Landscape Metrics and Indices: An Overview of Their Use in Landscape Research

Abstract

The aim of this overview paper is to analyze the use of various landscape metrics and landscape indices for the characterization of landscape structure and various processes at both landscape and ecosystem level. We analyzed the appearance of the terms landscape metrics/indexes/indices in combination with seven main categories in the field of landscape ecology [1) use/selection and misuse of metrics, 2) biodiversity and habitat analysis; 3) water quality; 4) evaluation of the landscape pattern and its change; 5) urban landscape pattern, road network; 6) aesthetics of landscape; 7) management, planning and monitoring] in the titles, abstracts and/or key words of research papers published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed by the Institute of Science Information (ISI) Web of Science (WoS) from 1994 to October 2008. Most of the landscape metrics and indices are used concerning biodiversity and habitat analysis, and also the evaluation of landscape pattern and its change (up to 25 articles per year). There are only a few articles on the relationships of landscape metrics/indices/indexes to social aspects and landscape perception.

Landscape Structure, Landscape Metrics and Biodiversity

“…Overviews of the current discussions and the application of landscape metrics are given on the use of landscape metrics for landscape analysis with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by Lang and Blaschke (2007), the application of landscape metrics in nature protection and landscape research by Blaschke (2000) and Uuemaa et al (2009), on existing landscape metrics and software by McGarigal et al (2002) and Walz (2006), and on landscape pattern and landscape indicators by Bolliger et al (2007).…”

Land-Use Structure and Urbanization-Driven Land Fragmentation: Revisiting the Monocentric Model in a Sprawling Region

“…composition, structure, spatial distribution and configuration) at the regional level have been set up according to general criteria of comprehensiveness, reliability, and easiness in calculation. As far as landscape metrics, two well-known and simplified indexes have been calculated at the class level (patch size and shape index or area-to-perimeter ratio) with the aim of being used also by local stakeholders and planners not confident with spatial analysis and geographic information systems tools (Uuemaa et al, 2009). Metrics were obtained by using ArcGIS 9.3 software (ESRI Inc., Redwoods, USA) through computation on 1949 and 2008 land-use maps.…”

A free and open source programming library for landscape metrics calculations

“…The term -landscape indices‖ is more frequently used in a broader sense. On the other hand, the term -landscape metrics‖ appears more frequently, but there are no definite rules or traditions as to when one or the other term is used (Uuemaa et al, 2009). In this paper we have decided to use the latter.…”