The Application of Landscape Indicators for Landscape Quality Assessment; Case of Zahleh, Lebanon

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Sustainability Science Pub Date : 2025-10-09 DOI:10.3390/su17198946

Roula Aad, Nour Zaher, Victoria Dawalibi, R. El Balaa, Jane Loukieh, Nabil Nemer

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Landscapes are vital systems where ecological, cultural, perceptual, and socio-economic values meet, making their quality assessment essential for sustainable development. Landscape Quality (LQ), shaped by the interaction of natural processes and human activities, remains methodologically challenging due to its interdisciplinarity and the need to integrate multiple dimensions. This challenge is particularly perceived in peri-urban areas, predominantly understudied in landscape research. This article addresses this gap in LQ assessment at peri-urban landscapes, through the case of Houch Al Oumaraa, Zahleh, a peri-urban area of patrimonial significance and agricultural landscape value. To evaluate the four spatial dimensions of LQ (structural, ecological, cultural and visual), we adopted a mixed methodology, where a pre-developed set of landscape indicators (LIs) applied within GIS and spatial technics, were supplemented by expert analysis through visual studies. Two questions framed this research: (i) is remote sensing sufficient to assess peri-urban LQ, and (ii) what are the limits of applying pre-developed LIs to diverse landscape contexts? Results show moderate fragmentation (CONTAG 61.6%), low diversity (MSDI 0.27), high density of cultural monuments (PROTAP 4.19) and average visual disharmony (FCDHI 0.49). Findings reveal that spatial dimensions alone are insufficient for assessing LQ of peri-urban landscapes, where socio-economic dimensions must also be integrated. Structural indicators (PLAND, MPA, ED, CONTAG) and MSDI proved transferable, while ECOLBAR was less applicable, cultural indicators (PROTAP, HLE) were limited to tangible heritage, and visual indicators (FCDHI, SDHI) highly context dependent. Establishing a differentiated yet standardized framework would not only enhance methodological precision but also ensure that LQ assessment remain relevant across diverse contexts, providing policymakers with actionable insights to align planning with sustainability goals.

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景观指标在景观质量评价中的应用黎巴嫩Zahleh案例

景观是生态、文化、感性和社会经济价值交汇的重要系统，其质量评估对可持续发展至关重要。景观质量（LQ）是由自然过程和人类活动的相互作用形成的，由于其跨学科性和需要整合多个维度，在方法上仍然具有挑战性。这一挑战在城市周边地区尤其明显，在景观研究中主要未得到充分研究。本文以具有遗产意义和农业景观价值的城市周边地区Zahleh的Houch Al Oumaraa为例，解决了城市周边景观LQ评估中的这一空白。为了评估LQ的四个空间维度（结构、生态、文化和视觉），我们采用了一种混合方法，在GIS和空间技术中应用了一套预先开发的景观指标（li），并通过视觉研究进行了专家分析。两个问题构成了本研究的框架：(i)遥感是否足以评估城市周边的土地质量，以及（ii）将预先开发的土地质量应用于不同景观背景的限制是什么？结果表明：该地区破碎度中等（CONTAG 61.6%），多样性低（MSDI 0.27），古迹密度高（PROTAP 4.19），视觉不和谐程度中等（FCDHI 0.49）。研究结果表明，仅从空间维度评估城市周边景观的LQ是不够的，还必须综合考虑社会经济维度。结构指标（PLAND， MPA， ED， CONTAG）和MSDI被证明是可转移的，而ECOLBAR则不太适用，文化指标（PROTAP， HLE）仅限于有形遗产，而视觉指标（FCDHI， SDHI）高度依赖于环境。建立一个差异化但标准化的框架不仅可以提高方法的准确性，还可以确保LQ评估在不同背景下保持相关性，为政策制定者提供可操作的见解，使规划与可持续发展目标保持一致。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Sustainability Science 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

11.30

自引率

10.00%

发文量

174

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： The journal Sustainability Science offers insights into interactions within and between nature and the rest of human society, and the complex mechanisms that sustain both. The journal promotes science based predictions and impact assessments of global change, and seeks ways to ensure that such knowledge can be understood by society and be used to strengthen the resilience of global natural systems (such as ecosystems, ocean and atmospheric systems, nutrient cycles), social systems (economies, governments, industry) and human systems at the individual level (lifestyles, health, security, and human values).