Data Sources and Research Methods

Abstract

AbstractHistorical and current data sources and research methods in land use studies are described in this chapter. Regarding historical data sources, the Land Registry is mentioned as a primary source. Its long tradition spans almost 1000 years; from the second half of the eighteenth century Land Registry includes maps also. The so-called Stable Cadastre (data collected in the first half of the eighteenth century) presents an especially important source of historical land use data. Military Land Survey was a series of detailed land surveying covering the whole Austria-Hungary in three phases (eighteenth and nineteenth centuries). Maps produced by Military Land Survey had high quality and were often used during the following decades. Commencing mid-twentieth century, aerial photography brought new qualities and new possibilities into land use studies. Multispectral satellite images have been in use since 1970s. Creation and structure of the “LUCC Czechia Database: Database of long-term land use changes in Czechia 1845–2010” are described in detail. This database forms the main information source used by the research team. It includes cadastral data from 1845, 1896, 1948, 1990, 2000, and 2010. As the structure of land use data collected was slightly different in each of the above-mentioned years, compatibility of data must be secured in order to allow historical comparisons. Methods of land use change analyses are outlined, including various indices (development index, saturation index, index of change, ecological coefficients, etc.), typologies, and other quantitative methods. In selected model areas, detailed land use changes were studied. To do so, GIS technology was applied. Results include quantitative data as well as detailed spatial information.KeywordsLand registryMilitary land surveyAerial photographyLand use classesLUCC Czechia Database 1845–2010GIS