geospatial tools for landscape character assessment in cyprus

Geospatial tools for Landscape Character Assessment in Cyprus Symonsa, N.P., Vogiatzakisb*, I.N., Griffithsc, G.H., Warnockc, S., Vassoua, V., Zomenib, M.,

Trigkasb, V. *corresponding author

a Terra Cypria, P.O. Box 50257, 3602 Limassol, Cyprus; Tel:+357 26332532 E-mail:

[email protected] b School of Pure & Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 12794, Nicosia, Cyprus;

Tel: +357 22411933, E-mail: [email protected] c Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, UK, Tel: +44 118

3788737 Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT The development of Landscape Typologies in Europe relies upon advances in geospatial tools and increasing availability of digital datasets. Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is a technique used to classify, describe and understand the combined physical, ecological and cultural characteristics of a landscape. LCA uses a range of data sources to identify and describe areas of common character and can operate at a range of scales i.e.national and regional and local. The paper describes the steps taken to develop an island wide landscape typology for Cyprus, based on the use of GIS and remote sensing tools. The methodology involved integrating physiographical, ecological and cultural information about the Cypriot landscape. Datasets on the cultural attributes (e.g. settlement and field patterns) were not available, so they were created de novo based on information from topographical maps (for settlement dispersion and density) and medium resolution satellite imagery from Google Earth, from which a number of distinctive field patterns could be distinguished. The mapping work is carried out on two levels using a hierarchical approach. The first level at a 1:100, 000 scale has been completed resulting in a map with 17 distinct landscape types. The second level is under way with the view of producing a more detailed landscape typology at 1:50, 000 scale which will incorporate the cultural aspects of the island. This is the first time that such a typology has been produced for Cyprus and it is expected to provide an invaluable tool for landscape planning and management. Keywords: GIS, Google Imagery, LCA, Landscape Typology, land use, geology, landform, settlements, field-patterns

1. INTRODUCTION

Environmental mapping has greatly benefited from the development of geospatial tools such as GIS and Remote Sensing and the increasing availability of environmental and socio-economic datasets at low or no cost. Their use has changed environmental perception and has provided new unexplored avenues in reconstructing the environmental past, documenting the present, predicting the future, while at the same time, they are becoming an important part in education and in participatory decision making1. One of the fields which has benefited from these advances is Landscape Character Assessment. Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is a set of techniques and procedures used to classify, describe and understand the evolution and physical and cultural characteristics of landscape. The European Landscape Convention was the first to put landscape in the political agenda2. LCA has a long history in Europe3, 4. Despite recent attempts in south Europe5, 6, 7 the development and adoption of a landscape typology for Mediterranean countries has been limited. The two pan-European attempts to classify the landscapes of Europe cover the north Mediterranean, excluding Cyprus8, 9. The process of landscape character assessment involves the distinct stages of characterization, evaluation and decision-making. Characterization comprises the identification of areas of distinct character, the classification and mapping of those areas and the description and explanation of their character. The rationale behind landscape character mapping is that particular combinations of physical and cultural factors occurring in different areas result in similar landscapes. The approach is based on a series of natural (i.e. landform, geology, soils) and cultural factors (i.e. land use, settlement pattern) that are used to describe the variability in the landscape at various spatial scales depending on the research scope10. A plethora of data sources can be employed such as existing published sources, field survey information and the input of stakeholders to

First International Conference on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation of the Environment (RSCy2013), edited byDiofantos G. Hadjimitsis, Kyriacos Themistocleous, Silas Michaelides, George Papadavid, Proc. of SPIE

Vol. 8795, 87951B · © 2013 SPIE · CCC code: 0277-786X/13/$18 · doi: 10.1117/12.2028355

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8795 87951B-1

Assessment ofvisual & culturalassociations to

define LandscapeCharacter Areas

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Classification ofvisually significantattributes to define

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identify and describe areas of common character. The development of landscape typologies provides the spatial framework for monitoring ecological processes but also for the derivation of indicators of change, condition and sustainability. The use of GIS and remote sensing techniques has greatly enhanced the products of Landscape Character Mapping and Assessment. The methods range from simple interpretative or mechanistic-analytical approaches to more complex analytical and/or interactive approaches10, 11. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the role of geospatial tools for LCA mapping using Cyprus as a case study.

