Abstract:

This paper aimed at evaluating the natural environment features of the Kuseyr Plateau, one of the most important geomorphological units of the Hatay province, in terms of human relations separately, and analyzing them via Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques. As a matter of fact, the evaluation and analysis of natural environment features were considered significant for ensuring sustainable usage, conservation of natural resources, economical establishment and usage of investments, and the prevention of the experience of natural events as a disaster. 1/25.000 scale topographic maps and various maps obtained from different sources were used in the present study. The multiple criteria decision making method was used by means of the GIS based ArcGIS/ArcMap 10.0 package. It was concluded that there was a multidimensional and complex relationship between natural environment and people affected by all natural environment features in the study area, mostly directed by people. Such relationship had a high sensitivity level in more than half of the study area. The intensity of settlement and agricultural activities was the main factor influential on the distribution of such sensitivity levels. Thus, the below mentioned steps should be taken in order to bring the said relationship to the required level and provide it with a sustainable characteristic. All in all, more concrete results may be obtained if natural environment features are analyzed, besides the examination of their spatial distribution, in terms of their degrees of influence on people via GIS techniques rather than their mere explanation.

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