Geospatial Model as Strategy to Prevent Forest Fires: A Case Study

Marín  Pompa-García; Maico  Zapata-Molina; Ciro  Hernández-Díaz; Efraín  Rodríguez-Téllez

doi:10.4236/jep.2012.39120

Marín Pompa-García, Maico Zapata-Molina, Ciro Hernández-Díaz, Efraín Rodríguez-Téllez

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.

Keywords: Viewshed Analysis; Watchtowers; Forest Fires

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.

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