Investigating the possibility of combining GIS with multivariate analysis techniques in separating vegetation society boundaries

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of combining ordination and classification techniques with GIS for separating boundaries of vegetation society. Chah –Abbas Ali watershed basin، near Arsanjan city covers about 1789. 7 ha، has been studied through field sampling of vegetation density، cover and soil profiles. Analysis of the samples has been done by PC-Ord software for ordination and classification and ILWIS software produce RS/GIS maps to estimate the number of soil profiles. Then by using satellite image of basin and field observations، the primary vegetation boundaries were extracted and compared with the results of ordination and classification data. Results showed the basin is consisted of five vegetation society including Acantholimon festucacemum-Amygdalus lycioides، Convolvolus acanthocladus-Artemisia sieberi،Artemisia sieberi – Acantholimon festucacemum،Ebenus stellata-Convolvolus acanthocladus،Amygdalus lycioides – Convolvolus acanthocladus which also overlap with vegetation classification through physiognomy –florestic method and grouping ones through satellite images that can be used in future for grouping vegetation because of considering relief and soil charachteristics along with vegetation parameters.