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

Abstract

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.