Percent tree cover is the percentage of the ground surface area covered by a vertical projection of the outermost perimeter of the plants. It is an important indicator to reveal the condition of forest systems and has a significant importance for ecosystem models as a main input. The aim of this study is to estimate the percent tree cover of various forest stands in a Mediterranean environment based on an empirical relationship between tree coverage and remotely sensed data in Goksu Watershed located at the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. A regression tree algorithm was used to simulate spatial fractions of Pinus nigra, Cedrus libani, Pinus brutia, Juniperus excelsa and Quercus cerris using multi-temporal LANDSAT TM/ETM data as predictor variables and land cover information. Two scenes of high resolution GeoEye-1 images were employed for training and testing the model. The predictor variables were incorporated in addition to biophysical variables estimated from the LANDSAT TM/ETM data. Additionally, normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) was incorporated to LANDSAT TM/ETM band settings as a biophysical variable. Stepwise linear regression (SLR) was applied for selecting the relevant bands to employ in regression tree process. SLR-selected variables produced accurate results in the model with a high correlation coefficient of 0.80. The output values ranged from 0 to 100 %. The different tree species were mapped in 30 m resolution in respect to elevation. Percent tree cover map as a final output was derived using LANDSAT TM/ETM image over Goksu Watershed and the biophysical variables. The results were tested using high spatial resolution GeoEye-1 images. Thus, the combination of the RT algorithm and higher resolution data for percent tree cover mapping were tested and examined in a complex Mediterranean environment.

Aim : Methodology :Results : Interpretation :Lake Mogan, having high ecological and cultural significance, has been under intense pressure of urbanization and industrialization due to its location on the periphery of the capital Ankara. In this study, we analyzed data from satellite remote sensing, Geographic Information System and Cellular Automata Markov Chain modelling to predict land use/cover changes in Lake Mogan and surrounding areas.Three images recorded in 1975 and 1999 (air photos) and 2009 (Quickbird image) were used to detect the land use/cover changes over the time. An object-based supervised classification approach to simulate changes in the study area for the future was performed. Land use/cover changes for the year 2029 was modelled using Cellular Automata Markov Chain Analysis with the support of suitability analysis.The results indicated that most of the agricultural areas will be converted into settlements over the next 40 years. Modelling results for 2029 also showed that land degradation activities are likely to continue in the future.According to model on land use changes in Lake Mogan and surrounding areas, there is an immediate need to take long-term measures for sustainable land development based on the regional scales, preferably on the basin level.

ÖzetKent yaşamının, trafik, stres, gürültü ve yapılı çevre içinde sıkışmış rutin yaşam tarzı insanları doğaya ve doğal yaşama doğru yönlendirmektedir. Koruyarak doğayı yaşama, keşfetme, farklı kültürleri anlama, yereldeki kaynakları ve getirisini yerel halkla paylaşma, yerel ve doğal kaynakların sürdürülebilir kullanımı ile mümkündür. Bu faaliyetler doğal kaynakların ekonomiye kazandırılması, kırsal kesimde yaşayanların hayat standartlarının yükseltilmesi, turizm alanlarının, faaliyetlerinin ve gelirlerinin çeşitlendirilmesi ve artırılması konularıyla da örtüşen ortak hedefler içermektedir. Doğa turizmi faaliyetlerinin çoğunluğu flora tabanlı faaliyetlerdir. Marmara Bölgesi ve özellikle Bursa, biyoçeşitlilik ve yoğun florası ile ülkemizin doğa turizmi açısından Karadeniz Bölgesi'nden sonra en önemli alanlarıdır. Coğrafi konumu, sahip olduğu zengin ve yoğun orman alanları ve Uludağ Milli Parkı, Bursa'yı botanik turizmi, foto safari, doğa yürüyüşü, doğa gözlemciliği, tıbbi bitkilere bağlı sağlık turizmi, macera oyunları turizmi gibi floraya bağlı doğa turizmi alanlarında merkez olabilecek bir konuma taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmada Bursa'da ekoturizmin çeşitlendirilmesi ve canlandırılması için floraya bağlı doğa turizmi faaliyetleri açısından Bursa'nın sahip olduğu potansiyel ortaya konulmuş, SWOT analizi ile değerlendirilmiş ve öneriler oluşturulmuştur. AbstractThe routine lifestyle of the urban environment that are stuck in the traffic, stress, noise and built environment directs people towards the nature and natural life. Nesting life with nature and recreation in the natural environment has become the dream of everyone living in the city. The efforts of the living nature by protecting, discovering, understanding different cultures, to share local resources and returns with local people, sustainable use of local and natural resources has brought up nature tourism activities. These activities have included common objectives with the general social goals like acquisition of natural resources into the economy, raising living standards of rural people, tourism areas, activities and revenues diversification and boosting. The majority of nature tourism activities are related with the natural flora. Marmara Region and especially Bursa, with its biodiversity and intensive flora, are the most important areas of our country after the Black Sea Region in terms of nature tourism. Botanical tourism, photo safari, hiking, nature watching, health tourism related to medical plants, adventure games tourism is flora connected nature tourism activities. Geographical location, rich and dense forest areas and the Uludag National Park put Bursa in a position to be the center of nature tourism. In this study, the potential of Bursa in terms of nature tourism related to flora has revealed.

The application of geospatial information technologies have increased recently due to increase in data sources from the earth sciences. The systematic data collection, storage and processing together with data transformation require geospatial information technologies. Rapidly developing computer technology has become an effective tool in design and physical planning in international platforms. Especially, the availability of geospatial information technologies (remote sensing, GIS, spatial models and GPS) for diverse disciplines and the capability of these technologies in data conversion from two dimensions to the three dimension provide great efficiency. This study explores how digital technologies are reshaping physical planning and design. While the potential of digital technologies is well documented within physical planning and visualisation, its application within practice is far less understood. This paper highlights the role of the geospatial information technologies in encouraging a new planning and design logic that moves from the privileging of the visual to a focus on processes of formation, bridging the interface of the earth science and physical planning.