Landscape indicators as a tool of assessing landscape quality

Abstract

Landscape quality (LQ) is understood as the state in which its (landscape) spatial, functional and visual structure is found at a given time. To measure this landscape characteristic different research methods and data types are needed including GIS techniques and remote sensing data as well as interviews and questionnaires, results of social perception studies, analysis of documents, registers and statistical data, landscape visual studies and 3D drawings. Presented study aims to fully analyze the LQ of the Roztocze region based on above mentioned methods. To do so, the categorization of 24 quantitative indices was applied. Results indicated high structural and ecological values, medium visual values and values of spatial harmony and low cultural and perceptual properties of analyzed area. The study results also showed the great importance of spatial data and GIS techniques in LQ assessment.

Developing a Tool for Landscape Sustainability Assessment—Using a New Conceptual Approach in Lebanon

“…Transferable (not universal) LIs are favored by landscape characters (related to the characteristics of an area) [44] and are an ideal reference of assessment and monitoring [48] in that they provide decision makers and restoration practitioners with a greater understanding of modifying landscape patterns [49]. Considered as indexes, numerical values based LIs have quantifiable characteristics [50], allowing a large set of data to be minimized to a simple measure [51]. Like all indicators and indices that were developed to measure sustainable development [52], LIs are used in key international sustainability, particularly in landscape sustainability studies [20,53].…”

“…Differently from the ecological indicators that use field observations, landscape indicators emphasize land cover [49,54], landscape character [50], aspects of landscape perception, and can define social perceptions [51]. Most importantly, they take into consideration the objective and subjective approach of landscape [55].…”

Landscape Indicators—An Inventive Approach for the Sustainability of Landscapes

“…Defined in the European Landscape Convention since 2000 and addressed within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the assessment of landscape sustainability is an opportunity to accurately create policies [2], introduce the protection of quality landscapes [3], and implement holistic planning and management [4,5] of an entire landscape, not only a particular territory [6]. From another point of view, sustainable landscape development has great potential as a framework for achieving most of the SDGs [7,8] and provides the setting to enable the unfolding of many difficult problems [9] and associated solutions in relation to the SDGs [10].…”

Quantitative Landscape Analysis Using Earth-Observation Data: An Example from Chania, Crete, Greece

“…Numerous studies pointed out indicators' ability and effectiveness to analyze the landscape [20] and highlighted the plethora of indicators developed and adopted for this aim [4,12,20,21]. For instance, around 300 potential indices could be used to measure the structural and ecological landscape state, 200 indices to assess the cultural state and more than 200 spectral indicators dealing with the ecological state [20]. Previous studies have attempted to select a manageable set of statistically effective and reliable indicators evaluating the different aspects of landscape quality [12,14].…”

“…In practice, the selection of landscape indicators is driven by data availability rather than theory [22,23]. Different data sources could be used for the aim of landscape analysis, namely photos, land-cover maps, satellite images, orthophotos, field observations, census statistics and surveys results [2,12,20,21]. The employment of remote sensing data in landscape quality assessment enables significant savings in terms of both labor and time compared to traditional survey methods [24].…”