Landcover Analysis of DMZ and the Vicinity Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

원격탐사와 GIS기법을 이용한 접경지역 토지피복연구

In Korea, the Demilitarized Zone(Hereafter DMZ) and the vicinity have special importance for a natural ecosystem research. However, We have difficulty in studying this region due to the access control. The purpose of this study is to analyze the landcover and the vegetation status of DMZ and the vicinity using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The site was divided into two regions; less than 2km from DMZ and less than 10 km from DMZ. The analyzed results of this study are as follow. First, the result of vegetation analysis is that the region of South and North Korea are similar in the area less than 2km from DMZ. However, the region of South Korea have good vegetation status than the region of South Korea in the area less than 10km from DMZ. Second, the result of landcover analysis is that the ratio of the landcover of South and North Korea decreased forest, agricultural and grass, built-up, barren area by turns in the area less than 2km from DMZ. However, the built-up area of South Korea increased as much as the forest area decreased and the other areas of North Korea increased as much as the forest area decreased in the area less than 10 km from DMZ. There are some differences in landcover between analyzed result and an existing statistical data. The causes are using one season setellite images, and an existing statistical data with landuse types. The analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques is the most suitable method to understand the landcover and vegetation status of DMZ and the vicinity. Further studies are expected to overcome the limitation of this study.