Applications of GIS in Landscape Analysis

Panagiotis Stratakis TEI of Athens

Department of Surveying Engineering

Overview of the presentation

• Definition of Landscape • Landscape Characterization • Landscape Quality

• Landscape and Environmental Impact Assessment Studies

• Methodology • Data issues

• GIS in Landscape Analysis

• Typologies • 3D models • Zone of Visual Impact Map

What is landscape ?

Definition of Landscape

According to European Landscape Convention (2004):

«Landscape means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of

the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors»

The countries that have signed the convention shoulder some responsibility on the

subject of defining landscapes, assessing their qualities, forming a policy about them

and taking protection and management decisions.

Landscape Character

Landscape Character is “a distinct, recognisable and consistent pattern of elements in the landscape that makes one landscape different from another, rather than better or worse” (Countryside Agency 2002) The Landscape Characterisation reflects the identification, mapping, classification and description of the homogenous patterns that the landscape follows. Different characteristics of the landscape are recognised and specific character types and character areas are defined.

Landscape Quality

The Landscape Quality refers to its value in relation to its rarity, location and

landscape character attributes.

It is directly connected to the landscape’s sensitivity to change since the higher the

quality of landscape is the more sensitive it will be to change.

Landscape Quality

Quality criteria

Quality Description Sensitivity to change

Highest

A landscape of highest quality including areas of ‘inspiring’ or ‘sublime’ nature, important on a national or international level.

Usually high

High A landscape of high quality including areas

with significance in national, regional or local level.

Medium to high

Good

A landscape of good quality including areas attractive but with less significant and more common landscape features.

Usually medium

Ordinary A landscape of medium quality including

areas with common features and some intrusive elements.

Medium to low

Poor A landscape of low quality including areas destroyed, degraded or abandoned. Usually low

Landscape in Environmental Impact Assessment Studies

Methodology:

• Establish landscape and visual study area

• Prepare a baseline landscape character assessment

• Define sensitivity of the local landscape character to the proposed changes due

to project

• Prepare baseline description of visual amenity from key viewpoint locations

• Define the sensitivity of the viewers at given viewpoint locations

• 3D simulations and view shed analyses

Definition of Landscape

Diagram of Landscape Character Assessment methodology

Landscape in Environmental Impact Assessment Studies

Data need for the landscape character assessment:

• Topographic maps

• CORINE land cover;

• Forest maps

• Soil data

• Geological maps

• Satellite images;

• Protected areas (Natura 2000, National parks, etc.);

Landscape in Environmental Impact Assessment Studies

Data need for the landscape character assessment (cont):

• Areas of cultural heritage (Archaeological sites, monuments, traditional

settlements, areas of intangible heritage, etc.);

• Hydrography of the study area (rivers, streams, lakes, etc.);

• Existing Infrastructures (road network, etc.);

• Administrative boundaries and settlements;

• Digital Terrain Model (DTM);

• Location permanent constructions

• Layouts, sizes of buildings etc. and

• Data collected from the field survey

Applications of GIS in Landscape Analysis

GIS have an extensive use in landscape analysis due to the fact that are able to

handle and process all the above mentioned data.

There are three areas that GIS are used in landscape analysis:

• Development of landscape character areas

• Development of 3D models

• Visibility analysis

Applications of GIS in Landscape Analysis

Development of landscape character areas methodology:

• Selection of variables

• Data pre-processing and preparation of the geodatabase (grid)

• Cluster analyses

• Visualisation

• Evaluation

• Characterisation of the landscape types

Applications of GIS in Landscape Analysis

Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) map shows the areas from where the proposed

constructions area visible. The area is calculated digitally and is based on the local

topography that is given from a DTM.

ZVIs are based on bare ground and do not take into account screening by buildings

and vegetation, while in practice, many views towards the site will be filtered or

screened by existing vegetation.

Applications of GIS in Landscape Analysis

Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) map steps:

• Establish landscape of area (10 km radius from the centre of the proposed

construction)

• Extract the DTM to the study area

• Assign height values to the constructions

• Perform View shed analysis

• Prepare the final map with the results

Thanks for your attention!