Icelandic landscape character assessment
Following the demands of the European Landscape Convention a methodology has been developed in order to assess and judge character of landscape. The challenge is to look at three acknowledged methods from Scotland, England and Denmark with the aim to identify which parts of the methods that are suit...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Otro |
| Language: | Swedish Inglés |
| Published: |
2008
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/12568/ |
| _version_ | 1855572090420199424 |
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| author | Stefansdottir, Hildur |
| author_browse | Stefansdottir, Hildur |
| author_facet | Stefansdottir, Hildur |
| author_sort | Stefansdottir, Hildur |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | Following the demands of the European Landscape Convention a methodology has been developed in order to assess and judge character of landscape. The challenge is to look at three acknowledged methods from Scotland, England and Denmark with the aim to identify which parts of the methods that are suitable to use in Icelandic circumstances. This is done both by comparing the methods with a synthesis and by carrying out two methods on the case study area in Flatey, a small, flat island near the North coast of Iceland. Flatey was inhabited from the 9th century till 1967 when the last annual inhabitants moved to the mainland. Since then the houses have been renovated as summerhouses and are still mostly owned by descendants to the last settlers.
The compared methods are; Landscape Character Assessment, LCA, (Scotland), Historic Landscape Characterisation,
HCL, (England) and Landskabet I Kommunplanlægning (Denmark). While the LCA and the Danish method provides a method that is more general and an overall assessment, the HLC is more focused on the specific where the aim is to integrate smaller studies and measures into an assessment of landscape. This makes the HLC more suitable as a pre-study or a done parallel to the other two. The Danish method shares the same methodology and structure in most parts, which is logical since it is developed based on the LCA method.
For Icelandic conditions it was decided that combining the LCA and the Danish method would provide a suitable
method. This was done in a way were the phases and steps of LCA are followed and complemented with the visual analysis technique and evaluation form of "Landskabet i Kommuneplanlægning". Defined elements which are evaluated are borrowed from a Swedish adaptation of LCA (Det Skånska Landsbygdsprogrammet, 2006), but the working process of the Danish method is followed.
This combined method is called Icelandic Landscape Character Assessment. That approach can be used to reveal
an objective view on landscape to be used for arguing in favor of landscapes, in development and planning fields.
The ground structure in the combined method is following the process of LCA, starting with collecting data concerning natural, cultural and social factors. Most of these information where collected in GIS format and are therefore analysed and mapped using that program. The desk study also include study of written resources, homepages for local associations and other picture material available. This is used to form a draft of landscape character types and areas, working in different scales.
Field study is a vital and important part of the characterisation. That setting is formed to take in aesthetic aspects and experiance gained in field. The material collected can be recorded as; written descriptions, an annotated sketch, checklists, photographs, interviews and other observations.
These pre-studies are used for mapping of character types and areas, with crosschecking of arguments for borders
and divisions. When character types and areas have been formed, the notes from field survey are used to identify key characters and further on descriptions of each Landscape Character Type or Area.
The evaluation process is also based on field survey source material. Visual Quality, Integrity, Identity, Rarity and Entirety are given grades within each character type/area (unique, high, medium-high, medium and low) in order to point out the most important character elements of each character area.The last step is were decisions are made and guidelines developed. This stage can involve presentation of character divisions for more people and progressive work with planners, entrepreneurs, politicions or local people. That work might even call for reconsideration of evaluation or additional desriptions in order to enable decision maker to take well informed judgement calls.
