Spatial analysis in European Wildland-Urban Interface environments using GIS

Wildland-urban interface (WUI) in the European environment and more specifically in the Mediterranean area, is a very complex spatial context with many interrelated social, natural resource and wildfire issues. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be a useful tools for WUI management, through their capability of handling in an integrated environment multi source and multi resolution spatial data. In the work here presented, some of the GIS analyses performed in WUI areas in the framework of WARM Project are described. The applications in two different scenarios, a temperate one located in the North-western part of Italy and a typically Mediterranean one located in Greece, are demonstrated. The aim of this work is to propose some spatial analysis methods for the study and understanding of European Wildland-Urban Interface environments and their relation to wildfires risk and behaviour. Using GIS to locate and describe relevant WUI areas features, enables the further understanding of the magnitude and geographic distribution of the WUI issue within a specific area, enhancing management decision making processes. The methodology proposed in this paper, resulting to the creation of specific, comprehensive thematic maps, can be easily applied in other WUI areas as well, since it takes advantage of the powerful capabilities of GIS tools which are widely used nowadays.