2. LANDSCAPE MAPPING IN CYPRUS - LEVEL 1 MAPPING

This section aims to summarise the important work that was done in Cyprus during 2008 by the Landscape Mapping Group (of the University of Reading) in cooperation with the Laona Foundation, with support from the Department of Town Planning of the Republic of Cyprus. The approach to landscape mapping developed by the Group has been widely adopted in the UK and is now being used as a framework for a wide variety of land management and planning policy applications. The term Level 1 refers to the crucial issue of scale of mapping. The generally accepted levels of scale in the Landscape Mapping hierarchy can be summarised as shown in the following diagram (Figure 1). Level 1 (typically mapped at 1:250,000 scale) brings the key local-level physiographic characteristics (geology, soils, relief) together with broad-scale ecological/cultural patterns of land-use (e.g. forest, scrub, arable farming, vineyards, dry-country tree-crops, etc) and broad patterns of settlement. This generates Land Description Units (LDUs) i.e. areas with dimensions typically in the range of 2-10km sq. (though some linear landscape types may be much narrower than this e.g. coastal dune landscapes or valley-floor cultivation). This could be considered the most useful level of landscape mapping to support strategic land-use planning and broad-scale instruments for protection of nature/biodiversity (e.g. agri-environment measures). Figure 1 Landscape Character Assessment hierarchy at different levels of spatial resolution: 2. 1 Stages of the Level 1 Landscape Character Assessment and Mapping done in 2008. The Landscape Character Assessment and Mapping process implemented by the Landscape Mapping Group (together with the Laona Foundation and other local experts) consists of three typical stages:

• Desk study (data gathering, analysis and on-screen mapping) to generate provisional Land Description Units (LDUs);

• Fieldwork (to validate the results of the on-screen process and allow on-site characterisation and description); • Creation of a Landscape Character Typology (through classification/grouping of similar LDUs and

description of each Landscape Character Type (LCT).

Data collection: The Cyprus Level 1 Land Description Units (LDUs) were derived from a series of definitive attributes (topography, geology, soils and land-cover) by using a process of map analysis whereby different maps are superimposed and compared. The systematic analysis of map overlays enables broad patterns to be distinguished and mapped. The first


step in the characterisation process of the Cypriot landscape was to collate all the relevant, readily available information onto a series of map overlays. These included:

• A 20m contour relief map – derived from USGS Global Digital Elevation Model (DEM); • A Geology map (1:250,000); • A Soils map (1:250,000); • The CORINE Land Cover data (http://reports.eea.europa.eu/COR0-landcover/en); • A simple settlement-map based on the Cyprus Tourism Organisation map of the island.

Desk Study: The desk study requires expertise in the analysis of digital map data within a GIS combined with an understanding of the components of the landscape that define its character. Mapping is undertaken visually on-screen through an iterative process of sub-division of polygons. For example, by overlaying contour data on top of the geological units, those units were divided into broad physiographic units each with a distinctive character. These units were then overlaid by the soils and then land cover data and subdivided at each stage, where appropriate, to distinguish relatively homogenous units of land, each with a similar pattern of physical character, soil and land cover/ land-use. The end result was a thematic map at a scale of 1:250,000, divided into a series of discrete (provisional) Land Description Units. These are the building blocks of the landscape map and they form the framework on which all subsequent description, classification and evaluation is based. Reconnaissance Field Visit - June 2008: A six day familiarisation visit throughout the island was undertaken in June 2008, to validate a sample of the LDUs on-site, learn more about variations in the character of Cypriot landscapes and to develop a feel for the different LCTs. Typical examples were photographed and described from a range of sites from Kokkinohoria, Karpas, Mesaoria, Troodos, Akrotiri and the Paphos district. Constructing a Landscape Typology: Classification & Description of Landscape Types A critical component of LCA is the amalgamation of individual Land Description Units into Landscape Types (Figure 3). Landscape Types share similar natural and cultural patterns and are described according to their shared character attributes Based on analysis of the spatial data then available plus observations during the familiarisation visit, 17 provisional Level 1 landscape types emerged as shown in Figure 2 2.2 Examples of some Landscape Character Types identified at Level 1. The first three examples shown here are variations on the mountainous) landscapes of Cyprus: a) Mountain Forest A heavily wooded, largely unsettled, highland landscape associated with steeply, sloping,

mountains (mostly above 500m). Prominent rocky outcrops/peaks are a feature of this landscape in places. b) Mountain Maquis Steeply sloping, largely unsettled, mountains (mostly above 500m) with a covering of shrubs and

other semi-natural vegetation. Prominent rocky outcrops/peaks are a feature of this landscape in places. c) Cultivated Mountains A settled and cultivated landscape on higher ground, with an undulating, in places steeply

sloping topography, often covered with narrow, stone-walled terraces. Three examples of lowland landscapes are given for comparison here: d) Lowland Maquis. A rolling, largely unsettled, lowland landscape with a covering of shrubs and other semi-natural

vegetation. e) Cultivated (arable) Lowlands A settled and cultivated lowland landscape, with discrete rural villages. Although

mostly low lying, with a gently rolling topography, this landscape also includes a scattering of prominent, small hills. f) Irrigated Lowland Citrus Cultivation A settled and cultivated, low-lying landscape with intensive citrus groves.

