A statistical approach to estimates of geomorphological-morphotectonic diversity for evaluating the scientific value of geosites: a case study from the southeastern Lut desert, Iran
PDF

Keywords

diversity index
geomorphosite
topography
statistical rating

How to Cite

Sadeghi-Farshbaf, P., Khatib, M. M., & Rezaei, N. (2020). A statistical approach to estimates of geomorphological-morphotectonic diversity for evaluating the scientific value of geosites: a case study from the southeastern Lut desert, Iran. Geologos, 26(1), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.2478/logos-2020-0006

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the diversity index (dv-index) of morphotectonic and geomorphological land-forms as one of the scientific value indices for evaluation of the geotouristic potential of the southeastern Lut desert using topographic statistical analysis. Scientific index scoring in most models is based on descriptive assessment by geotourists and experts. Statistical analysis of the dv-index in the present study helps experts to base their scoring on scientific methods. The dv-index is controlled by several items. In the present study, we analyse two of these, including the classification of topographic continuity pattern (TCP) and topographic slope position correlation (TSPC). For this purpose, a network of section lines is used to analyse slope continuity. The TSPC analysis is performed by using two parameters of absolute value and slope position. Results for these two evaluated items indicate a score of 1.46 (out of 2) for the dv-index. Given a rating of 5, the score obtained for the two items is a high one. Therefore, an initial estimate of the dv-index indicates a significant scientific value of the study area.

https://doi.org/10.2478/logos-2020-0006
PDF

References

Adeyemi, T.O., 2011. The effective use of standard scores for research in educational management. Research Journal of Mathematics and Statistics 3, 91–96.

Agard, P., Omrani, J., Jolivet, L. & Mouthereau, F., 2005. Convergence history across Zagros (Iran): constraints from collisional and earlier deformation. International Journal of Earth Sciences 94, 401–419.

Alexander, J. & Leeder, M.R., 1987. Active tectonic control on alluvial architecture. [In:] F.G. Ethridge, R.M. Flores & M.D. Harvey (Eds): Recent Development in Fluvial Sedimentology. SEPM, Tulsa, Special Publication, 39, 243–252.

Berberian, M., 1995. Master “blind” thrust faults hidden under the Zagros folds: active basement tectonics and surface morphotectonics. Tectonophysics 241, 193–224.

Buckley, R., 2003. Environmental inputs and outputs in ecotourism: Geotourism with a positive triple bottom line? Journal of Ecotourism 2, 76–82.

Burlando, M., Firpo, M., Queirolo, C., Rovere, A. & Vacchi, M., 2011. From geoheritage to sustainable development: strategies and perspectives in the Beigua Geopark (Italy). Geoheritage 3, 63–72.

Comanescu, L., Nedelea, A. & Dobre, R., 2012. The Evaluation of Geomorphosites from the Ponoare Protected Area. Forum Geografici Studii și Cercetări de Geografie și Protecția Mediului 11, 54–61.

Coratza, P. & Giusti, C., 2005. Methodological proposal for the assessment of the scientific quality of geomorphosites. Il Quaternario 18, 307–313.

Corbí, H., Fierro, I., Aberasturi, A. & Ferris, E.J.S., 2018. Potential use of a significant scientific geosite: the Messinian coral reef of Santa Pola (SE Spain). Geoheritage 10, 427–441.

Dowling, R. & Newsome, D., 2006. Geotourism’s issues and challenges. Geotourism 242–254.

Drewes, H., 1972. Geological Survey Professional Paper 717–719. U.S. Government Printing Office, California, 350 pp.

Ehsani, A.H. & Quiel, F., 2008. Application of self organizing map and SRTM data to characterize yardangs in the Lut desert, Iran. Remote Sensing of Environment 112, 3284–3294.

Farbod, Y., Bellier, O., Shabanian, E. & Abbassi, M.R., 2011. Geomorphic and structural variations along the Doruneh Fault System (central Iran). Tectonics 30, TC6014.

