Fractal analysis for studying the evolution of forests |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. University of Bucharest – Research Center for Integrate Analysis and Territorial Management, Bucharest, Romania;2. University of Bucharest – Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Integrated Analyses and Territorial Management Work Group, Bucharest, Romania;3. Institute of Biophysics, Centre for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria;4. Centre for Research in Complex Systems, Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia;5. School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia;6. University of Bucharest – Faculty of Geography, Bucharest, Romania;1. Mathematical Sciences Institute, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia;2. Departmento de Matemática Aplicada, Escuela de Ingeniería y Arquitectur, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ María de Luna 3, Zaragoza 50018, Spain |
| |
| Abstract: | Deforestation is an important phenomenon that may create major imbalances in ecosystems. In this study we propose a new mathematical analysis of the forest area dynamic, enabling qualitative as well as quantitative statements and results. Fractal dimensions of the area and the perimeter of a forest were determined using digital images. The difference between fractal dimensions of the area and the perimeter images turned out to be a crucial quantitative parameter. Accordingly, we propose a new fractal fragmentation index, FFI, which is based on this difference and which highlights the degree of compaction or non-compaction of the forest area in order to interpret geographic features. Particularly, this method was applied to forests, where large areas have been legally or illegally deforested. However, these methods can easily be used for other ecological or geographical investigations based on digital images, including deforestation of rainforests. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
