Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) provides a structured approach to identifying the character and distinctiveness about the landscape. It is a tool used to identify what makes a location unique, a set of techniques and procedures used to map differences between landscapes based on their physical, cultural and historical characteristics. Although the UK has committed to assessing all of its landscapes by signing the European Landscape Convention in 2006, only 60% of coverage has been achieved. The majority of LCAs are carried out by professional environment or landscape consultancies rather than ‘in-house’. Geographical Information Systems are increasingly being used to collate and analyse data and produce character maps. This research presents a Spatial Decision Support System (LCA-SDSS) based in ArcGIS 9.3 that can be used to support decision makers in conducting a LCA. The LCA-SDSS provides a method for storing data, a model base for the assessment of Landform, Ground Type, Land Cover & Cultural attributes and a method for the user to interact with the resulting maps. Using the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as a study area the SDSS was developed and tested, resulting in character maps for each stage of the modelling and a final characterisation map. These maps were compared to a LCA conducted by a professional environmental consultant and were found to have produced a good quality assessment as verified by the end user at the Tamar Valley AONB Partnership.

<p>Istraživanja u ovom radu obuhvatila su analizu najznačajnijih<br />prirodnih i kulturno-socioloških faktora koji utiču na formiranje<br />karaktera predela na području obuvaćenom Prostornim Planom<br />područja posebne namene Fruške gore do 2022. godine. Izdvajanjem i<br />opisom karaktera predela ukazano je na značaj ovog područja u pogledu<br />raznovrsnosti predela, formirana je osnova za praćenje promena<br />karaktera predela, polazna tačka za menadžment planove, kao i osnova<br />za donošenje odluka o zaštiti i uređenju predela. Prikazana i<br />primenjena metodologija u procesu karakterizacije predela pokazala<br />se kao pogodna za primenu i na regionalnom nivou.</p> / <p>The thesis explores the most important natural and socio-cultural factors that influence<br />the creation of Fru&scaron;ka gora landscape character. With the landscape character<br />identification and assessment, the importance of this area in terms of landscape<br />diversity has been pointed out, the basis for monitoring changes in the landscape<br />character has been established as well as input to management plans and the basis<br />for making decisions on landscape protection and planing. The presented and applied<br />methodology in the landscape characterization process proved to be suitable for use at<br />the regional level as well.</p>

Esta tese é dividida em duas partes: traçar a filogenia de Sericothripinae Karny, 1921 e realizar uma revisão taxonômica das espécies neotropicais. Para a análise filogenética, estados de caracteres morfológicos foram examinados entre Sericothripinae e Thysanoptera-Terebrantia relacionados, e as relações genéricas e supragenéricas foram exploradas. O monofiletismo de Sericothripinae foi recuperado, mas o formato do metasterno, usado na classificação dos gêneros, provavelmente não reflete a filogenia. De acordo com estudos moleculares recentes, o grupo genérico Scirtothrips em conjunto com o gênero Echinothrips Moulton, 1911 foram recuperados como intimamente relacionados aos Sericothripinae, mas, neste trabalho, Psilothrips Hood, 1927 e Pseudothrips Hinds, 1902 foram recuperados como não relacionados com Sericothripinae. Muitos estados de caracteres morfológicos entre os Sericothripinae são considerados homoplásticos e, na ausência de análises moleculares adequadas, alterações formais de nomenclatura não foram realizadas. Na revisão taxonômica, 14 novas espécies de Sericothripinae da região Neotropical são descritas. Chaves ilustradas foram elaboradas para as fêmeas de sete espécies de Hydatothrips Karny, 1913 e 41 espécies de Neohydatothrips John, 1929, principalmente do Brasil, mas incluindo todas as espécies registradas do sul da fronteira entre o México e os EUA até o extremo sul da América do Sul. Espécies de plantas em que associações-hospedeiras foram registradas são indicadas sempre que possível, comentários são elencados para as poucas espécies de importância econômica e uma chave para imaturos de segundo instar de cinco espécies é proposta. Neohydatothrips burungae (Hood, 1935) stat. rev. e N. aztecus Johansen, 1983 stat. rev. são retiradas de sinonímia com N. signifer (Priesner, 1932), ao passo que Sericothrips denigratus De Santis, 1966 syn. n. é sinonimizada com N. burungae. Hydatothrips williamsi (Hood, 1928) comb. n. é realocado de Neohydatothrips e, com isso, houve um caso de homônimo no gênero. Para resolver esse problema, H. tareei nom. nov. é proposto para H. williamsi Mound e Tree, 2009, da Austrália. / This work is divided into two main focuses: tracing the phylogeny of Sericothripinae Karny, 1921 and performing the taxonomic revision of their Neotropical species. For the phylogenetic analysis, morphological character states were examined among Sericothripinae and related Thysanoptera-Terebrantia, and generic and suprageneric relationships were explored. The monophyly of Sericothripinae is recovered, but the metasternal shape, as used in the current generic classification, probably does not reflect phylogeny. According with recent molecular studies, the Scirtothrips genus-group together with the genus Echinothrips Moulton, 1911, were recovered as closely related to Sericothripinae, but, in the present work, Psilothrips Hood, 1927 and Pseudothrips Hinds, 1902 were recovered as unrelated to Sericothripinae. Many morphological character states among Sericothripinae are considered homoplasious, and formal nomenclatural changes are deferred in the absence of suitable molecular analyses. For the taxonomic revision, 14 new species from the Neotropics are here described in this subfamily. Illustrated keys are provided to females of seven species of Hydatothrips Karny, 1913, and 41 species of Neohydatothrips John, 1929, mainly from Brazil, but including all recorded species south of the border between Mexico and USA. Plant species on which breeding has been recorded are indicated where possible, notes are provided on the few species of economic importance, and a key is elaborated to second instar immatures. Neohydatothrips burungae (Hood, 1925) stat. rev. and N. aztecus Johansen, 1983 stat. rev. are recalled from synonymy with N. signifer (Priesner, 1932), and Sericothrips denigratus De Santis, 1966 syn. n. is synonymized with N. burungae. Hydatothrips williamsi (Hood, 1928) comb. n. is relocated from Neohydatothrips, and as this produces a homonym in the genus, H. tareei nom. nov. is proposed for H. williamsi Mound and Tree, 2009 from Australia.

