Territorial Information System and
Spatial Data Infraestructure of Asturias

A new layer of geographic information has been incorporated to complete the "Environmental Thematic Cartography" data set. In this case, it is the "Rock Areas" layer, which had not been incorporated into the SITPA-IDEAS platform at the time. Like the rest of the information that completes the cartographic product, the layer of rock areas was prepared by the Institute of Natural Resources and Territorial Planning (INDUROT) under the direction of the then Ministry of the Environment.

Although it is not usual for information related to rock areas to constitute a differentiated aspect in environmental cartography, in this case it has been considered convenient to incorporate this type of information due to its usefulness in the generation of different applications of interest in the analysis of natural resources. Two TYPES of rocks areas have been distinguished based on the degree of roughness of the relief, as well as based on location, geomorphological and vegetation cover criteria, which are combined to classify the rocks based on their high or low potential as refuge areas for fauna: 

• TYPE A rock areas: this unit includes rocks that show a more pronounced relief, with strong roughness. Generally, this type is characterized by steep areas, channels and crests, and creates intricate reliefs that provide abundant refuge opportunities for some species of fauna. 

• TYPE B rock areas: this unit is represented by those rocky outcrops that do not meet the conditions described in the previous section, specifically standing out for showing a slightly steep relief and little roughness.

With the publication of this layer of information, the original cartographic collection of the Thematic Environmental Cartography of the Principality of Asturias is completed.

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