Using Principe Component Analysis to Identify the Most Important Criteria on the Preferences of Walking Tracks of Ziarat Watershed Basin

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

2 Assoc. Profe. of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

3 Assist. Profe. of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

Abstract

Paying attention to the landscape values will increase the credibility and value of its walking tracks. Regarding the importance of walking tracks in creating the sense of tranquility, security, and beauty for human beings, it is essential to preserve and improve the scenic beauty and quality of these routes. Recognition of effective criteria on landscape values is one of the important factors in tourist attraction that might lead to economic development of the region. Ziarat watershed basin with its beautiful landscapes is one of the most famous tourist destinations of Golestan province. The purpose of this study is to determine the most important criteria for selecting and prioritizing the routes which has been done using a questionnaire survey and principle components analysis method. The questionnaire was distributed among 388 visitors of the study area and the results were analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that among 22 surveyed criteria in this study, 6 criteria including route length, diversity of vegetation density, cleanliness, texture diversity, directional signs and shape of the route (direct trails or complex trails) are more important criteria for visitors. The results of this research could be used to improve the route landscapes and their quality, attract more tourists, and provide a framework for selecting and classifying the routes.

Keywords

References

Abbaszadeh, Sh. & Tamari. 2013. Analysis of Factors Affecting the Improvement of Pedestrian Walkway Spatial Quality and Pedestrian-oriented Spaces, in order to Increase the Social Interactions Level of People (The case study: Tarbiat & Valiasr axis, Tabriz metropolitan). Journal of Urban Studies. 4: 1-10. (in Persian).
Ahmadfaraj, M.; Mirmohammadi, M. & Afzal, P. 2016. Application of fractal modeling and PCA method for hydrothermal alteration mapping in the Saveh area (Central Iran) based on ASTER multispectral data. 50 (1): 37-48.
Akhgari Sang atash, Z. 2017. Evaluation of visual quality of urban landscape (Case study: Mashhad and Gorgan), Master Thesis. 131 p. (in persian).
Alivand, M.; Hochimair, H. & Srinivasan, S. 2015. Analyzing how travelers choose scenic routes using route choice models. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 50, 41-52.
Askari, A. 2012. Comprehensive guide to univariate and multivariate data analysis, Shiraz: Kooshamehr Publications, 446 p. (in Persian).
Baker, K.; Ooms, K.; Verstockt, S.; Brackman, P. & De Maeyer, P. 2016. Crowdsourcing a cyclist perspective on suggested recreational paths in real-world networks. Cartography and Geographic Information Science. 44 (5): 422-435.
Ballantyne, M.; Gudes, O. & Pickering, C. M. 2014. Recreational trails are an important cause of fragmentation in endangered urban forests: A case-study from Australia. Landscape and Urban Planning. 130, 112-124.
De Valek͵ J. Landuyt͵ D. Broekx͵ S. Liekens͵ I. De Nocker͵ L. & Vranken͵ L. 2017. Outdoor recreation in various landscapes: Which site characteristics really matter?. Land Use Policy 65, 186-197.
Ermoian, D.W. 2003. Validation of a fractal visualization method for factor analytic structures. Arizona State University.
Kanooni, R.; Razavian, M. T. & Moslemi, A. 2016. Strategic Planning for Improving the Spatial Qualities of pedestrian paths landscape in Tehran (Case study: 17 Shahrivar pedestrian path), Bi-Quarterly Journal of Urban Landscape Research, 3 (5): 67-79. (in Persian).
Makhdoom, M. 2011. Design and engineering of national and forest parks. University Publication Center. 128 p. (in Persian).
Mirhosseini, S. A. 2017. Identification and prioritization of indicators and criteria of natural sustainable tourism in desert areas (Case study: Yazd province). Journal of Geography (Regional Planning). 7 (4): 58-45. (in Persian).
