Моделирование ценности ландшафтов Полярного Урала для летних стоянок оленеводов

Abstract

Introduction. The purpose of the study was to assess the capacity of the Polar Urals eastern macroslope geosystems (the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) to be used as summer camps for reindeer herders. To do that, a set of tools for geoprocessing of spatial data, including remote sensing data were employed. Materials and methods. The algorithm for modeling the site suitability for reindeer herder camps consisted of several stages: formulation of criteria significant for the camp placement; the transformation (formalization) of each criterion values to the unified scale of suitability; the comparison of criteria and their combining to built a suitability map; the preparation of a digital elevation model (DEM); the preparation of a land cover map based on remote sensing data and field descriptions; the construction of partial (factorial) maps of suitability for reindeer herder camps locations; the construction of a resulting map of suitability for reindeer herder camps location based on a combination of private (factor) maps; the model reliability verification through the comparison of simulation results with actual data on the camps location. In the developed model, we accepted three significant criteria identified from the interviewing of reindeer herders during field studies: a surface slope, a distance to watercourses, and a proximity to forest areas. For the first two criteria, a binary assessment-based scale with two possible options (“suitable” and “unsuitable”) was used. For the third criterion (forest proximity), we applied the fuzzy set function MSSmall. In this case, the related transformation resizes the input data by means of the mean and standard deviation where smaller values in the input raster have a higher preference. Results. In the Polar Urals, the optimal conditions for reindeer herder camps are formed in wide glacial valleys and due to a combination of favorable relief conditions with the presence of numerous water bodies, spread of larch small woods and alder forests. The simulation results are well-supported by the actual data. Suggestions for practical application and direction of future research. The logical structure of the developed model may serve as a basis for repeated step-by-step analysis via original variables replacement. This could be an expansion/replacement of the study area, a time interval extension, an introduction of a number of clarifying criteria, an empirical selection of limiting parameters, the criteria used based on a more in-depth sociological and geographical analysis.