Suitable site selections for gabion check dams construction using analytical hierarchy process and decision making methods

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Alumnus Watershed management, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

2 Ph.D Student of Watershed management, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

3 Ph.D alumnus in Watershed management, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Nowadays, soil erosion and sediment production are one of the problems facing human communities, which lead to less land productivity, low surface water quality, dam reservoir reduction and poor food production Third world and developing countries are not exceptions to this Problem, on the other hand, in these countries because of leakage of financial resources, scientific and meticulous planning is essential to combat problems and to prioritize areas for efficient use of limited resources. Therefore, in this research is an attempt to determine proper location for check dam constructions. Due to information required for decision-making in selecting appropriate regions and due to high intricacy of the effective parameters and high heterogeneity of the area, the spatial analysis in ArcGIS was used for Siazakh basin in Kurdistan province. So that, for determining proper location of check dams, the required basic data, field surveying, maps and other information produced using ARC-GIS, Autodesk-map, ENVI and Expert choice. After that, dendritic model was designed, which, consists of determining hierarchical levels. This hierarchical level contains a set of objects, criteria and Sub criteria. Later, standardization of factors, weighting the criteria and sub criteria was done based on AHP method. Paired test of criteria and sub-criteria (1-9 value) was performed using Expert choice software. Then, quantitative criteria (including: erosion, run off, watershed accessibility and watershed related characteristics criteria) combined with qualitative criteria (socio-economic criteria). Each of these criteria includes sub-criteria. Basin's prioritizing map was produced in GIS by preparation of criteria and sub-criteria map. Waterway map overlaid with prioritizing map and then among 946 waterways, 36 waterways were prioritized and allocated using Expert Choice software.

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