Landscape patterns and parcel boundaries: an analysis of composition and configuration of land use and land cover in south-central Indiana

摘要: Abstract In many areas of the world, socioeconomic and political factors are increasingly impacting spatial patterns land use cover in landscape. Much United States has been divided using a grid-based system that was implemented to realize goals rather than protect conform biophysical differences. The borders individual parcels often reflect boundary lines created by this system. These important components policies related management such as zoning private decisions. potential impact division may have on landscape remains unclear. majority research focused exclusively differences occurring over relatively large ignored possible finer-scale, human impacts composition configuration. There is need for match socioeconomically or politically units order improve understanding relationships between processes ecosystem functions create better policies. This explores whether parcelization evident south-central Indiana. particular, it investigates parcel boundaries correspond distinct changes configuration forest, developed, agricultural lands. uses theory methodology from geography, geographic information science, ecology analyze rural semi-rural county A classification remotely sensed image used basis calculating metrics with calculated associated sample chosen represent all within Monroe County. values near compared at short distances boundaries. comparison indicates there change approximately results suggest County, Indiana, landscape, particularly amount area covered agriculture Changes and, lesser extent, developed lands also occur support hypothesis affected cover. illustrate systems