Water Resources Suitability Model by Using GIS (Case Study: Borujerd Rangeland, Sarab Sefid)

Document Type: Research and Full Length Article

Authors

1 Islamic Azad University, Borujerd Branch, Borujerd, Lorestan,

2 Academic Center for Education, Cultural and Research, Kermanshah

3 Department of Rangeland Management, Young Researchers Club, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd

4 Faculty Member, College of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Booshehr Branch

Abstract

Water resources suitability is one of the most important factors to sustainability
utilization of natural potential by rangeland grazing suitability. To determine this factor in
short time, low cost and high accuracy are most challenges of experts and ranchers. Using
suitable technique for this subject can be sustainable utilization comprising from rangeland
ecosystems according to its degradation and heavy grazing. This research was conducted in
Boroujerd Sarab Sefid rangeland, Lorestan province, Iran from 2011 to 2012. Some factors
such as slope, height and direction maps provided by using satellite images, basic
information, analog and digitized maps such as; topographic and DEM (Digital Elevation
Model). Also measurements of field were conducted by excursion and interview with
herders to determine places of water resources such as permanent and temporary springs
and permanent and temporary rivers too. Water resources area's map was prepared by
using Arc GIS9.3 software with integration of digitized information and field data. At the
end water resources suitability were determined by using three sub models such as
quantity, quality and distance from water resources. Results show that all of 16 plant
vegetation types were dropped in І and П classes of water resources suitability which
didn‟t have any limitation according to quantity and quality and distance of animal
husbandry and livestock. As a final conclusion this research shows that using RS and GIS
could be useful to water resources suitability of rangeland ecosystems with low cost and
high accuracy and speed, if consider standards and criteria of using GIS and RS.

Keywords

Journal of Rangeland Science

Volume 3, Issue 2
Spring 2013
Pages 177-188

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