Mapping the wildland-urban interface from houses location and terrain slope in Patagonia, Argentina

SANUCCI CORINA; GONZALEZ SOFÍA LAURA; GHERMANDI LUCIANA

Environmental Sciences Proceedings

MDPI

Año: 2022

Abstract: Urbanization of forested areas increases the surface of wildland-urban interface (WUI), 10 where fire is the primary hazard for humans and ecosystems. We determined the WUI using a 11 novel approach in NW Patagonia, Argentina and evaluated its relationship with the fire ignition 12 points. The WUI expands a greater distance on upslopes, where the rate of fire spread is highest. 13 The WUI reaches the maximum distance under the most hazardous conditions: houses surrounded 14 by fuels with steep slopes towards them. In the Bariloche district in 2021, the WUI included 81% of 15 the houses and occupied 37% (11,006 ha) of the total study area. Between 2015 and 2021, 77% of fire 16 ignitions occurred in the WUI, highlighting the relevance of urban growth planification and the 17 management of fuel load to reduce wildfire risk.