This thesis deals with preventive form of landscape character assessment. Preventive assessment includes two cadastral differing nature and landscape protection. The first cadastral area is Stálkov, which is part of the natural park Czech Canada and is there a single small-scale specially protected territories. In the second cadastre Rančířov landscape is intensively farmed, and the bulk of the land is arable. On the territory is also one small area declared a specially protected area. Work includes a practical part, which were analyzed and identified the individual characters landscape. Those were then assigned their meaning, expression and valuables. Further rate was determined dochovalosti landscape. After evaluating each territory separately were compared and determination of differences between registers. The conclusion set out some suggestions for maintaining or increasing the value of the landscape.

Esta tese é dividida em duas partes: traçar a filogenia de Sericothripinae Karny, 1921 e realizar uma revisão taxonômica das espécies neotropicais. Para a análise filogenética, estados de caracteres morfológicos foram examinados entre Sericothripinae e Thysanoptera-Terebrantia relacionados, e as relações genéricas e supragenéricas foram exploradas. O monofiletismo de Sericothripinae foi recuperado, mas o formato do metasterno, usado na classificação dos gêneros, provavelmente não reflete a filogenia. De acordo com estudos moleculares recentes, o grupo genérico Scirtothrips em conjunto com o gênero Echinothrips Moulton, 1911 foram recuperados como intimamente relacionados aos Sericothripinae, mas, neste trabalho, Psilothrips Hood, 1927 e Pseudothrips Hinds, 1902 foram recuperados como não relacionados com Sericothripinae. Muitos estados de caracteres morfológicos entre os Sericothripinae são considerados homoplásticos e, na ausência de análises moleculares adequadas, alterações formais de nomenclatura não foram realizadas. Na revisão taxonômica, 14 novas espécies de Sericothripinae da região Neotropical são descritas. Chaves ilustradas foram elaboradas para as fêmeas de sete espécies de Hydatothrips Karny, 1913 e 41 espécies de Neohydatothrips John, 1929, principalmente do Brasil, mas incluindo todas as espécies registradas do sul da fronteira entre o México e os EUA até o extremo sul da América do Sul. Espécies de plantas em que associações-hospedeiras foram registradas são indicadas sempre que possível, comentários são elencados para as poucas espécies de importância econômica e uma chave para imaturos de segundo instar de cinco espécies é proposta. Neohydatothrips burungae (Hood, 1935) stat. rev. e N. aztecus Johansen, 1983 stat. rev. são retiradas de sinonímia com N. signifer (Priesner, 1932), ao passo que Sericothrips denigratus De Santis, 1966 syn. n. é sinonimizada com N. burungae. Hydatothrips williamsi (Hood, 1928) comb. n. é realocado de Neohydatothrips e, com isso, houve um caso de homônimo no gênero. Para resolver esse problema, H. tareei nom. nov. é proposto para H. williamsi Mound e Tree, 2009, da Austrália. / This work is divided into two main focuses: tracing the phylogeny of Sericothripinae Karny, 1921 and performing the taxonomic revision of their Neotropical species. For the phylogenetic analysis, morphological character states were examined among Sericothripinae and related Thysanoptera-Terebrantia, and generic and suprageneric relationships were explored. The monophyly of Sericothripinae is recovered, but the metasternal shape, as used in the current generic classification, probably does not reflect phylogeny. According with recent molecular studies, the Scirtothrips genus-group together with the genus Echinothrips Moulton, 1911, were recovered as closely related to Sericothripinae, but, in the present work, Psilothrips Hood, 1927 and Pseudothrips Hinds, 1902 were recovered as unrelated to Sericothripinae. Many morphological character states among Sericothripinae are considered homoplasious, and formal nomenclatural changes are deferred in the absence of suitable molecular analyses. For the taxonomic revision, 14 new species from the Neotropics are here described in this subfamily. Illustrated keys are provided to females of seven species of Hydatothrips Karny, 1913, and 41 species of Neohydatothrips John, 1929, mainly from Brazil, but including all recorded species south of the border between Mexico and USA. Plant species on which breeding has been recorded are indicated where possible, notes are provided on the few species of economic importance, and a key is elaborated to second instar immatures. Neohydatothrips burungae (Hood, 1925) stat. rev. and N. aztecus Johansen, 1983 stat. rev. are recalled from synonymy with N. signifer (Priesner, 1932), and Sericothrips denigratus De Santis, 1966 syn. n. is synonymized with N. burungae. Hydatothrips williamsi (Hood, 1928) comb. n. is relocated from Neohydatothrips, and as this produces a homonym in the genus, H. tareei nom. nov. is proposed for H. williamsi Mound and Tree, 2009 from Australia.

