Evaluation methods of landscape qualities

Landscape is a complex category founded on a multitude of different elements which all contribute to its definition: strictly scientific factors pertaining to a vast range of established disciplines, and so-called cultural factors combining the historical, cultural and aesthetic aspects which contribute to knowledge of territory. Unlike the case of environment – a sector for which a series of scientific studies and methodological contributions have been developed over past decades identifying analysis techniques capable of assessing a series of factors such as the effects of human intervention, the limitations on exploitation of resources, the vulnerability of the equilibrium on the land – only recently has a need emerged for research which is not limited to the study of landscape as a simple object of perception but contributes to construction of an analytic task aimed at establishing a common platform for all the disciplines that contribute to the understanding of landscape. Definition of a rigorous methodology for the study of landscape offering criteria which are as objective as possible and elements for assessment of project quality is therefore an innovative tool which, in response to the current need for shared models to guide landscape policy, contributes to application of the European Convention and thereby indicates a direction for action to be extended onto the international scene.