2.3 Limitations of the Cyprus Level 1 Landscape Character Assessment and Mapping The Level 1 work described above has some important limitations that were recognised at the time or have been considered since. They can be summarised as follows: • Limited extent of the fieldwork validation that underpinned the Landscape Character Typology (LCT). It is likely

that more extensive fieldwork would have led to modifications (mainly additions) to the LCT


Legend 33° '0 "E 34°

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Figure 2 Provisional Level 1 Landscape Character Typology and Map of Cyprus (2008) • Limited input of cultural landscape data. Apart from the CORINE land-cover information on agricultural land-use

and a broad classification of areas as being e.g. “settled”, “sparsely settled” or “unsettled”, there were no other spatial data sets about patterns of human activity on the island that could be included in the landscape character assessment. Ideally this would have included both present-day patterns (such as agricultural field-patterns) and historical patterns (e.g. the phases of establishment of irrigated agricultural estates from the Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, Ottoman, British and modern periods) that would enable a more clear interpretive classification of different landscape types.

• No spatial data available on some locally relevant landscape-scale phenomena relevant to the Mediterranean environment. Spatial data sets on intensity of free-range grazing and frequency of fires would be essential to further progress, since these both have a profound impact on the appearance and ecology of the Cypriot landscape.

3. CULTURAL LANDSCAPE MAPPING - LEVEL 2

By definition landscape is the result of the shaping of the land through a combination of natural and man-made processes. Thus most landscapes in Europe (even if today, they are uninhabited forest) contain cultural elements. The term cultural is used here to signify those aspects of the landscape that have resulted from man-made initiatives such as farming practices, animal husbandry, built structures (e.g. terraces) engineering works – old and new – and settlement patterns. This section describes our efforts in 2010-11 (currently being revised) to map certain elements of the cultural landscape of Cyprus which were not at the time available as noted in the previous section. Landscape character is a description of general patterns at a landscape scale. This therefore does not include individual cultural sites or monuments since these are merely individual features in the landscape. However, when features are repeated with a certain regularity and frequency – and particularly when this has an influence on the visual appearance of an area - features may emerge as patterns on a landscape scale. Within this study it was decided to focus on two main elements of the cultural landscape: settlement patterns (clustering, compactness) and agricultural field patterns (shape, size, regularity). Other aspects that were considered and not pursued further at this stage were land-use (considered to be


Cultural Landscape Mapping 2008: Clustering of Settlements

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already adequately covered from the CORINE data), architectural patterns of settlements (requires extensive fieldwork to map reliably) and road network patterns (distinctive in aerial view but with low visual impact in the landscape from a ground-level perspective). 3.1 Mapping of Settlement Patterns. a) Clustering of settlements. This refers to the clearly non-random dispersion pattern of rural settlements in many areas.

Settlement clusters were identified from the digitised locations of settlements (based on the 1960 map of Cyprus) by using the “nearest-neighbour” calculation from the Hawth’s Tools plugin for Arc GIS 9.3. After some experimentation to establish the parameters that would give the clearest patterns, the tool was set to calculate the average distance from each individual settlement to the nearest 3 neighbouring settlements. To simplify the visual impression obtained, each settlement was then allocated a colour code as follows:

● “closely spaced” (average 1-2 km to the 3 nearest neighbours) ● “medium spaced” (average 2-3 km to the 3 nearest neighbours) ● “widely spaced” (average >3 km to the 3 nearest neighbours)

Polygons were then created to capture the main patterns emerging from these colours. A 4th category was added as “unsettled”, being areas with few or no settlements. The result is seen in the map in Figure 3

b) Compactness of settlements. Rural settlements in Cyprus were observed show two distinctive zones of traditional buildings: a dense core, in which buildings were constructed closely abutting one to another and an outer halo where houses are scattered amongst the small fields. Settlements were classified according to whether the dense core is the most prominent (compact settlements), whether the open-structure halo predominates (loose settlements) or whether both patterns co-exist more-or-less equally (settlements of intermediate or mixed compactness). Again these were colour-coded in the GIS and mapped as approximate polygons as shown below in Figure 4:

Figure 3 Settlement Clusters in Cyprus


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Figure 4 Settlement Compactness in Cyprus 3.2 Mapping of the field-patterns. During 2010, Google Earth satellite-imagery was used to investigate the different patterns of shape, regularity and irrigation of agricultural fields in Cyprus. Areas were classified and mapped as polygons on the basis of the following descriptive categories, each of which is illustrated with some typical examples:

