Mapping the optimal forest road network based on the multicriteria evaluation technique: the case study of Mediterranean Island of Thassos in Greece

The sustainable management of forest resources can only be achieved through a well-organized road network designed with the optimal spatial planning and the minimum environmental impacts. This paper describes the spatial layout mapping for the optimal forest road network and the environmental impacts evaluation that are caused to the natural environment based on the multicriteria evaluation (MCE) technique at the Mediterranean island of Thassos in Greece. Data analysis and its presentation are achieved through a spatial decision support system using the MCE method with the contribution of geographic information systems (GIS). With the use of the MCE technique, we evaluated the human impact intensity to the forest ecosystem as well as the ecosystem’s absorption from the impacts that are caused from the forest roads’ construction. For the human impact intensity evaluation, the criteria that were used are as follows: the forest’s protection percentage, the forest road density, the applied skidding means (with either the use of tractors or the cable logging systems in timber skidding), the timber skidding direction, the visitors’ number and truck load, the distance between forest roads and streams, the distance between forest roads and the forest boundaries, and the probability that the forest roads are located on sights with unstable soils. In addition, for the ecosystem’s absorption evaluation, we used forestry, topographical, and social criteria. The recommended MCE technique which is described in this study provides a powerful, useful, and easy-to-use implement in order to combine the sustainable utilization of natural resources and the environmental protection in Mediterranean ecosystems

Integrated wildfire risk assessment of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems based on simulation modeling and remotely sensed data fusion

Even though wildfires constitute a natural phenomenon, fires of high intensity may provoke profound ecological and socioeconomic implications. Primary aim of the paper constitutes the integrated wildfire risk assessment of a fire-prone region in Greece through the simulation modeling of burn probability (BP) and fire intensity to natural and anthropogenic resources (forests, birds’ habitats, built-up areas, agricultural fields, energy networks etc.), as well as the identification of resources response to fires of differentiated intensity. So, fire modeling constitutes the primary input to wildfire effects determination through the contribution of fire and resources specialists. The predicted fire effects were quantified and mapped through a spatial index of Net Value Change which aggregates the total predicted change in terms of area gained (e.g. forest regeneration) or lost due to fire impacts. The greatest loss from the total area of each resource/asset was predicted to electricity and renewable energy sources networks (−0.48%), followed by mixed forests (−0.47%), residential buildings and assets (−0.43%), coniferous forests (−0.43%), shrubs (−0.4%), broad-leaved forests (−0.27%) and agricultural crops (−0.19%). The mapping of this index demonstrated that the resources which are at high risk are located close to compact flammable material, following the pattern of increased fire intensity and BP. Hence, this framework can strategically and operationally be used to establish a hierarchical priority-based model for optimal allocation of fire resources. This two-stage of analysis allows for an objective quantification of fire effects to a spatial level (i.e. prefecture) where many biophysical attributes might heavily affect the fire modeling outcomes enhancing the credibility of results. © 2022 Elsevier Lt

SUSTAINABLE INDICATORS FOR LAND USE PLANNING EVALUATION: THE CASE OF A SMALL GREEK ISLAND

Sustainable development emphasizes the need for integrating economic development and environmental protection. Land use planning based on sustainable management of natural resources, often requires the combination of economic development and environmental conservation. Small islands demonstrate characteristics which make them particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In addition, small islands due to their small size face environmental risks, because of the pressures arising from the projects and actions aiming at economic development. This paper presents the contribution of a number of criteria and indicators suitable to the critical issue of land use planning for sustainable development in the small Greek island of Skiathos. Also, the paper evaluates the utility of these criteria as tools in spatial planning and land use management

The application of the model of cellular automata (CA) on the island of Skiathos, Greece

CA models are systems consisting of blisters - tesserae which interact in a simple manner even though they exhibit a complicated behavior. These models can produce very complex structures and can be used for exploration of an expanded spectrum of fundamental dynamics and development issues. It is an approach for modeling of open, complex and self-organized systems and emphasizes the ways in which local decisions can lead to the creation of global standards. A CA model is a discrete dynamic system in which space is divided into regular territorial cells and time progresses in discrete steps. Each cell in this system receives a state. The state of each cell is updated in accordance with local rules, for example, the state of a cell of a given moment depends on its situation and the situation of adjacent cells in the previous time step. In this paper, we used the thematic maps of 1996 and 2007 for the island of Skiathos for making the forecast for 2020. From the prediction, it was concluded that in 2020 in the island of Skiathos there would be an increase of urban areas and a reduction of the crop areas, the grasslands and the forest areas. These results would be useful for the spatial and environmental Planning of the island. © by PSP

Review of state-of-the-art decision support systems (DSSs) for prevention and suppression of forest fires

Forest ecosystems are our priceless natural resource and are a key component of the global carbon budget. Forest fires can be a hazard to the viability and sustainable management of forests with consequences for natural and cultural environments, economies, and the life quality of local and regional populations. Thus, the selection of strategies to manage forest fires, while considering both functional and economic efficiency, is of primary importance. The use of decision support systems (DSSs) by managers of forest fires has rapidly increased. This has strengthened capacity to prevent and suppress forest fires while protecting human lives and property. DSSs are a tool that can benefit incident management and decision making and policy, especially for emergencies such as natural disasters. In this study we reviewed state-of-the-art DSSs that use: database management systems and mathematical/economic algorithms for spatial optimization of firefighting forces; forest fire simulators and satellite technology for immediate detection and prediction of evolution of forest fires; GIS platforms that incorporate several tools to manipulate, process and analyze geographic data and develop strategic and operational plans. © 2017, The Author(s)

