VLSM: Vector-based Landscape Metrics

Most common landscape metrics are calculated on a raster-basis. However,
sometimes landscape information come along in vector-formats. For the
calculation of landscape metrics, one must perform a
vector-to-raster-transformation often resulting in a lost of
information. In VLSM we implemented the following landscape metrics
based on vector data:

• Effective Mesh Size based on Moser et
  al. 2007
• Urban Sprawl based on Ackermann et
  al. 2013
• Integration Index based on Meinel & Winkler
  2002
• Shape Indices based on Forman & Godron
  1986
• Edge Length based on Walz
  2013
• Shannon’s Diversity Index for landscapes based on McGarigal et
  al. 1995

How to use the functions in R, please refer to the
vignette-R.
You may also want use the functions in the open-source desktop GIS
QGIS. For this, please refer to the
vignette-QGIS.

Installation

You can install the latest version of VLSM from
github with:

devtools::install_github("raff-k/VLSM")

Reference

Knevels, R., Brenning, A., Gingrich, S., Gruber, E., Lechner, T.,
Leopold, P., Petschko, H., Plutzar, C. (2021) Kulturlandschaft im
Wandel: Ein indikatorenbasierter Rückblick bis in das 19. Jahrhundert.
Fallstudie anhand der Gemeinden Waidhofen/Ybbs und Paldau [Cultural
Landscape Change: An Indicator-Based Retrospect into the 19th Century.
Case Study of the Municipalities Waidhofen/Ybbs and Paldau].
Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Geographischen Gesellschaft, 162,
255-285. doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/moegg162s255