Irrigated cultivation: nearly always of regular or semi-regular fields with mostly straight boundaries and rectilinear or geometrical shapes:

Phassouri (regular) Morphou (semi-regular) Kissonerga (semi-regular)

Dry cultivation: found in a much wider range of situations (and consequently of field patterns) as follows:

Regular or semi-regular with mostly straight boundaries and rectilinear or geometrical shapes:

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Figure 5 Provisional results of mapping the field patterns of Cyprus (2010) 3.3 The Level 2 (1:50,000 Scale) Landscape Character Map of Cyprus Based on the additional cultural mapping process described in Section 4, a first-draft of a Level 2 Landscape Character Map was developed. Level 2 (mapped at between 1:100,000 and 1:50,000 scale), brings in a finer level of detail in the cultural patterns, for example patterns of field shape and size, and detailed patterns of land-use, generating LDUs typically around 2-20km across but going down to as small as 0.5x0.5km in specific cases. This level is widely considered the most useful for spatial planning purposes and is effective in support of both landscape-scale and site-based nature-conservation measures (including e.g. Natura 2000 sites). This has used the further layers of cultural data to sub-divide the Level 1 LDUs into nearly 600 LDUs as small as around 500x500m in size. The resulting map suggests that a Landscape Character Typology of around 80 different landscape categories will be needed to describe the range of variation found on the island. The draft Level 2 map is presented in Figure 6.

4. DISCUSSION - POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS AND NEXT STEPS

Although landscapes are dynamic there is still a need to guide landscape change, and maintain its diversity and distinctiveness. LCA provides a framework to identify and assess landscapes, understand landscape change, and develop landscape quality objectives in partnership with stakeholders - all specific measures of the ELC4. In this context LCA can provide the framework for the development of Sustainability Indicators, which traditionally have been measured on geo-political spaces alone i.e. countries, regions, provinces which bare no relation to ecosystems processes since they are artificially imposed boundaries. Landscape can be seen and experienced by people and this property gives landscape a distinct advantage as a spatial unit over geo-political boundaries12, 13. Landscape change can be also monitored with the use


LCT view - draft landscape character types (Level2)

o 30 60 Kilometers

of landscape specific indicators which would allow spatial and temporal comparisons. These indicators may refer to landscape structure, management and functions or indicators of character and those of condition as developed in the case of England14. The potential of Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) as an appropriate spatial framework for ecological applications 14, 15, but also for developing policies for habitat restoration and wildlife protection3, 13 has been widely demonstrated.

Figure 6: Draft Level 2 Landscape Character Map of Cyprus. An integral part of LCA and in the ELC is stakeholder participation2. To that respect there have been a number of applications of 3D geographical visualization to assist in collaborative planning processes, both in urban and rural contexts16 and facilitate the engagement of stakeholders. This set of techniques give the opportunity to visualize future landscapes taking into account the particular values assigned to them by the interested parties and the population concerned. Evaluation and decision making follow the characterisation stage in an LCA and provide outputs to inform landscape planning decisions, strategies for landscape conservation and enhancement or feed into other decision-making tools such as Environmental Impact Assessment. There are already many examples of DSS in planning 17. In the context of Landscape Character Mapping a DSS can be employed as risk assessment model that will combine the elements of vulnerability of the landscape and its ecosystems, dependency on specific human activities and degree of threat of change. Such a tool can collate the results of the LCA process and classify them into 4 distinct components which will be used to build the risk assessment framework and subsequent model These components include: ‘strength of character’ (natural and cultural elements), ‘condition’ (visual impact of past changes, cultural and natural functional integrity),’ sensitivity’ (natural and cultural fragility; visibility) and severity and extent of threat(s). The tool and its content can be implemented as an interactive, user-friendly GIS Decision Support System, with feedback from end users, supporting planning/ conservation decision-makers at two levels:

• The strategic level (addressing questions such as ‘which areas of high landscape conservation value are currently


under-protected, and what elements of those landscapes need protection?’ or ‘Which areas of lower conservation value are suitable for development, and what development guidelines will enhance their landscape character?’ or ‘Which human activities are essential to maintain landscape character in this area and what policies can be used to support them?’ or ‘Where do resources or legislation need to be targeted for maximum gain in landscape quality?’; and

• The site-specific level (questions such as ‘What are the priorities for restoring or enhancing this landscape and what specific restrictions, conditions or guidelines need to be applied to this development project’ or ‘How can the management of this protected area support the quality and functional integrity of its landscape context, as well as protecting its biodiversity?’

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research has been funded by the Cyprus Town Planning Department, the Laona Foundation and the Open University of Cyprus to which we are grateful.

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geospatial tools for landscape character assessment in cyprus

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