Assessing the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Aflaj Systems over a 36-Year Period

Over the past 36 years, Oman's aflaj irrigation systems—ancient underground water networks—have faced significant land use and land cover (LULC) changes, primarily driven by urban expansion. A study analyzing four major aflaj in northern Oman found that between 1985 and 2021, agricultural lands were converted to urban areas at rates of up to 40%, leading to a decline in vegetation cover and groundwater resources. Using satellite imagery, GIS, and remote sensing, researchers classified LULC changes with high accuracy (90–95%), revealing shifts from bare soil to urban areas and from vegetation to bare soil. These findings underscore the need for sustainable land management strategies to preserve aflaj systems, which are critical for water security in arid regions.

Al-Kindi, K. M., Alqurashi, A. F., Al-Ghafri, A., & Power, D. (2023). Assessing the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Aflaj Systems over a 36-Year Period. Remote Sensing, 15(7), 1787. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071787