Free web mapping tools to characterise landscape dynamics and to favour e-participation

Abstract

GIS methodologies in combination with Remote Sensing data and techniques are fundamental to analyse and characterise Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and their evolutionary dynamics. The case study here described, has been conducted in two study-areas: the Serre Regional natural Park and the so-called Conca of Avellino (Southern Italy). This study is part of a wider research allowed to understand how the landscape changes dynamics are linked and have been influenced by several causes (demography, economy, transportation network, people preferences, policies, etc.). A multi-temporal set of images (aerial photos and Landsat scenes) has been processed LULC. Then, through a GIS approach, change detection and spatiotemporal analysis has been integrated to characterise LULC dynamics, focusing on urban growth/sprawl phenomenon and loss of rural/natural lands. This paper focuses the attention on the WebGIS application based on free online tools which has been implemented with the aim to publish and to share with local communities all geospatial data produced. This platform will be further implemented in order to favour e-participation in the planning tools. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.