Evaluation of the Population Distribution Using GIS-Based Geostatistical Analysis in Mosul City

The purpose of this work was to apply geographical information system (GIS) for geostatistical analyzing by selecting a semi-variogram model to quantify the spatial correlation of the population distribution with residential neighborhoods in the both sides of Mosul city. Two hundred and sixty-eight sample sites in 240 ㎢ are adopted. After determining the population distribution with respect to neighborhoods, data were inserted to ArcGIS10.3 software. Afterward, the datasets was subjected to the semi-variogram model using ordinary kriging interpolation. The results obtained from interpolation method showed that among the various models, Spherical model gives best fit of the data by cross-validation. The kriging prediction map obtained by this study, shows a particular spatial dependence of the population distribution with the neighborhoods. The results obtained from interpolation method also indicates an unbalanced population distribution, as there is no balance between the size of the population neighborhoods and their share of the size of the population, where the results showed that the right side is more densely populated because of the small area of residential homes which occupied by more than one family, as well as the right side is concentrated in economic and social activities.