Forest Fire Hazard Mapping Using Analytical Hierarchy process and Geographic Information System Study Area: Helen Protected Area- Central Zagros

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University of Tehran

Abstract

Forests as one of the most important natural inexhaustible resources have a crucial role in life continuity and also in maintaining and sustainability of ecosystems. Combustion is one of the many devastating factors in forests. Due to degradation of forests and range lands in different parts of Iran, specially in Alborz and Zagros mountains,anticipating facilities to resist fire seems substantial. This study aims at identifying regions with high potential of ignition in forests. Initially, contributing factors to fire according to study area`s characteristics, Helen Protected Area were determined and were prioritized through questionnaires under Delphi technique via SPSS software. Following, quantitative weights of the factors were calculated by analytical hierarchy process. Finally, by assigning the weights to raster map layers of the factors in GIS software and overlaying them,the fire hazard map was prepared. Results reveal that around one fourth of the total area has the high and very high potential which are mostly situated on regions with high slope and elevation on southern hills with Astragalus sp. and other annual species in the vicinity of settlements and road network. Due to utilizing Analytical Hierarchy Process and integrating it with GIS and gaining spatial distribution of fire hazard, the results provide planners and decision makers with a handy tool to prevent combustion and conserve forest resources.

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 June 2016
  • Revise Date:
  • Accept Date: 14 June 2016

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