a small scale and grown into a large scale following the burgeoning demands of urbanisation and industrialisation. Wetlands are identified as water-submerged areas exclusively inland and almost all the year round in areas connected to the shoreline with fluctuating waterline along with tidal movements. In this paper GIS and Remote Sensing technology are utilized to determine the temporal changes in reclaimed lands and also to identify the wetland areas. The data type used is high spatial resolution temporal data for the years 1990, 2007, 2011 and 2016. The method of feature digitisation and extraction with overlay technique is commonly used for identifying wetland areas as well as coastal reclamation areas.

Findings indicate that a total land area of 580,131m2 has been reclaimed along the coastline with economic, environmental and social implications. Residents surrounding the reclamation site experience issues such as higher impact of sea level rise, air and sound pollution, destruction of wildlife habitats and associated species endangerment. Findings of the study can assist urban planners in minimising land management and urbanisation-related problems. On the other hand, the wetlands identified during analysis and mapping are vital to the environment and to humans as they provide functions that are necessary for a healthier environment. The land use and land cover of the newly reclaimed lands have indicated some progress in urban development in and around the city of Port Moresby.