Recognizing the existing potentials of Iran in identification of Natural Resources for Ecological Studies with a Land Use Planning Approach

Alireza Gharagozlu
Manager of Public Relations and International Affairs of National Cartographic Center of Iran
Bs in Survey Engineering and MS & PhD in Environmental Management
Email: agharagozlu@yahoo.com


Abstract
While Spatial information is a prerequisite for sustainable development, the lack of such information is quite tangible in some parts of the world.

By providing spatial information which is an important tool for decision making in land use planning ,National Mapping Agencies provide an effective mean to monitor environment of the globe and so their role in sustainability of development in planning is quite unique and essential.

In this paper, it is tried to study the role and level of accessibility to accurate information of the land or in fact the identification card of the land ie. topographic maps , aerial photos , satellite images and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in national level so as to identify the resources for ecological studies with a land use planning approach and to reveal the existing potentials of the country .

In the introduction, first the environmental conditions of Iran is considered and explained and then the process of implementing the projects with and without land use planning approach is presented and then a model of general approaches in land use planning is designed and presented.

In continue, the methods of resource identification including interpretation of topographic maps, aerial photographs and satellite images and automatic interpretation by using computer and the existing potentials of Iran in this field are introduced.

Finally the proper models for data gathering and analysis and planning in a national level by using GIS with a land use planning approach and Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) methods for sustainable development are presented.