L6-3643 — Final report
1.
Evaluating data layers according to the scale of landscape classification

There are suggestions in literature about which data layers are the most appropriate for landscape classification at a specific scale (regional, national, continental). In the research an objective numerical method is presented which can help us to select layers before using them in the classification process at a chosen scale. The main part of the method deals with computation of coefficient of variance for different spatial units (with different areas). For this purpose Zonal Statistics and other tools were used. Also a python script has been written which includes Arcpy, Numpy and Pycluster tools. With our method different groups of layers were identified: layers that are more appropriate for small scale classification, layers that are more appropriate for large scale classification and layers that can act as to noisy for landscape classification at any scale. Our study area was the Republic of Slovenia. More than 30 data layers have been tested.

B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference

COBISS.SI-ID: 34836269
2.
Regional development 4: New development perspectives

We edited the Regional development book series. In the last issue the chapter Landscape diversity of Slovenia as a development opportunity for tourism was published. The chapter points to the marketing and promotional value of landscape diversity of Slovenia. With geographic information system, we found areas in Europe that are in terms of natural landscapes and regions extremely diverse, and called them "landscape hotspots". We have defined the landscape most diverse parts of Europe. We found that among all of the European countries, Slovenia has the highest average landscape diversity. This shows the great potential of Slovenia in the field of tourism based on the natural values of landscape, and to advertise Slovenia as a tourist destination, offering a "pan-European experience."

C.02 Editorial board of a national monograph

COBISS.SI-ID: 269093376
3.
Karst rocks and soils as a criterion for defining areas less suitable for agriculture in Slovenia

Karst landscape is the most common landscape type in Slovenia.The proposed European Union indicators for defining areas less suitable for agriculture in Slovenia are not entirely appropriate because taking them into account would omit some distinctly and clearly unsuitable areas–for example, Suha krajina (Dry Carniola) and Bela krajina (White Carniola)–and farmers would be unjustifiably financially harmed. In such a case, every European Union member state has the right to propose an additional indicator to reduce such discrepancies. With regard to actual natural conditions, in Slovenia especially some karst landscapes would be unjustifiably omitted, and so we have proposed a karst indicator as an additional criterion based on the distribution of karst (i.e., carbonate) rocks. Through spatial coverage of karst rocks and soils, we determined whether more reasonable and less strict application of European criteria regarding soil could be satisfactory for better results in defining areas less suitable for agriculture in Slovenia.

D.01 Chairing over/coordinating (international and national) projects

COBISS.SI-ID: 33854509
4.
Landscape captured in computer

The article promotes the use of geographic information systems in the case of typification of Slovenia.

F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)

COBISS.SI-ID: 33113389
5.
Europe's landscape hotspots

We presented the landscape hotspots in Europe and highlighted Slovenia as a country with the highest average landscape diversity due to its position at the intersection of four major European units: the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Basin, and the Dinaric Alps.

B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference

COBISS.SI-ID: 35576621