Application of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to population studies in the gulf: A case of Al Ain city (UAE)

This paper is the first ever attempt to study population distribution in AI Ain city in Eastern United Arab Emirates (UAE) through integration of remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). The remote sensing data used in this study included high spatial resolution (I m) IKONOS imagery of February 17, 2001. For the population related studies IKONOS data offers number of advantages over other satellite images, e.g. it has high spatial resolution, it covers a larger area per image, it cost less per km², and available on a more regular basis. Such characteristics provide a mechanism by which population estimates can be updated with high accuracy and better rate of frequency. The average difference between the population recorded in the 2001 and that estimated from IKONOS images for AI Ain city is found to be equal to 5%. GIS is used for modelling the relationship among population variables and shows result obtained. Empirical model analyses results of this study show that the overall density of the city is consistent with location theories, i.e., declining population density from the Central Business District (CBD). The trend of higher-income people living in peripheries of cities is evident worldwide as it is in AI Ain.