Investigating the Most Suitable Observation Points in Natural Resources Monitoring using Spatial Analysis

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Mohsen Mostafa ¹
• Shaban Shataee ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Mazandaran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sari, Iran

² Professor, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

10.22067/geoeh.2022.76598.1220

Abstract

A basic critical phase in watershed monitoring is choosing the most suitable observation points which are followed by monitoring the natural resources with a wide range of view using visibility spatial analysis. Moitoring towers are crucial assets in detecting forest fires, in addition to other technological advancements. For this study 30 villages, located in Chehelchai watershed, were selected as the observation points along with 26 convenient and accessible perspective points as the observer points. For this purpose, visibility analysis lookout towers were determined using QGIS software and the percentages of visible and unvisitable areas were determined for the study area. Four scenarios were employed aimed at looking into the good visibility of the points for indirect watershed monitoring using Viewshed analysis in QGIS software; First scenario: Offset A = 1.6M, Radius 2 = 1200M; Second scenario: Offset A = 11.6M, Radius 2 = 1200M, Third scenario: Offset A = 1.6M, Radius 2 = 10000 and Fourth scenario: Offset A = 1.6M, Radius 2 = 10000M. The results shwed that the Viewshed side program makes it possible to locate visible and invisible areas from the observer points according to different scenarios. Moreover, it was concluded that visibility analysis is a very useful and practical method for evaluating monitoring  lookout towers and determining the potential location of the towers.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Viewshed
• Visible Area
• Monitoring
• Natural Resources

20.1001.1.23221682.1402.12.1.8.7

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