Kamps, S. & R. van Lammeren, 2001, Quantitative landscape description, in: ECLAS (J. de Vries), ‘Integration of infrastructure and landscape architecture’, Larenstein University of Professional Education, Velp
- Author : Kamps, S. & R. van Lammeren
- Year : 2001
- Published in Book : Integration of infrastructure and landscape architecture
- Pages : 63-76
- Abstract in English : The paper presents an experience with a quantitative approach to describe landscape types. First of all the concept of the Landscape Morphologic Model is introduced. This concept exists of three related descriptive layers: volume, network and elevation layer. Each layer gives clues, in terms of spatial patterns and objects, to define the data to process by quantitative methods. However there are more geometry oriented quantitative methods we used a subset of the methods developed in the field of Landscape Ecology. This approach has been realised for three lowland valleys, which are typical representations of the Dutch lowland brook landscapes. The values of different geometric indices as number, area size, shape index, mean nearest-neighbourhood distance, mean proximity, have been calculated objects belonging to the network (network cells) and volume layer (volumes and constructed spaces). The meaning of each value is explained. Not only as a value that represent the object but also considering the change of values that shows the transformation of the landscape features in time. Using these values one has to take care, because the delineation of an area strongly influences the variance of the quantitative results. This is proofed by a comparison of the calculated values for a defined landscape type with the ones for its surroundings. However this structured way to analyse and quantify landscape patterns seems to offer educational means to improve rigour and consistency in the description and definition of landscapes.