An eco-efficient and economical optimum evaluation technique for the forest road networks: the case of the mountainous forest of Metsovo, Greece

The sustainable forest management can be achieved only through environmentally sound and economically efficient and feasible forest road networks and transportation systems that can potentially improve the multi-functional use of forest resources. However, road network planning and construction suggest long-term finance that require a capital investment (cash outflow), which would be equal to the value of the total revenue flow (cash inflow) over the whole lifecycle project. This paper emphasizes in an eco-efficient and economical optimum evaluation method for the forest road networks in the mountainous forest of Metsovo, Greece. More specifically, with the use of this technique, we evaluated the forest roads’ (a) total construction costs, (b) annual maintenance cost, and (c) log skidding cost. In addition, we estimated the total economic value of forest goods and services that are lost from the forest roads’ construction. Finally, we assessed the optimum eco-efficient and economical forest roads densities based on linear equations that stem from the internal rate of return method (IRR) and have been presented graphically. Data analysis and its presentation are achieved with the contribution of geographic information systems (GIS). The technique which is described in this study can be for the decision makers an attractive and useful implement in order to select the most eco-friendly and economical optimum solution to plan forest road network or to evaluate the existing forest transportation systems. Hence, with the use of this method, we can combine not only the multi-objective utilization of natural resources but also the environmental protection of forest ecosystems. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

Optimal number and location of watchtowers for immediate detection of forest fires in a small island

A crucial factor for prevention and immediate confrontation of destructive fires and their socioeconomic and environmental consequences constitutes the early detection and spatial localization of fire ignitions, so that the firefighting forces to be activated and act within the critical time of response. Thus, principal objective of the paper constitutes the spatial optimization of the most effective locations of watchtowers developing a constructive network for the immediate and early detection of forest fires. This optimization involves the exploration of the fewest locations for watchtowers with the maximum visible area and reduced degree of overlapping. The results highlighted 4 groups of watchtowers (20 observers in total) determining the optimum locations. The total visibility amounted to 70% of the island, while the visibility percentages per land cover are variable, since they are depended on the spatial structure of them. Definitely, the final selection of the final number and the spatial structure of the watchtowers purely constitute decisions of political nature and will. Copyright © 2017, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited

Development of a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) for the active forest-urban fires management through location planning of mobile fire units

Critical time of response constitutes the foundation for effective and timely forest fires management. It is the milestone for strategic and operational fire planning. Aim of the paper is the development of a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) adopting a top-down approach for the immediate containment of forest and urban fires. The objectives lie in the coupling of strategic and operational nature of fire management, so that the proposed model to be used for real-time purposes. The strategic dimension focus on the location-allocation of fire vehicles to establish effective location schemes adjusted to population dynamics (Wildland Urban Interface). Four spatial patterns of optimal locations were developed based on ideal and realistic critical time of response as well as the current and desired capacity of fire agency. The operational dimension supports the strategic planning objectives through a series of additional sub-models for a second phase optimization (activating and leading the nearest fire vehicle(s) to the affected area through the determination of optimal route; and/or the rerouting in case of road closure due to evolving fires). Therefore, the current SDSS handles the forest and urban fires management in a more comprehensive way, creating an effective link between strategic and operational level. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Mapping the optimal forest road network based on the multicriteria evaluation technique: the case study of Mediterranean Island of Thassos in Greece

The sustainable management of forest resources can only be achieved through a well-organized road network designed with the optimal spatial planning and the minimum environmental impacts. This paper describes the spatial layout mapping for the optimal forest road network and the environmental impacts evaluation that are caused to the natural environment based on the multicriteria evaluation (MCE) technique at the Mediterranean island of Thassos in Greece. Data analysis and its presentation are achieved through a spatial decision support system using the MCE method with the contribution of geographic information systems (GIS). With the use of the MCE technique, we evaluated the human impact intensity to the forest ecosystem as well as the ecosystem’s absorption from the impacts that are caused from the forest roads’ construction. For the human impact intensity evaluation, the criteria that were used are as follows: the forest’s protection percentage, the forest road density, the applied skidding means (with either the use of tractors or the cable logging systems in timber skidding), the timber skidding direction, the visitors’ number and truck load, the distance between forest roads and streams, the distance between forest roads and the forest boundaries, and the probability that the forest roads are located on sights with unstable soils. In addition, for the ecosystem’s absorption evaluation, we used forestry, topographical, and social criteria. The recommended MCE technique which is described in this study provides a powerful, useful, and easy-to-use implement in order to combine the sustainable utilization of natural resources and the environmental protection in Mediterranean ecosystems. © 2015, The Author(s)

Determination of fire risk to assist fire management for insular areas: the case of a small Greek island

Forest fire risk estimation constitutes an essential process to prevent high-intensity fires which are associated with severe implications to the natural and cultural environment. The primary aim of this research was to determine fire risk levels based on the local features of an island, namely, the impact of fuel structures, slope, aspects, as well as the impact of the road network and inhabited regions. The contribution of all the involved factors to forest fires ignition and behavior highlight certain regions which are highly vulnerable. In addition, the influence of both natural and anthropogenic factors to forest fire phenomena is explored. In this study, natural factors play a dominant role compared to anthropogenic factors. Hence essential preventative measures must focus on specific areas and established immediately. Indicative measures may include: the optimal allocation of watchtowers as well as the spatial optimization of mobile firefighting vehicles; and, forest fuel treatments in areas characterized by extremely high fire risk. The added value of this fire prediction tool is that it is highly flexible and could be adopted elsewhere with the necessary adjustments to local characteristics. © 2018, Northeast Forestry University and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature