Monitoring coastal dunes by using remote sensing and GIS integration in northwest Turkey: A case study of Kilyos dunes

In this study, the temporal coastal sand dune changes of Kilyos region were delineated and visualized by using remotely sensed data and Geographical Information System (GIS) technologies with the Landsat images of the years 1984, 1992, and 2000. For this purpose, initially, the images were processed with digital image processing techniques, geometrically corrected, and classified. The results obtained were compared with each other by using analyzing tools of the GIS environment and, finally, the results of the study were presented as thematic maps by the help of visualization capabilities of GIS. Conclusively, at the end of these processes, various significant results were obtained for introducing the land-cover changes of the Kilyos area, mainly resulting from natural and artificial effects on the environment.