Farsani, N.T., Coelho, C.O. & Costa, C., 2013. Rural geotourism: A new tourism product. Acta Geoturistica 4, 1–10.

Ferrer-Valero, N., 2018. Measuring geomorphological diversity on coastal environments: A new approach to geodiversity. Geomorphology 318, 217–229.

Forte, J.P., Brilha, J., Pereira, D.I. & Nolasco, M., 2018. Kernel density applied to the quantitative assessment of geodiversity. Geoheritage 10, 205–217.

Ghodsi, M., 2017. Morphometric characteristics of Yardangs in the Lut Desert, Iran. Desert 22, 21–29.

Habibi, T., Golubova, N.V. & Ruban, D.A., 2017. New evidence of highly-complex geological heritage in Iran: Miocene sections in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt. Geo-ResJ 13, 96–102.

Hadžić, O., Marković, S.B., Vasiljević, D.A. & Nedeljković, M., 2010. A Dynamical Model for Assessing Tourism Market Attractiveness of a Geosite. 1st International Conference on Geoheritage & Geotourism Research GEOTRENDS 2010, Novi Sad. Abstract book, 23–27.

Horváth, G. & Csüllög, G., 2012. The role of ecotourism and Geoheritage in the spatial development of former mining regions. [In:] P. Wirth, MB. Cernic & W. Fischer (Eds): Post-mining regions in Central Europe, Problems, Potentials, Possibilities. Oekom Verlag, Muenchen, 226–240.

Hose, T.A., 2012. 3G’s for modern geotourism. Geoheritage 4, 7–24.

Hosseinzadeh, M.M., Khaleghi, S., Maromi, H.Z. & Sadough, S.H., 2018. Geomorphosite assesment in Qeshm Geopark (Iran). Turizam: Medunarodni znanstveno-stručni časopis 66, 428–442.

Hurtado, H., Dowling, R. & Sanders, D., 2014. An exploratory study to develop a geotourism typology model. International Journal of Tourism Research 16, 608–613.

Jana, J., Matúš, J. & Gejza, M.T., 2016. Social tourism, its clients and perspectives. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 7, 42–52.

Kreyszig, E., 1979. Applied Mathematics. Wiley Press, New York, 880 pp.

Kubalíková, L., Kirchner, K., & Bajer, A., 2017. Secondary geodiversity and its potential for urban geotourism: a case study from Brno city, Czech Republic. Quaestiones Geographicae 36, 63–73.

Maghsoudi, M. & Emadoldin, S., 2007. Evaluation of geotourism properties of the Lut desert landforms. Tourism Management Studies 6, 95–108 (in Persian).

Maghsoudi, M., Hajizadeh, A., Nezammahalleh, M.A. & Bayati Sedaghat, Z., 2017. New method for measurement of barchans parameters Case study: Lut desert, Iran. Desert 22, 11–19.

Mehdipour Ghazi, J., Ólafsdóttir, R., Tongkul, F. & Mehdipour Ghazi, J., 2013. Geological features for geotourism in the western part of Sahand Volcano, NW Iran. Geoheritage 5, 23–34.

Melelli, L., 2019. Geotourism through multimedia exhibition: improving the access to Urban Geoheritage. Resources 8, 148.

Melelli, L., Vergari, F., Liucci, L. & Del Monte, M., 2017. Geomorphodiversity index: Quantifying the diversity of landforms and physical landscape. Science of the Total Environment 584, 701–714.

Mikhailenko, A.V., & Ruban, D.A., 2019. Geo-heritage specific visibility as an important parameter in geo-tourism resource evaluation. Geosciences 9, 146.

Moghimi, E., 2009. comparative study of changing drainage basin system with tectonic forms, case study: Lut block, Iran. American Journal of Applied Sciences 6, 1270.