The input of Icelandic Landscape Character Assessment will give important information for development planning
policies at both regional and local level. It provides an input for Environmental Assessments, both at the level of plans and policies as well as for the individual development proposals. It is a significancant informing work on special areas where working on identification of areas for designation, justification for special treatment by designation. The character aproach should help in accommodating necessary changes with development, without sacrificing local character. An overall knowledge and recognition of landscape character importance, among the population of Iceland, will also develop respect for the landscape and its resources. |
| format | Otro |
| id | RepoSLU12568 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | Swedish Inglés |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU125682017-10-25T07:17:53Z https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/12568/ Icelandic landscape character assessment Stefansdottir, Hildur Landscape Architecture (until 121231) Geography Following the demands of the European Landscape Convention a methodology has been developed in order to assess and judge character of landscape. The challenge is to look at three acknowledged methods from Scotland, England and Denmark with the aim to identify which parts of the methods that are suitable to use in Icelandic circumstances. This is done both by comparing the methods with a synthesis and by carrying out two methods on the case study area in Flatey, a small, flat island near the North coast of Iceland. Flatey was inhabited from the 9th century till 1967 when the last annual inhabitants moved to the mainland. Since then the houses have been renovated as summerhouses and are still mostly owned by descendants to the last settlers. The compared methods are; Landscape Character Assessment, LCA, (Scotland), Historic Landscape Characterisation, HCL, (England) and Landskabet I Kommunplanlægning (Denmark). While the LCA and the Danish method provides a method that is more general and an overall assessment, the HLC is more focused on the specific where the aim is to integrate smaller studies and measures into an assessment of landscape. This makes the HLC more suitable as a pre-study or a done parallel to the other two. The Danish method shares the same methodology and structure in most parts, which is logical since it is developed based on the LCA method. For Icelandic conditions it was decided that combining the LCA and the Danish method would provide a suitable method. This was done in a way were the phases and steps of LCA are followed and complemented with the visual analysis technique and evaluation form of "Landskabet i Kommuneplanlægning". Defined elements which are evaluated are borrowed from a Swedish adaptation of LCA (Det Skånska Landsbygdsprogrammet, 2006), but the working process of the Danish method is followed. This combined method is called Icelandic Landscape Character Assessment. That approach can be used to reveal an objective view on landscape to be used for arguing in favor of landscapes, in development and planning fields. The ground structure in the combined method is following the process of LCA, starting with collecting data concerning natural, cultural and social factors. Most of these information where collected in GIS format and are therefore analysed and mapped using that program. The desk study also include study of written resources, homepages for local associations and other picture material available. This is used to form a draft of landscape character types and areas, working in different scales. Field study is a vital and important part of the characterisation. That setting is formed to take in aesthetic aspects and experiance gained in field. The material collected can be recorded as; written descriptions, an annotated sketch, checklists, photographs, interviews and other observations. These pre-studies are used for mapping of character types and areas, with crosschecking of arguments for borders and divisions. When character types and areas have been formed, the notes from field survey are used to identify key characters and further on descriptions of each Landscape Character Type or Area. The evaluation process is also based on field survey source material. Visual Quality, Integrity, Identity, Rarity and Entirety are given grades within each character type/area (unique, high, medium-high, medium and low) in order to point out the most important character elements of each character area.The last step is were decisions are made and guidelines developed. This stage can involve presentation of character divisions for more people and progressive work with planners, entrepreneurs, politicions or local people. That work might even call for reconsideration of evaluation or additional desriptions in order to enable decision maker to take well informed judgement calls. The input of Icelandic Landscape Character Assessment will give important information for development planning policies at both regional and local level. It provides an input for Environmental Assessments, both at the level of plans and policies as well as for the individual development proposals. It is a significancant informing work on special areas where working on identification of areas for designation, justification for special treatment by designation. The character aproach should help in accommodating necessary changes with development, without sacrificing local character. An overall knowledge and recognition of landscape character importance, among the population of Iceland, will also develop