Landscape Indicators Assessing and Monitoring Landscape Quality
In recent years EU policy towards the ‘landscape’ has become better defined, whereas at the same time the notion of ‘landscape’ itself remains elusive. The need for indicators to evaluate and monitor the effects of landscape policies and plans is urg
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Indicators Used for Landscape Claudia Cassatella and Angioletta Voghera
Abstract Each landscape assessment model selects some aspects, component and profiles of interpretation. The chapter provides a state of the art framework, comparing the proposed systems of assessment and the indicators in scientific publications and in international bodies documents. The attention is focused on the categories of indicators: historic, ecological, perceptual, land use and economic are the landscape dimensions which are chosen for the subsequent chapters and proposals. Keywords Categories and types of indicators • Functions of indicators • European studies on indicators • Landscape model
3.1 C ategories of Indicators Traditionally Used in Different Operative Conditions and Studies Landscape study is an interdisciplinary activity to such an extent that, in consideration of the many disciplines dealing with the same, we can consider the theme of “sectorial landscapes”: landscape as a system of ecosystems, a system of signs, a palimpsest of traces of history, a “scene” or view… After years of discussion in which, each time, one or the other concept prevailed, today the most widespread conviction is that the “sense” of landscape can be found in the intersection of different dimensions. For this reason, assessments concerning the various aspects and, in particular their relations are required.
C. Cassatella wrote Sects. 3.1, 3.3, and A. Voghera wrote Sect. 3.2. C. Cassatella () Dipartimento Interateneo Territorio, Politecnico ed Università di Torino, Viale Pier Andrea Mattioli 39, 10125 Torino, Italy e-mail: [email protected] C. Cassatella, A. Peano (eds.), Landscape Indicators, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-0366-7_3, © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011
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C. Cassatella and A. Voghera
The following chapter deals with the aspects to be considered, and those covered by this study. We will review the analytical categories used in the main European studies on the question, favouring those of an international and comparative character (cf. Sect. 2.2). In this panorama we can draw some general conclusions on the categories used, the landscape model in relation to the cultural context, the validity of indicators in relation to geographical context, and on the scale and aims of the use. With reference to scientific literature and the sets of indicators used by national or regional bodies, it is easy to see that in each country the landscape characters most present in local cultural and scientific traditions, or most pertinent to the characteristics of the area are favoured or emphasized: for example, in Northern Europe the natural and environmental aspects are of great importance, while in Mediterranean Europe there is more emphasis on historical-cultural aspects. This is not the place to ponder the difference between the concepts of “landscape/landshaft/landschap” and “paysage/paesaggio/paisaje”, but it is important to mention that, currently, the majority of literature and most experiences concerning landscape
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