Conceptual proposal of the landscape as an environmental indicator for the spatial and temporal study of the territory

Abstract

Objective: To propose the landscape as an environmental indicator that describes, analyzes and spatially and temporarily evaluates a territory, through changes in natural, social, economic and cultural components.

Approach: Different methodological concepts of the landscape and environmental indicator were reviewed, as well as their characteristics to describe and evaluate the environment.

Results: It was found that the landscape is a comprehensive analysis method for the study of the environment, by selecting the parameters that describe and represent each landscape, through shape, size, colors, textures, shadows, patterns, situations, associated features and structures arranged under a spatial and temporal order, which when perceived by man, present a certain form of organization or disorganization in the environment.

Implications: The environmental indicator allows analyzing and evaluating changes in space and time, with updated qualitative and quantitative research, these changes play an important role in building the perception of environmental problems through the landscape.

Conclusions: The landscape is an integral component that describes the biotic and abiotic elements that make up a space. While, as an environmental indicator, it analyzes and evaluates the change in the composition and configuration of the environment spatially and temporally.