THE IMPORTANCE OF APPROPRIATE AREA PLANNING AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN GROWING ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN TURKEY

Information technology is a fast growing sector gaining a large commercial share in today’s developing world. The ornamental plants sector benefits from technology to a great extent. Geographical Information Systems (GIS), used mainly in the management of location based information, is also an important tool in terms of determining appropriate production areas for outdoor ornamental plants, bulbous plants, and cut flower sector. Today, the growing demand for ornamental plants has increased the need for new facilities. The selection of greenhouse area and nursery facilities has an important part among the planned facilities. The organizations today lacking technology based foundations do not look promising in terms of continuity and sustainability. Therefore, it is an important consequence that the ornamental plants facilities structured without a plan will adversely affect both plant growing process and meeting the demand in the region. This study investigated the importance of GIS (Geographical Information Systems) in ornamental plants sector and the criteria that can be used in GIS, and it intended to guide future research.