This diploma thesis deals with the preventive assessment of the landscape character of the cadastral territory of Rabštejn nad Střelou. The evaluated area extends into the Nature Park and there is a small specially protected area called Střela Nature Reserve. The research area outside of the natural wealth is also rich in historical buildings. The research part has the focus on the analysis of the landscape of Rabštejn nad Střelou. The territory has been assessed on the basis of identified natural, cultural and historical features and values of landscape character. For each of the traits, its significance, expression and value were determined. For the cadastral area the degree of preservation of the landscape character, its aesthetic value and the degree of protection were determined. On the basis of the analysis, specific proposals for increasing the value of the landscape character were set.

Les terrains vacants sont, à Montréal, des éléments indéniables dans la composition de la trame urbaine. Leur présence soutenue intéresse déjà depuis longtemps de nombreux auteurs et décideurs municipaux. Toutefois, il s’avère que l’on connaît peu les caractéristiques paysagères de ces espaces. Cette recherche en aménagement vise à compléter nos connaissances sur cette typologie d’espace urbain. Elle porte sur la caractérisation paysagère des terrains vacants du centre-ville de Montréal et sur l’étude de leur potentiel visuel à mettre en valeur les attributs significatifs du paysage urbain. Ces deux études doivent permettre de comprendre le rôle joué par ces vides dans la perception du paysage urbain. Cette démarche s’interroge sur la possibilité que certains vides puissent être justifiés et légitimés en regard de la notion de lisibilité du paysage urbain (Lynch, 1976, 1982). Les terrains joueraient un rôle important au niveau de la perception des paysages urbains. Il s’agit de démontrer le potentiel des espaces vacants dans la mise en valeur du paysage urbain, dans l’optique, pour certains d’entre eux, de légitimer le vide ou une partie du vide qui les définit, de les rendre structurants dans la composition urbaine. Grâce à un travail d’observation des caractéristiques urbaines, contextuelles, visuelles et physiques, l’étude a pu à la fois dresser le portrait de ces espaces en attente de développement urbain et démontrer leur implication dans la lisibilité urbaine. Ce travail présente l’intérêt d’offrir un énoncé sur la planification du développement des terrains vacants du centre-ville de Montréal en regard de la notion de lisibilité urbaine partie prenante dans la qualité urbaine. / In Montreal, vacant lots are undeniable elements in the composition of the urban pattern. For a long time, their sustained presence has interested various authors (Lévesque, Prost, etc.) and municipal authorities. However, it turns out that we know little about the landscape character assessment of these spaces. This research seeks to complete our knowledge of this typology of urban spaces in Downtown Montreal trough a landscape character assessment and a study of their visual potential. Those two studies will underline the role of these voids in the urban landscape perception. Some vacant lots are maybe part of a good urban imageability. This study assumes that vacant lots have an important role with regards to the urban landscape perception. By collecting information which refers to urban, contextual, visual and physical characteristics, observations were able to prove that there is a relationship between the urban imageability and the voids generated by the vacant lot. It demonstrated the potential of those spaces to enhance the urban landscape by their structuring abilities. This study proposes a first glimpse of a coherent planning for the development of downtown vacant lots, in particular, through the notion of imageability as an integral part of the urban quality.

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