Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS)

Abstract Abstract
Introduction: Ecotourism and geotourism, as specialized branches of sustainable tourism, play a vital role in the conservation of natural resources and geological heritage. Ecotourism promotes responsible tourism in pristine natural environments, focusing on the conservation of biodiversity and promoting the participation of local communities. While geotourism emphasizes the identification, conservation, and scientific and educational exploitation of geosites and geomorphosites of geological value, these two complementary approaches provide a comprehensive framework for the sustainable development of natural and cultural tourism.
Research Method: In this study, the geotourism potential of ten regions was assessed using two valid methods: Facilus and Nicolas. The Facilus model, emphasizing scientific, tourism, and conservation value indicators, and the Nicolas model, with a multi-criteria approach including scientific and educational value, geological diversity, ecological and cultural value, conservation threats, and usability, provided accurate quantitative and qualitative analyses of geotourism potential.
Conclusion: In the study of prominent geotourism and ecotourism areas in the two cities of Khalkhal and Kowsar, the results showed that the Firouzabad geosite and Aznav village, by obtaining the highest scores in both models, were recognized as key areas for the development of scientific, educational geotourism and environmental protection. Also, combining data from these two models allowed for accurate identification of the strengths and weaknesses of each region and the provision of targeted management solutions to promote tourism conservation and development. This study emphasizes the need for simultaneous use of multi-criteria models for comprehensive assessment of geosites and suggests that in future studies, economic and social indicators should also be considered in order to achieve comprehensive and sustainable tourism development.

Abstract Background and Objective: The optimal location of military bases is one of the major challenges in the planning and development of defense infrastructure. Selecting an appropriate site for these facilities requires a thorough assessment of various environmental, strategic, and social factors to ensure security while minimizing negative impacts on natural resources and communities.
Methodology: In this study, the optimal location of military bases in Khalkhal County was determined using remote sensing data and the Analytic Network Process (ANP) model within a GIS environment. For this purpose, 12 effective variables were considered, including distance from rivers, geology, elevation, slope, slope direction, land use, vegetation cover, distance from faults, distance from roads, distance from villages, distance from cities, and soil type. The required data were extracted from various sources, such as ASTER sensor images, GLC-FCS30D database, Sentinel-2 satellite images, and geological maps. In the ANP process, criteria were initially classified into two clusters: natural and human-made, and then, pairwise comparisons were performed using Super Decisions software to determine the relative weights of the criteria. Subsequently, the initial, weighted, and final supermatrices were formed to determine the final weight of the criteria.
Results and Findings: The results indicated that areas with medium vegetation cover, slopes less than 10 degrees, brown steppe soils, and barren land are more favorable for the establishment of military bases. Furthermore, appropriate distances from faults, rivers, and human settlements were considered as key factors in decision-making. Analysis of elevation, slope, slope direction, vegetation cover, and land use maps revealed that the central and eastern regions of the county, due to their convenient access to infrastructure and stable environmental conditions, are the best options for establishing military bases.
Conclusion: The results of this study can contribute to the optimization of military base location by considering strategic, environmental, and security criteria. This would enhance the efficiency of military operations, improve crisis management, reduce infrastructure costs, and decrease vulnerability to natural disasters.