Multi-scale landscape metrics analysis, from Landsat, IKONOS and QuickBird data

Pattern arrangement is the fundamental basis of the structure and functioning of landscapes, they have distinctive operational-scales at which they can be best characterized. In order to evaluate the interpretation capability at different observational scales, in this work a rural area of Southern Italy has been investigated by calculating landscape metrics from three different satellite resolutions (Landsat-TM, 30m; IKONOS, 4m; QuickBird 2,8m). At landscape level, Evenness and Diversity show no remarkable differences from the three observational scales; whereas at class level the finer resolutions are able to enhance the spatial variability inside classes homogeneous at TM scale. This aspect is particularly relevant to analyze complex mixed forests peculiar in Mediterranean environments. On the whole, the obtained results highlight the importance of a multi-scale approach for a better understanding of landscape patterns useful for local-scale management implications; in particular, high-resolution data seem particularly useful for identifying early signals of class fragmentation.