ABSTRACT: Landscape planning is considered as a procedure of defense taking place among defenders of various processes. Defending by security patterns (SPs) --strategic portions and positions -- may significantly increase the efficiency of safeguarding the processes of our concern. SPs are defined and identified based on the threshold-type quality of the dynamics of the processes. Alternative change models are proposed based on SPs. Decision making based on SPs is also discussed. The SP approach is illustrated by the case study of the Red Stone National Park, China, in which a defending procedure among ecologists (defenders of ecological processes), tourists (defenders of visual perceptual processes) and farmers (defenders of agricultural conversion processes) is simulated. Integrated with the SP approach, GIS shows great potential for supporting decision making in landscape changes. INTRODUCTION SECURITY PATTERNS AND SP APPROACH Landscape planning is considered a procedure of defense involving defenders of various processes. How can we defend the processes of our concern more effectively while maximising opportunities for changes? This paper tries to answer this question using the concept of security patterns (SPs) and demonstrates how GIS can be combined with the SP approach in landscape planning. By definition, SPs are the spatial patterns composed of strategic portions, positions, critical scales (sizes), numbers, shapes and inter-relationships that are associated with certain thresholds in the non-linear dynamics of processes in the landscapes. SPs have or potentially have a critical significance in safeguarding certain processes, e.g. the process of species dispersal, spread of fire and other disturbances, visual perception and preference, agricultural conversion, etc. In terms of their significance for the processes of our concern, security landscape components have three basic characteristics: (i) Initiative, the quality of a portion or position whose occupation is likely to give it the advantage of initiating certain processes; (ii) Efficiency, the quality of a position or portion whose occupation will give it the advantage of less cost in energy and materials and be much more effective in promoting or controlling certain processes; (iii) Co-ordination, the quality of a position or portion whose occupation will give it the advantage of effective spatial communication among neighboring elements. SPs are multi-leveled. Each individual process in the landscape has its own security patterns (Figure 1), and these individual SPs may compete and overlap spatially. Furthermore, each individual process has SPs at various security levels. Figure 1 A presumed hierarchy of landscape security patterns The concept of SPs is based on two assumptions concerning spatial patterns and processes: (a) landscape patterns effect processes, and (b) there are strategic landscapes associated with some thresholds in the dynamics of certain processes. Numerous observations suggest that the spatial patterns of a landscape influence various ecological processes such as species dispersal and population dynamics (Forman and Godron, 1986; Turner, 1989); human processes such as residential development and demographic dynamics (e.g. Berry and Horton, 1970), and visual perceptual processes (Gibson, 1950; Lynch, 1960). Not all portions and positions of the landscape are equally important in terms of their influence on individual processes, some are m，英语论文网站，英语论文范文 |
