Spatial modeling and image processing of historical maps for rural landscape planning

The analysis of the rural land modification, as well as its environment and landscape, is im-portant to understand the profound transformations connected with the human intervention and natural events. A multi-temporal analysis, with the support of GIS techniques, has a great potential for monitoring landscape diversity. The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for the spatial analysis that was developed with the aim to understand the dy-namics occurred in the past on the rural landscape, on its morphology and vegetation, to compare them with the current situation and to imagine possible future trends for a sound planning of interventions on the landscape structure. This approach was applied to a case study in the South of Italy, within the Basilicata Region. A specific GIS was designed and implemented, so identifying the most important elements present in a study area, analyzing their transformation, and formulating a spatial model with the primary aim of highlighting the interrelationships between the elements present in the study area and the rural landscape. The analysis of this landscape, enabled by digital processing of historical maps dating to dif-ferent time periods, was performed over the three-dimension images of the territory, that can be considered as a reconstruction of the territory showing all the differences that have oc-curred over the years. All the aspects characterizing the area, starting from the analysis of topography, land cover, vegetation, rivers, until getting to anthropic components (buildings, roads or railways, hydraulic infrastructures, etc.) can be examined in suitable detail and completeness. Final results of this analysis are the creation of a powerful tool, able to give useful information that would be adequately considered in addressing suitable development policies and land management planning in the rural areas. The environment may be particu-larly considered for a sustainable development in harmony with the historical changes of the rural territory that current events, according to the modern ways of conceiving the suburban areas, play over social aspects closely related to the traditions and customs of the past.