STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ISMAILIA GOVERNORATE USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUES

The Idea of Development Of Ismailia Governorate considered being one of the most important developmental initiations of the Country seeking to the re-formant structure of the Egyptian inhabited areas to reduce population concentration in the Valley and Delta threatening critically the green agricultural areas in addition to increasing the Environmental Load creating, in turn, lots of health, economic, and social problems. The demand for preserving the environment and its features emerges as an economic problem, In terms of studying Strategic Environmental Assessment through which the natural resources and their appropriate uses are defined besides the positive/negative impacts of the proposed project, Remote sensing technique and the GIS and satellite images are used for defining the negative and positive impact of the project and establishing cities and urban extensions. The problem, as explained by the strategic environmental assessment results is crystallized in the importance of the huge development projects in pushing the economy wheel and achieve optimal utilization of natural resources that contribute to the restructuring of the Egyptian inhabited area, even if these targeted projects are accompanied by some environmental impacts, that the study focuses on to clarify them to contribute proposing a researching initiative and reaching applicable solutions, that could be stated in the following axes. The main objective: It is stated in the strategic environmental assessment through the administration of the environmental objectives matrix and balancing between alternatives. Also, the total environmental systems have been submitted as alternatives for sustainable development. The Study relies on the standard method by proposing a comprehensive model that considers the environmental dimensions of the understudied area to reach the best economic development sites. The study also uses the experimental method with semi-experimental procedures and reference to previous Arab and foreign reports, research, references and studies. Digital Transformation processes are used in this study, to obtain digital data of the different geographical features in the study area; added to that, modeling of environmental standards and determinants, which are implemented through the use of several programs using the remote sensing techniques (Erdas Imagine - Envi). Moreover, Geographic information systems (Arc GIS Desktop) program has been used in addition to multiple satellite visuals for monitoring the environmental change rate in the land cover and the digital elevations model (DEM) to build and activate digital models to choose the best development sites according to environmental standards and determinants.
The current study has come out with many results, some of which go following the results of previous studies, including the results of the current study that has already been reached. These results have been included as a Geospatial database for applying the FAO methodology in classifying lands suitability for targeted development; presenting as well, a proposed appropriate development plan, while preserving at the same time the existing economic activities and the optimal utilization of available (natural/human) resources in the surrounding environment.
 
The study recommends the necessity of exploiting the distinguished geographical location of Ismailia Governorate through the proposed sustainable development plane, in attempt to support decision-making in linking Sinai and the West of the Suez Canal through targeted development projects through: Optimal use of the available economic resources in Ismailia Governorate depending on the comparative advantage of the existing economic activities such as agricultural reclamation / coastal tourism / fish farming / fishing activities). Announcing that (Al-Timsah Lake) is a Natural Reserve for its environmental unique characteristics that contribute to preserving biological diversity, wild and marine life, with a 200 m. a taboo area set for the lake. Establishing and activating integrated coastal zone management committees to coordinate between research, executive and non-governmental authorities and with participation of civil society organizations (NGO). Utilization of the suitable lands for urban development at a rate of up to 55% of the total area of the proposed development plan as an important developmental activity for what these lands possess of components compatible with the target development. Attracting the developmental projects to the appropriate areas and developing the infrastructure to encourage internal migration to the expected targeted (urban/industrial) developmental areas.