Digital terrain models (DTMs) are not commonly used to integrate for landscape spatial analysis. Two dimensional patchcorridormatrix models are prototypes in landscape spatial ecology analysis. Previous studies have motivated ecologists to integrate terrain models in landscape analysis through 1) adjusting areas and distance calculations prior computing landscape indices; 2) designing new indices to capture topography and 3) searching the possible relationship between topographic characteristics and vegetation patterns. This study presents new indices called Relative number of Topographic Faces (RTF) and Simplicity of topographic Faces (STF) that can be easily computed in a GIS environment, capturing topographical features of landscapes. Digital terrain model was first prepared and topographic units were extracted and installed in computing the suggested indices. Mountainous and rugged topography in Lebanon was chosen on a forested landscape for the purpose of this study. The indices were useful in monitoring changes of topographic features on patch and landscape level. Both indices are ecologically useful if integrated in landscape pattern analysis, especially in areas of rugged terrains.

Although Eastern Mediterranean forests have been exploited for many years, the changing trends in the past 40 years require detailed investigations. Forests in the coastal zone of Lebanon are witnessing major changes mainly because of chaotic urbanisation. The study area at the coastal zone of Lebanon has 96% of its forest cover under oak coppice. The aim of this study is to investigate the applicability of landscape indices on oak forests especially their ability to detect changes between 1965 and 2003. It uses forest canopy closure as another indicator of forest destruction. The 1965 forest map was first checked for its accuracy before being used to extract patch delineations and canopy closures. Landcover types for 2003 were obtained by classifying a SPOT 5 satellite image. FRAGSTATS software was utilised on the 1965 map on a patch basis to calculate patch shapes and sizes. These indices and canopy closures data were investigated for correlation purposes with patterns of forest loss. The edge distances between forest patches in 1965 and new forest patches in 2003 were computed to analyze regeneration processes. Results show that although older forest patches have shown a 48% loss in area, total forest area reached 83%. Abandoned agricultural lands have become new forest. Smaller forest patches (40 ha) showed greater losses than large ones. Small and open forest patches recorded greater loss than large and dense patches. Shape indices show no correlation with forest loss. Clearance for agriculture covered 30% of the pre-existing forests, while urban developments accounted for just 4% of forest loss. This research highlights the great need for comprehensive studies of forests using landscape analyses. Such analyses help managers develop practical and relevant conservation measures.

GAMBAS est un programme de la Commission Europeenne de recherche sur le developpement durable de l'aquaculture dans le delta du Mekong. La pluridisciplinarite des equipes impliquees dans ce programme a permis de cerner precisement l'impact de l'aquaculture sur l'ecosysteme « mangrove ». Dans cette action, la teledetection a joue un role federateur des connaissances acquises au cours des quatre annees de collaboration franco-vietnamienne (2001-2004). Les donnees botanique, d 'ecologie aquatique et de socio-economie collectees dans une quarantaine de stations reparties dans deux provinces (Camau et TraVinh) sont analysees conjointement grâce au lien spatial assure par la teledetection. Plus precisement, une zonation ecologique, un indice de confinement ..., sont quelquesuns des produits derives des donnees spatiales qui ont joue un role essentiel dans la comprehension du fonctionnement de ce socio-ecosysteme complexe.

This research investigates spatial configuration changes of five forest types and introduces uncommon exploration of urban changes in Mount Lebanon. A forest map of 1965 and satellite images of Landsat TM (1987) and Spot 5 (2003) were used. Forest area has reduced by 7%, having low annual deforestation rate (< 1%). Oak, cedar and cypress forests increased from 13% to 15%, 0.8% to 1% and 0% to 0.1% respectively; while pine and juniper forests decreased from 1 % to 0.8% and 12% to 3% respectively. Grassland covered 20% of the original forest area followed by agriculture and urban. Forest patches were investigated in each 100 m distance from the edge of the old forests. Regenerated oaks were found within the first 100 m. Pine and cedar forests appeared at the 400 m distance. Urban settlements showed 4 m yr(-1) moving progress toward forest patches. Landscape indices demonstrated increase in the number of forest patches (from 169 to 432) and in the mean proximity index (from 78.29 to 225.15) and decrease in mean patch area (from 219 to 70 ha) and largest patch index (from 15.45 to 10.32). The observed trends revealed major deforestation and fragmentation in 1965-1987, followed by a lesser deforestation tendency in 1987-2003. Each forest type behaves differently to deforestation and therefore requires special management practices. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Le modele DART (Discrete Anisotropic Radiative Transfer) simule le transfert radiatif optique dans le systeme Terre - Atmosphere, du visible a l'infrarouge thermique, pour des paysages urbains et naturels (e.g., forets multi-especes), avec atmosphere et relief. Ses deux principales sorties sont : - images de teledetection spatiale (i.e., reflectance ou temperature directionnels), pour toute direction solaire et de visee, altitude du capteur, resolution spatiale, etc. - Bilan radiatif 3-D. ce bilan est utilise pour simuler la photosynthese ainsi que les bilans d'energie et de masse des surfaces terrestres. DART genere aussi des series de simulations ou certains parametres (e.g., LAI, temps, longueur d'onde) varient, ce qui permet de creer des courbes spectrales et temporelles. De plus, il inverse les images de teledetection pour calculer certains parametres biophysiques (e.g., LAI, taux de couverture). DART simule les paysages en tant que matrices 3-D de cellules parallelepipediques qui contiennent de la matiere turbide et/ou des elements de surface opaques ou translucides dotes de proprietes optiques isotropes (i.e., lambertien) ou non (e.g., speculaire). Ces proprietes peuvent etre specifiees par des bases de donnees spectrales ou via le couplage de DART avec le modele foliaire PROSPECT. Une interface graphique gere la simulation du paysage et l'affichage des resultats (e.g., images, spectres). Valide lors de l'experience RAMI, puis brevete en 2003, DART est desormais un outil tres utile pour analyser et interpreter les images de teledetection. Les scientifiques peuvent obtenir des licences gratuites aupres de l'Universite Paul Sabatier.

Running over 2001-2004, GAMBAS is a project of the Commission of the European Union. Towards a sustainable aquaculture in the Mekong Delta (Vietnam), Vietnamese and French researchers worked together in partnership, using multidisciplinary approach. The study aimed at finding relations between large numbers of variables and features of extensive shrimp farming in the brackishwater environment. Remote sensing was used mostly for land ecology (mangrove mapping) and to provide updated project backdrop maps. GIS was a key tool for linking data recorded by botanists, hydrobiologists and socio-economists in 40 stations located in CaMau and TraVinh Provinces. Map zonation, an index confinement ... are some tools which helped to better understand this complex Socio-Ecosystem.