APLICACIÓN DE SIG PARA LA OBTENCIÓN DE UNIDADES EDAFOAMBIENTALES EN EL SUROESTE DE LA PENÍNSULA IBÉRICA

Abstract

The development of geographic information systems (GIS) and their application in various disciplines, including ecology and environmental science, has led to the generation of thematic maps and hedges, which can be combined in order to analyze possible interactions between different variables. Our study area is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, EUROACE, comprising the regions of Alentejo and Centro (Portugal) and Extremadura (Spain) with an extension of 92.532Km2. For the preparation of the efapho-envirnomental units were started from lithological information, slope and vegetation (Corine Land Cover, CLC). They were established as lithological categories: alluvial and colluvial, limestone, quarzites, dunes, granite, slate and plutonic and igneous rocks. The CLC has been reclassified into 10 categories: montado, conifers, wetlands, scrub, other forests, meadows and pastizle, dryland, irrigated crops and other coastal vegetation. As for the relief, they are classified into 6 categories, from "flat" a "steep". GIS maps produced using lithology, vegetation and slope for efapho-envirnomental units in order to perform a detailed analysis of the area combined. As a result were obtained 251 efapho-envirnomental units maximum possible units, fragmented in a total of 52,783 polygons.