69 research outputs found
I paesaggi periurbani del Perugino. Analisi delle trasformazioni dei gradienti insediativi e dell’uso del suolo.
No full textUrban fringes represent very complex landscapes because of their proximity and mutual dependency with cities and rural areas. These landscapes may be considered fuzzy entities characterized by rapid transitions. An uncontrolled development of urban sprawl and land use changes in peri-urban areas may determine negative impacts on natural, economic and social components. Landscape analysis of these interfaces can be effectively supported by GIS spatial modelling. The urban density index (IDU), developed through spatial analysis techniques, expresses punctually the territorial gradients generated by the presence of settlements and allows the identification of the urban fringes in the two periods under investigation. These contexts have been characterized and analyzed quantitatively using detailed land use data. The comparison of diachronic information highlights the transformations of peri-urban landscapes that appear mainly related to the modifications of spatial configuration of urban areas and to the changes of agricultural systems
Urban-rural gradient detection using multivariate spatial analysis and landscape metrics
No full textThe gradient approach allows for an innovative representation of landscape composition and configuration not presupposing spatial discontinuities typical of the conventional methods of analysis. Also the
urban-rural dichotomy can be better understood through a continuous landscape gradient whose characterization changes accordingly to natural and anthropic variables taken into account and to the spatio-temporal scale adopted for the study. The research was aimed at the analysis of an urban-rural gradient within a study area located in central Italy, using spatial indicators associated with urbanization, agriculture and natural elements. A multivariate spatial analysis (MSA) of such indicators enabled the identification of urban, agricultural and natural
dominated areas, as well as specific landscape transitions where the most relevant relationships between agriculture and other landscape components were detected. Landscapes derived from MSA were studied by a set of key landscape pattern metrics within a framework oriented to the structural characterization of the whole urban-rural gra-
dient. The results showed two distinct sub-gradients: one urban-agricultural and one agricultural-natural, both characterized by different fringe areas. This application highlighted how the proposed methodology can represent a reliable approach supporting modern landscape
planning and management
Analisi delle trasformazioni del gradiente urbano-rurale mediante tecniche KDE e landscape metrics
No full textSpatio-Temporal Analysis Using Urban-Rural Gradient Modelling and Landscape Metrics
No full textUrbanization represents a particular environmental gradient that produces deep modifications on the structures and functions of ecological systems. The uncontrolled urban sprawl and the transformations of traditional land uses have strong negative impacts on all the natural, economic and social components. As a consequence there exists a clear need to develop specific and comparable indicators addressed to quantify the urbanization gradient and study its relationships with the composition and configuration of other landscape components. This study, integrating urban gradient modelling and landscape pattern analysis, aims at the investigation of spatiotemporal changes induced by urbanization and by other anthropogenic factors. Differently than previous studies based on the transect approach, landscape metrics are calculated diachronically within five contiguous zones defined along the urban to rural gradient and characterized by decreasing intervals of settlement density. The results show that, within the study area, urban sprawl and agricultural lands simplification remain the dominant forces responsible of the landscape modifications occurred in the period under investigation
Landscape sequences along the urban-rural-natural gradient: A novel geospatial approach for identification and analysis
No full textHuman influence on the environment differs in terms of distribution and intensity, thus producing a gradient of landscape modifications that translates into different landscape structures. Within this variety of landscapes, fringe areas represent complex spaces where dynamic processes and instable conditions can be observed. In this research Kernel Density Estimation, multivariate spatial analysis, landscape pattern analysis, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were combined to model and characterise landscape gradients, and to analyse the structural features of fringe areas. This methodology was applied to a rural area of central Italy, using density indicators associated with urbanisation, agriculture, and natural elements considered to be key components for the identification of landscape gradients. The results highlight not only specific "pillar" landscapes, which are dominated by said components, but also transitional landscapes, where the most relevant forms of interaction between land uses were identified. Characterisation of landscape structures along the gradient illustrated different trends in patch density, shape complexity and landscape diversity, demonstrating greater variability in fringe areas than in pillar landscapes. PCA revealed a partial overlap between the main structural characteristics of the agro-forestry matrix and the medium intensity agricultural landscapes, whereas urban fringes and semi-natural fringes were clearly separated. The discovery of the continuous landscape gradients and an understanding of the gamut of landscape types nested along them is crucial in allowing for more effective land-use planning in which also fringe areas become a relevant part of the process
Landscape liveability spatial assessment integrating ecosystem and urban services with their perceived importance by stakeholders
No full textIn recent years, landscape liveability has become a leading objective in policy and strategic planning. In the anthropocentric view of landscape, ecosystems fulfil important societal needs similarly to urban systems. Urban systems can meet a variety of such needs through Urban Services, which are historically and typically provided within cities. In this view, Ecosystem Services (ES) and Urban Services (US) influence landscape liveability in a comparable manner, so that liveability assessments based on both ES and US can be effective for landscape planning and policy-making purposes. As liveability is strongly dependent not only on objective landscape features, but also on the subjective perception of stakeholders, their involvement becomes essential for a coherent liveability assessment. The present study aims to develop a LIveability Spatial Assessment Model (LISAM) capable of considering both the local accessibility of services and their perceived relevance as expressed by stakeholders. To this end, a conceptual framework to detangle the spatial relationships between service sources, sinks, and delivery points was developed. From this base, consistent and comparable ES and US indices were calculated using GIS spatialisation techniques and then aggregated hierarchically through a Spatial Multicriteria Decision Making Analysis approach. Results include relevant maps showing explicit spatial indices of liveability that integrate, at various hierarchical levels, the local accessibility of ES and US, along with their local perceived relevance. By calculating complex indices able to highlight both the agri-natural and urban system roles on landscape liveability and by taking subjective and objective aspects into account, the model proved to be effective for spatial decision-making. In future applications, indicator and weight uncertainties should be considered and adequately analysed to assess reliability of the final output. The integration of ecosystem and urban disservices would also be relevant for including those landscape factors that reduce the overall level of place liveability
Ecosystem and urban services for landscape liveability: A model for quantification of stakeholders’ perceived importance
No full textAccording to the anthropocentric perspective, ecosystem services (ES) can fulfil important societal needs in a similar way as urban systems, which deliver more traditional urban services (US). In this view, ES and US shape landscape liveability in a similar manner. Liveability assessments based on both ES and US importance quantification can allow for the more effective and coherent inclusion of both service typologies in landscape planning and policymaking. As liveability is strongly dependent on both environmental and human factors, stakeholder involvement is essential for its assessment. Widely applicable and reliable methodologies of liveability assessment based on the perceived importance of ES and US, according to stakeholders, still need to be developed. Using this framework, we design a hierarchical classification based on The Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) for measuring both ES and US. This classification is used to structure a model based on Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) for the quantification of stakeholder views of the importance of liveability services. The model, known as the LIAM (LIveability Assessment Model), is applied to a group of stakeholders selected among local experts and landscape planners in an Umbrian study area (Italy). The results show that the LIAM approach can support landscape planning and policy making through superior ES and US integration and through more effective assessments of their perceived relevance
Gestione dei reflui zootecnici di origine suina: un modello multicriteri per la valutazione dell’efficienza ambientale
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