Nemanj, T., 2011. The potential of Lazar Canyon (Serbia) as a geotourism destination: Inventory and evaluation. Geographica Pannonica 15, 103–112.

Neukrug, E.S. & Fawcett, R.C., 2014. Essentials of testing and assessment: A practical guide for counselors, social workers, and psychologists. Cengage Learning, Mason, 368 pp.

Oliver, T. & Jenkins, T., 2003. Sustaining rural landscapes: The role of integrated tourism. Landscape Research 28, 293–307.

Panizza, M., 2001. Geomorphosites: Concepts, methods and examples of geomorphological survey. Chinese Science Bulletin 46, 4–5.

Patro, S. & Sahu, K.K., 2015. Normalization: A preprocessing stage. International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology 2, 20–22.

Pereira, D., Brilha, J. & Dias, G., 2008. Master’s course on Geological Heritage and Geoconservation. European Geologist 26, 29–31.

Pica, A., Vergari, F., Fredi, P. & Del Monte, M., 2016. The Aeterna Urbs geomorphological heritage (Rome, Italy). Geoheritage 8, 31–42.

Reynard, E. & Brilha, J., 2017. Geoheritage: assessment, protection, and management. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 482 pp.

Reynard, E. & Panizza, M., 2005. Geomorphosites: definition, assessment and mapping. An introduction. Géomorphologie: Relief, Processes, Environnement 11, 177–180.

Reynard, E., Pica, A. & Coratza, P., 2017. Urban geomorphological heritage. An overview. Quaestiones Geographicae 36, 7–20.

Rocha, F. & da Silva, E.F., 2014. Geotourism, medical geology and local development: Cape Verde case study. Journal of African Earth Sciences 99, 735–742.

Rodrigues, M.L., Machado, C.R. & Freire, E., 2011. Geotourism routes in urban areas: a preliminary approach to the Lisbon geoheritage survey. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites 8, 281–294.

Salvia, J., Ysseldyke, J. & Witmer, S., 2012. Assessment: In special and inclusive education. Cengage Learning, Mason, 432 pp.

Scheyvens, R., 1999. Ecotourism and the empoverment of local communities. Tourism Management 20, 245–249.

Stocklin, J., 1968. Structural history and tectonics of Iran: a review. AAPG Bulletin 52, 1229–1258.

Stoffelen, A. & Vanneste, D., 2015. An integrative geotourism approach: Bridging conflicts in tourism landscape research. Tourism Geographies 17, 544-560.

Suzuki, D.A. & Takagi, H., 2018. Evaluation of geosite for sustainable planning and management in geotourism. Geoheritage 10, 123–135.

Taherpour Khalil Abad, M., Valipour, F., Ibrahim, M., Torshizian, H.A., Taherpour Khalil Abad, V. & Asmaryan, S., 2012. The geotourism potential investigations in Kashmar Area, Khorasan-e-Razavi Province, NE Iran. Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences 4, 51–60.

Vico, G. & Porporato, A., 2009. Probabilistic description of topographic slope and aspect. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 114(F1).

Vincent, S.J., Allen, M.B., Ismail-Zadeh, A.D., Flecker, R., Foland, K.A., & Simmons, M.D., 2005. Insights from the Talysh of Azerbaijan into the Paleogene evolution of the South Caspian region. Geological Society of America Bulletin 117, 1513–1533.

Walker, R.T., Gans, P., Allen, M. B., Jackson, J., Khatib, M., Marsh, N. & Zarrinkoub, M., 2009. Late Cenozoic volcanism and rates of active faulting in eastern Iran. Geophysical Journal International 177, 783–805.

Wimberley, R.C., 1975. A program for the T-score normal standardizing transformation. Educational and Psychological Measurement 35, 693–695.

Zwoliński, Z., Najwer, A. & Giardino, M., 2018. Methods for assessing geodiversity. [In:] Geoheritage, Elsevier, pp. 27–52.