GIS-based determination of potential snow avalanche areas: A case study of Rize Province of Türkiye


Colak E., Bediroglu G., Baykal T. M.

International Journal of Engineering and Geosciences, cilt.9, sa.2, ss.199-210, 2024 (ESCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 9 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.26833/ijeg.1367334
  • Dergi Adı: International Journal of Engineering and Geosciences
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.199-210
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: GIS Spatial analysis, Potential avalanche areas, Rize, Snow avalanche
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Natural hazards are a part of critical issues affecting people and the environment. One of these natural hazards is snow avalanches. With the increase in the world population, it has emerged that decision-makers should take precautions against such natural hazards for population movements, construction, transportation, and tourism. Essential solution parts of this problem lay behind surveying, GIS, and spatial analysis-planning. This situation will be primarily due to the snow conditions, but certain terrain areas are susceptible. Snow avalanches' release mechanism depends on many factors, such as terrain, meteorological reports, snowpack, and other triggering parameters. Areas with certain topographical features that allow the deposition of snow masses are called avalanche-release areas. GIS helps to make decisions concerning spatial planning within avalanche release areas and finding risky zones. This study aimed to determine the potential avalanche release areas in the GIS environment in Rize, Türkiye, which was chosen as the pilot region. In the study, the detection of these avalanche areas was estimated using a mathematical equation model proposed by Hreško (1998) and determined with the help of GIS. Factors such as elevation, curvature, aspect, slope, and land cover type were used to estimate avalanche risk areas. A Model Builder workflow has also been created to automate the process stages. As a result of the study, avalanche risk areas were determined and mapped for the Rize mountainous region.