Determination of ecologically sensitive areas in Denizli province using geographic information systems (GIS) and analyti
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Determination of ecologically sensitive areas in Denizli province using geographic information systems (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) F. C. Yilmaz & M. Zengin
&
C. Tekin Cure
Received: 7 April 2020 / Accepted: 20 July 2020 # Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Ecological sensitivity is defined as the ecosystem’s reaction to environmental change caused by internal and external factors. The degree of ecological sensitivity varies in spatial dimension depending on the natural and cultural features. Ecological sensitivity analysis is based on basis of mapping these differences. As a result of the analysis, an important data that can be a base for spatial plans at different scales is provided. In accordance with this aim, Denizli province was selected for the study area in this research. The factors affecting sensitivity were determined by the literature survey, which was conducted by considering the characteristics of the study area. In this context, elevation, slope, aspect, the proximity to water surface, land cover, and vegetation coverage were evaluated as natural factors, and the proximity to primary traffic roads and residential areas as cultural factors. Each factor was spatially grouped by means of geographic information systems (GIS) according to the degree of impact on ecological sensitivity. Scale 1 (lowest ecological sensitivity) to 5 (highest ecological sensitivity) was used for the spatial grouping. A analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to weight the factors. The overlay method was used in line with the weighted scores in order to determine the composite ecological sensitivity. As a result of the study, the area of 286.26 sq km (2.37%) as highly and more sensitive, 5267.47 sq km (43.50%) as F. C. Yilmaz : M. Zengin (*) : C. Tekin Cure Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Landscape Architecture, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey e-mail: [email protected]
moderately sensitive, and 6554.56 sq km (54.13%) as mildly and less sensitive was determined. In line with the results, suggestions for protection-utilization balance were developed. Keywords Ecological sensitivity . Protection-utilization balance . Denizli . Ecological planning
Introduction It is important to provide spatial plans with sufficient and reliable information regarding natural and cultural resources in terms of sustainability of resources. Within this scope, several analyses based on natural and cultural data are used as inputs in spatial plans of different scales. Ecological sensitivity analysis appears to a new area of research addressed in the context of sustainable use of resources especially in recent years. According to Mingwu et al. (2010), ecological sensitivity is defined as the ability of ecological factors to adapt to external pressures or interventions. Congruently, Nilsson and Grelsson (1995) define ecological sensitivity as a level of reaction to environmental changes stemming from the total impact of internal and external factors. The existence of two main factors (intern
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