A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1997

This study is aimed at using Remote Sensing and Geographical Infonnation System as tools for spatial data analysis to access land suitability classification for different crop types of Tienhai district in Vietnam. In Remote Sensing method, three satellite images dated SPOT91 and TM88, TM94 were collected and classified to detect land use changes and to get a new land use map of the study area. For Geographical Info1mation System method information updated from Remote Sensing and thematic map needed were collected as input data to create database and linear combination model was later then developed for input factors to identify land suitable maps for major crop in the area. The analysis was done by incorporating data related to physical and chemical properties of soil. Infrastructure such as road network was used to access road proximity and social-economic data were considered as the additional conditions to select major crops for suitability analysis. The outputs of the research are suitability maps at different levels as recommended by F AO for rice, for upland crops and for sedge crop. A combination map was also created from these suitability maps as a proposed agriculture planning map. Within this map, environment factor was considered to protect and keep the soil from influences of the sea and to improve the soil in coastal areas. Hopefully, this map can be used as guideline for land use planning, helping the fanners to solve the problem how to use the land at high income value and could be considered as a contribution for sustainable development.