On the relationship between landforms and land use in tropical dry developing countries. A GIS and multivariate statistical approach

Geomorphological inquiry has addressed the relation of cultural landscape features, such as land use, with landforms in different environments and under different land use regimes. Usually, these complex relationships have been pursuit by simple map overlaying in a geographic information system (GIS...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Segundo Métay, Itzi Gael, Bocco, Gerardo, Velázquez, Alejandro, Gajewski, Konrad
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Investigaciones Geográficas
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/56438
Acceso en línea:https://www.investigacionesgeograficas.unam.mx/index.php/rig/article/view/56438
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:landforms
land use
GIS
spatial correlation
Mexico
geoformas
uso del suelo
SIG
correlación espacial
México
Descripción
Sumario:Geomorphological inquiry has addressed the relation of cultural landscape features, such as land use, with landforms in different environments and under different land use regimes. Usually, these complex relationships have been pursuit by simple map overlaying in a geographic information system (GIS). This research argues that the results of map overlaying need to be followed by statistical analyses to properly depict the nature of such relationships. The paper explores the quantitative relation between landforms and land use in a highly geographically complex region in the tropical dry Mexican Pacific coast. Data collection encompassed two phases: preliminary satellite image interpretation, and field verification and ground survey. Digitized and orthorectified layers were incorporated and overlain in a GIS. Correspondence Analysis (CA) was used to identify correlations among land uses and landforms. Results showed a significant correspondence between geomorphic and land use entities. Fluvial landforms were associated to simpler patterns of human activity. Denudational landforms, on the other hand, depicted more complex and diverse land use patterns. Agricultural and grazing activities occurred in both gentle, fluvial landforms, and steep denudational landforms. Results were discussed in the light of their relevance for land use planning. This approach may strengthen decision making procedures particularly in such areas where applied geographic data need to be created to perform sound land use planning at the local scale.