Geospatial Model as Strategy to Prevent Forest Fires: A Case Study
Affiliation(s)
Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED), Victoria de Durango, México. Instituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED), Victoria de Durango, México.
Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED), Victoria de Durango, México. Instituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED), Victoria de Durango, México.
ABSTRACT
The forests of the State of Durango have been severely affected by fires in recent years. Early detection of fires through watchtowers is essential. In this work a geospatial model was generated to optimize strategic visualization points, using a GIS environment. Analysis of the area of visibility was developed by integrating a digital model of elevation and a plant cover map. The resulting distribution generates more than 50% coverage of the studied area, in points that were not always the highest. It was concluded that this strategy would permit to increase the efficiency, mainly favoring the communities of pine, whose economic importance would justify the required investment.
The forests of the State of Durango have been severely affected by fires in recent years. Early detection of fires through watchtowers is essential. In this work a geospatial model was generated to optimize strategic visualization points, using a GIS environment. Analysis of the area of visibility was developed by integrating a digital model of elevation and a plant cover map. The resulting distribution generates more than 50% coverage of the studied area, in points that were not always the highest. It was concluded that this strategy would permit to increase the efficiency, mainly favoring the communities of pine, whose economic importance would justify the required investment.
Cite this paper
M. Pompa-García, M. Zapata-Molina, C. Hernández-Díaz and E. Rodríguez-Téllez, "Geospatial Model as Strategy to Prevent Forest Fires: A Case Study," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 9, 2012, pp. 1034-1038. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.39120.
M. Pompa-García, M. Zapata-Molina, C. Hernández-Díaz and E. Rodríguez-Téllez, "Geospatial Model as Strategy to Prevent Forest Fires: A Case Study," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 9, 2012, pp. 1034-1038. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.39120.
References
[1] CONAFOR, “Weekly Report of Results of Forest Fires 2010. Coordination for Conservation and Restoration. Management Office of Forest Fire Protection,” 2010. http://www.conafor.gob.mx:8080/documentos/docs/10/83Repote%20Semanal%202010.pdf [2] FAO, “Forest Fires Devastate More and More Forests around the World,” 9 September 2003. http://www.fao.org/spanish/newsroom/news/2003/21962-es.html [3] G. M. Pompa, M. R. Solís, T. E. Rodríguez, A. A. Pinedo, F. D. ávila, D. J. C. Hernández and B. E. Velasco, “Viewshed Analysis for Improving the Effectiveness of Watchtowers, in the North of Mexico,” Open Forest Science, Vol. 3, 2010, pp. 17-22. doi:10.2174/1874398601003010017 [4] P. J. Palacio, L. G. Luna and L. M. Macías, “Fire Detection in Mexico Using AVHRR Images (1998 Season). Geographical Research,” Bulletin of the Institute of Geography, Vol. 38, 1999, pp. 7-14. [5] H. Wu, M. Pan, L. Yao and B. Luo, “A Partition-Based Serial Algorithm for Generating Viewshed on Massive DEMs,” International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol. 21, No. 9, 2007, pp. 955-964. doi:10.1080/13658810601034218 [6] P. J. Almeida, P. Relvas, L. Silva, X. F. Catry, C. F. Rego and A. T. Santos, “Wildfires: Portuguese Lookout Towers Network Optimization Using Automatic Positioning Algorithms,” Proceedings of the International Wild Land Fire Conference, Seville, 13-17 May 2007. [7] R. Meraz, “Forest Management Program,” Forest Technical Services in Ejido Pueblo Nuevo, 1998, 215p. [8] G. M. Pompa, “Geographic information System of the Ecosystems of Durango,” 2012. http://www.ujed.mx/sigeed/ Inicio.aspx [9] S. Aronoff, “Geographic Information Systems: A Management Perspective,” WDL Publications, Ottawa, 1995, p. 121. [10] I. Heywood, S. Cornelius and S. Carver, “An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems,” 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, Inc., London, 2002, pp. 128-129. [11] SEMARNAT, “Cartographic Analysis of the National Forest Inventory Using Satellite Images LANDSAT,” SE- MARNAT, México D.F., 2000. [12] Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), “Software ArcMap 9.2,” ESRI, Redlands, 2008.
[1] CONAFOR, “Weekly Report of Results of Forest Fires 2010. Coordination for Conservation and Restoration. Management Office of Forest Fire Protection,” 2010. http://www.conafor.gob.mx:8080/documentos/docs/10/83Repote%20Semanal%202010.pdf [2] FAO, “Forest Fires Devastate More and More Forests around the World,” 9 September 2003. http://www.fao.org/spanish/newsroom/news/2003/21962-es.html [3] G. M. Pompa, M. R. Solís, T. E. Rodríguez, A. A. Pinedo, F. D. ávila, D. J. C. Hernández and B. E. Velasco, “Viewshed Analysis for Improving the Effectiveness of Watchtowers, in the North of Mexico,” Open Forest Science, Vol. 3, 2010, pp. 17-22. doi:10.2174/1874398601003010017 [4] P. J. Palacio, L. G. Luna and L. M. Macías, “Fire Detection in Mexico Using AVHRR Images (1998 Season). Geographical Research,” Bulletin of the Institute of Geography, Vol. 38, 1999, pp. 7-14. [5] H. Wu, M. Pan, L. Yao and B. Luo, “A Partition-Based Serial Algorithm for Generating Viewshed on Massive DEMs,” International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol. 21, No. 9, 2007, pp. 955-964. doi:10.1080/13658810601034218 [6] P. J. Almeida, P. Relvas, L. Silva, X. F. Catry, C. F. Rego and A. T. Santos, “Wildfires: Portuguese Lookout Towers Network Optimization Using Automatic Positioning Algorithms,” Proceedings of the International Wild Land Fire Conference, Seville, 13-17 May 2007. [7] R. Meraz, “Forest Management Program,” Forest Technical Services in Ejido Pueblo Nuevo, 1998, 215p. [8] G. M. Pompa, “Geographic information System of the Ecosystems of Durango,” 2012. http://www.ujed.mx/sigeed/ Inicio.aspx [9] S. Aronoff, “Geographic Information Systems: A Management Perspective,” WDL Publications, Ottawa, 1995, p. 121. [10] I. Heywood, S. Cornelius and S. Carver, “An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems,” 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, Inc., London, 2002, pp. 128-129. [11] SEMARNAT, “Cartographic Analysis of the National Forest Inventory Using Satellite Images LANDSAT,” SE- MARNAT, México D.F., 2000. [12] Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), “Software ArcMap 9.2,” ESRI, Redlands, 2008.