respect for the landscape and its resources. I enlighet med den Europeiska Landskapskonventionen har en metod utarbetats för att analyser och bedöma landskapets karaktär för en Isländsk kontext. Den utvecklade metoden har applicerats på två olika skalor för ett område i norra Island, Flatey. Flatey är en liten och platt ö vilken var befolkad från 1000-talet till 1967 då de sista invånarna flyttade till fastlandet. Sedan dess har husen blivit renoverade och fungerar idag som sommarhus för ättlingarna till de sista bofasta. Metoden har baserats på en genomgång av existerande landskapskaraktäriserings metoder från Storbritannien där delar som passat för Island har identifierats. De metoder som har studerats och jämförts är: Landscape Character Assessment, LCA, (Storbritannien), Historic Landscape Characterisation, HCL, (Storbritannien) and Landskabet I Kommunplanlægning (Denmark). LCA och den danska metoden är båda mer generella metoder som gör övergripande analyser för landskapet. Den danska metoden delar till stora delar samma övergripande metodologi och struktur som LCA, vilket är logiskt eftersom den är baserad på LCA metoden. Detta till skillnad från HCL vilken är mer fokuserad på det specifika där syftet är att integrera mindre studier och åtgärder i en mer övergripande landskapsanalysen. HCL är därmed mer lämpad som en förstrudie eller som en studie som görs parallellt med LCA och den danska studien. En kombination av LCA och den danska metoden bedömdes vara mest lämplig för en isländsk kontext och kom att utgöra grunden för den utvecklade metoden. Detta genom att komplettera de olika delarna av LCA med den visuella analys teknik och fältformulär som utarbetats i ”Landskabet i Kommuneplanlægning”. Denna kombinerade metod kallas här Icelandic Landscape Character Assessment och kan användas för att ge en objektiv beskrivning av landskapet för att ha ett landskapsperspektiv i utveckling och planering av landskap. Grunden för den kombinerade metoden följer processen av LCA och börjar med en skrivbordsstudie. För appliceringen på Flatey börjar det med insamlande av data för naturliga, kulturella och sociala faktorer. Det mesta av informationen samlades in med hjälp av GIS och har analyserats och presenterats i ArcGIS. Denna del av studien inkluderade även insamling och genomgång av skrivet material, bilder, och hemsidor för lokala föreningar. Detta material användes för att identifiera utkast av landscapskaraktästyper och områden på två olika skalor. Fältstudier är en viktig del i processen för karaktärisering och syftar till att fånga in estetiska aspekter och upplevelser i fält. Materialet kan samlas in som skriftliga beskrivningar, sketcher med noteringar, checklistor, fotografier, intervjuer och andra observationer. I fält avänds även de preliminära kartorna med identifiering av karaktärstyper och -områden, för att i fält checka argumenten för gränsdragningar och uppdelningar. När karaktärstyper och -områden har definierats används noteringarna från fältstudierna för att identifera huvudkaraktärsdag och som stöd för att beskriva varje landskapskaraktärstyp och –område. Begreppen Visual Quality, Integrity, Identity, Rarity and Entirety utvärderas för varje karaktärstyp/område som unik, hög, medium-hög, medium och låg för att peka ut de viktigaste elementen för karaktär. Det sista steget inbegriper beslut och riktlinjer för framtida utveckling för områdena och kan innefatta presentationer av utvärderas för utvärderas för de identifierade karaktärerna för fler personer och fortsatt arbete med planerare, entreprenörer, politiker och lokalbefolkningen. Denna del kan även inbegripa en omprövning av bedömningen eller en insikt att ytterliggare beskrivningar behövs för att få ett bra beslutsunderlag. Icelandic Landscape Character Assessment kan bidra med att ge viktig information för att utveckla planeringsstrategier på både regional och local nivå. I en miljökonsekvensbedömning kan den bidra med information för plannering och strategier och för individuella utvecklingsprojekt. Informationen som erhålls är viktig för att identifiera områden med krav på speciella landskapshänsyn. Landskapskaraktärisering som metod kan vara till stöd för att tillgodose nödvändig utveckling utan att offra den lokala karaktären. En ökning av kunskapen om landskapskaraktär och ett erkännande av dess betydelse bland befolkningen på Island skulle kunna öka respekten för landskapet och dess resurser. 2008-03-20 Other NonPeerReviewed application/pdf sv https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/12568/1/stefansdottir_h_171025.pdf Stefansdottir, Hildur, 2008. Icelandic landscape character assessment : application on Flatey, Iceland : methods and approaches. UNSPECIFIED, Alnarp. Alnarp: (LTJ, LTV) > Dept. Of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management <https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/view/divisions/LMNR=3A644.html> urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-8252 eng |
| spellingShingle | Landscape Architecture (until 121231) Geography Stefansdottir, Hildur Icelandic landscape character assessment |
| title | Icelandic landscape character assessment |
| title_full | Icelandic landscape character assessment |
| title_fullStr | Icelandic landscape character assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Icelandic landscape character assessment |
| title_short | Icelandic landscape character assessment |
| title_sort | icelandic landscape character assessment |
| topic | Landscape Architecture (until 121231) Geography |
| url | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/12568/ https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/12568/ |