Importance and Vulnerability Analyses for Functional Zoning in a Coastal District of Turkey

Normal 0 21 false false false TR X-NONE X-NONE Functional zoning of Akcakoca District located along the Western Black Sea Coast of Turkey is achieved by implementing the ‘Methodology for Spatial Planning for the Coastal Zone’ developed by European Union for coastal areas. The aim of applying the methodology was to realize functional zoning of the district that will eventually lead to spatial planning. In this technique, a typical base map at an appropriate scale and thematic layers are prepared for each of the environmental components for further analyses. The possibility to overlap different layers according to a specified procedure and to realize new theme mapping is a considerable factor while using GIS for the functional zoning. Identical grading system has been applied to each layer formed in order to achieve the overall importance and vulnerability maps of especially the natural components of the district. Functional zoning map is further developed through comparing different layers and current land-use information obtained from satellite imagery coupled with the findings of both the importance and vulnerability analyses. This attempt of applying such a methodology was a significant study as it addressed the decision makers on the multi criteria analyses through the visualized maps of different layers.