Spatial Dynamics Analysis in the Mountainous Environments of South-West of Saudi Arabia Using GIS: Al-Baha Area as an Example

Studying the spatial dynamics of the geographical communities, in general, and of mountain systems, especially, is one of the significant subjects which have attracted attention number of researchers. The current diversity of mountain communities in south-west of Saudi Arabia seems to be inherited from old ecosystems, but its detailed elements are influenced by the ongoing dynamic, which is associated with climate, human intervention and how to exploit this legacy. This study, therefore, aims to identify the natural and historical characteristics that make Al-Baha area attracted tourist destination, to recognize rapid urban growth and its directions, and to highlight resulted risks from the urban expansion on the environmental and cultural components in Al-Baha area. To achieve these aims, inductive method has been adopted through using the analytical-descriptive approach. Moreover, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has been used to tracking the spatial dynamics of the urban growth and its directions. Two satellite images, belong to 2000 and 2017, have been analyzed to serve this step. This study has results showed that Al-Baha region has passed over number of stages. First one showed that Al-Baha, until not long ago time, wad depending on the adaptation of man with his surroundings area, where mountain highlands were a place of his habitation, and the low valleys and mountain slopes were formed to be terraces to practice various activities of the earth. Second one has been started when Al-baha becomes the administrative supervision center of the whole region, then the urban growth began to spread on account the close slops form its center to form what lookalikes a climb city. Last one, which has been started from the beginning of this century, buildings spreads rapidly on account of the agricultural terraces lands, especially in the valleys terraces. This study has been concluded that Al-Baha area has built its geographical character through different stages and under impact of various factors. The characteristics of the site and ancient human occupation are all factors produced diverse areas. Various elements, natural and human, are constructed any earths space. These elements go into different interactive processes based on the spacio-temporal dynamics, therefore, the geographical area is not natural domain only. It seems that the spatial dynamism and rapid urban growth witnessed by Al-Baha area is now subject to the influences of the human element, especially the administrative one and population growth, more than anything else.