TITLE:
Land Cover Classification through GIS-Based Clustering of Morphometric Terrain Features: The Chepelarska River Basin (Western Rhodopes, Bulgaria)
AUTHORS:
Velimira Stoyanova, Stefan Genchev, Emilia Tcherkezova, Gergana Metodieva
KEYWORDS:
Land Cover Classification, GIS-Based Analysis, Mountain Land Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.8,
August
22,
2025
ABSTRACT: This paper proposes a GIS-based approach to classifying land cover using key morphometric indicators—slope, aspect, and elevation. The study focuses on the Chepelarska River basin in the Western Rhodopes, Bulgaria, combining CORINE land cover data with digital terrain models. K-means clustering, implemented via the ArcGIS Mapping Clusters tool, was employed to identify natural groupings based on the morphometric variables. The analysis yielded four distinct land cover clusters, each defined by a unique morphometric profile. Among the examined indicators, slope and aspect proved most significant in shaping land cover distribution. The study demonstrates the potential of morphometric clustering as a practical tool for land management in mountainous terrains and highlights its innovative use within GIS-based land cover analysis.