From Landscape to Legacy: Developing an Integrated Hiking Route with Cultural Heritage and Environmental Appeal Through Spatial Analysis

Creative Commons License

Sarıbal İ., Çoşlu M., Selim S.

SUSTAINABILITY, cilt.17, sa.6897, ss.1-16, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17 Sayı: 6897
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/su17156897
  • Dergi Adı: SUSTAINABILITY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, INSPEC, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-16
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aimed to re-evaluate a historical war supply route within the context of cultural tourism, to revitalize its natural, historical, and cultural values, and to integrate it with existing hiking and trekking routes. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies were utilized, and land surveys were conducted to support the analysis and validate the existing data. Data for slope, one of the most critical factors for hiking route selection, were generated, and the optimal route between the starting and destination points was identified using least cost path analysis (LCPA). Historical, touristic, and recreational rest stops along the route were mapped with precise coordinates, and both the existing and the newly generated routes were assessed in terms of their accessibility to these points. Field validation was carried out based on the experiences of expert hikers. According to the results, the length of the existing hiking route was determined to be 15.72 km, while the newly developed trekking route measured 17.36 km. These two routes overlap for 7.75 km, with 9.78 km following separate paths in a round-trip scenario. It was concluded that the existing route is more suitable for hiking, whereas the newly developed route is better suited for trekking.