Production of optimum forest roads and comparison of these routes with current forest roads: a case study in Macka, Turkey

YILDIRIM F., KADI F.

GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL, vol.37, no.8, pp.2175-2197, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/10106049.2020.1818852
  • Journal Name: GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Environment Index, Geobase, INSPEC
  • Page Numbers: pp.2175-2197
  • Keywords: Optimum forest road route, forest road network suitability map (FRNSM), analytical hierarchy process (AHP), graphical user interface (GUI), optimal path algorithm, MULTICRITERIA EVALUATION, MATLAB GUI, GIS, NETWORK, PREDICTION, SYSTEM, MODEL, PATH
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Forest roads are a basic necessity in forestry policies and should be planned by considering many factors. This study aims to generate optimum forest road routes and to compare them with current forest roads. First, FRNSM has been produced according to AHP, using nine factors for the study area. Then, risk statuses of the current forest roads are examined. According to results, 35% of the total forest road has high risk. A MATLAB-GUI based an application using optimal path algorithm developed for the second stage of the study has been produced. Using this application, optimum forest road routes have been produced for 11 pilot areas selected from the region. Generated routes have been compared with current forest roads in the region. It has been observed that generated routes in all areas are more suitable than current forest roads in terms of total length and average risk of suitability.