Measuring Landscapes A Planners Handbook 1st Edition Andre Botequilha Leitao by Andre Botequilha Leitao, Joseph Miller, Jack Ahern, Kevin Mcgarigal 9781429495042, 9781559638999, 1429495049, 1559638990 instant download after payment.

This practical handbook bridges the gap between those scientists who study landscapes and the planners and conservationists who must then decide how best to preserve and build environmentally-sound habitats. Until now, only a small portion of the relevant science has influenced the decision-making arenas where the future of our landscapes is debated and decided. The authors explain specific tools and concepts to measure a landscape's structure, form, and change over time. Metrics studied include patch richness, class area proportion, patch number and density, mean patch size, shape, radius of gyration, contagion, edge contrast, nearest neighbor distance, and proximity. These measures will help planners and conservationists make better land use decisions for the future.