Mirkarimi, S. H.; Saeidi, S.; Mohammadzadeh, M. & Salman Mahini, A. A. 2014. Application of PCA method in landscape visual quality assessment, Case study: Ziarat watershed of Golestan province. Journal of Environmental Science. 40 (2): 462-451. (in Persian).
Mohaddes, F. 2010. Principal Component and Factor Analysis (Case Study: Assets Price Evaluation and Inflation Impacts, Economic Research and Policy Department Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1-55. (in Persian).
Mohammadi, M. & Changolvaeay, Y. 2013. Evaluation of the parameters of urban space quality on the desirability of tourist sidewalks, Scientific-Research Journal of the Scientific Association of Architecture and Urban Planning of Iran, 5: 15-32. (in Persian).
Motavali, M. 2010. Surveying and studying of aesthetic value in urban landscapes based on the concept of consecutive views, 5: 123-139. (in Persian).
Muharramnejad, N. & Noorbakhsh, S. Z. 2016. Developing Sustainable Ecotourism Management in Khoshkedaran  National Natural Monument Using AHP and SWOT Methods. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 18 (2): 326-319. (in Persian).
 HYPERLINK "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Pearson" o "Karl Pearson" Pearson, K. 1901.  HYPERLINK "https://zenodo.org/record/1430636" On Lines and Planes of Closest Fit to Systems of Points in Space. Philosophical Magazine. 2 (11): 559–572.  HYPERLINK "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" o "Doi (identifier)" doi: HYPERLINK "https://doi.org/10.1080%2F14786440109462720" 10.1080/14786440109462720
Peykanpour, P.; Bozorgi, M. & Moin, M. 2015. Using AHP method in order to categorize recreational area (Case study: Bazaft, Choghakhor and Saman tourism sample areas in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province). International Conference on Science and Technology. 13-1. (in Persian).
Rafiani khachak, P.; Mohammadzadeh, M. & Mirkarimi, S. H. 2013. Guidelines of walking tracks development in recreational areas, Journal of Tourism Management Studies, 8 (21): 165-145. (in Persian).
Sadeghi, M.; Roshandel kahoo, A.; Siah koohi, H. R. & Heydarian, A. R. 2014. Display of buried canals using principal component analysis method. Journal of Earth and Space Physics. 40 (1): 56-45. (in Persian).
Saeidi, S. 2013. Visual quality assessment and modeling of aesthetic values along walking tracks of Ziarat watershed, M.Sc. Thesis 168 pp. (in Persian).
Saeidi, S.; Mohammadzadeh, M.; Salman Mahini, A. & Mirkarimi, S. H. 2016. Identifying the Most Important Criteria Affecting Landscape Visual Quality. Environmental science and technology, 18 (3): 280-288. (in Persian).
Shamsuddin, H.; Jalali, V. R. & Jafari, A. 2014. Application of multivariate statistical methods and environmental indicators in assessing the distribution of heavy metals. Journal of Soil and Water Resources Protection. 4 (3): 75-66. (in Persian).
Shaykh al-Islami, A. R.; Bagheri Khalili, F. & Mahmoud Abadi. A. 2012. Reduction of input variables in the modeling process of freeway accidents using the principal component analysis method. 3 (4): 338-325. (in Persian).
Sheikhi, H. & Rezaei, M. 2017. Evaluating environmental quality of walking- based urban spaces and social responding (case study: Ferdowsi Street of Ilam), Research and Urban planning, 8 (29): 83-98. (in Persian).
Smith, L.I. 2002. A tutorial on Principal Components Analysis. P. 27.
Taylor͵ P. 2015. What factors make rail trails successful as tourism attractions? Developing a conceptual framework from relevant literature. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. 12: 89-98.
Wood͵ F. 2009. Principal Component Analysis. P. 33.
Zare Chahuki, M. H. 2010. Multivariate analysis methods in SPSS software. University of Tehran, Faculty of Natural Resources. 35-1. (in Persian).
Environmental Researches
Volume 12, Issue 23
Recerches
September 2021
Pages 81-90

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics