Effect of Quantitative Characteristics of Hydrology and Topography on the Spatial Distribution Pattern of Nomad Camps in Kermanshah Province

The reason for this study was the lack of a coherent work on the role of quantitative characteristics of hydrology and topography in determining the spatial distribution pattern of nomad camps in Iran. In this investigation, Kermanshah Province, in west of Iran, was studied. Quantitative hydrology and Topography indices of the province including Heterogeneity Index (TRI), Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Altitude, slope, slope direction, stream distance, ridge distance, spring distance, formation type, Topographic Position Index (TPI), Surface Relief Ratio (SRR), and Compound Topographic Index (CTI) were calculated. To determine the results, Pearson correlation and linear regression (for parametric data) and LOWESS regression (for non-parametric data) were used between hydrology and topography data and the camps’ area. Then, the type of spatial distribution pattern and spatial pattern type radius of the camps were determined for each one of the above-mentioned factors using Moran’s Autocorrelation Index and Ripleys’ K Function, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the TPI index (the steep slope landform) and the camps’ area. In sum, the first priority in determining the regular pattern of nomads in the Kermanshah Province considers two heterogeneity and slope indices, and the second priority is among the rest of hydrology and topography indices. The nomads’ almost identical choices in selecting location of their camps are dependent on access to non-jagged lands, flat lands, the places with more than 600 m distance from the ridges and less than 500 m from the streams and 2 km distance from the springs, special ranges of TWI, CTI and SRR indices, the altitude range of 1,400 to 2,000 m above sea level, and establishment in the Landform 3 range of the TPI index and limestone formation.