4. CASE: LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS BY USING GRD- 
ANALYST 
In this article a case project is briefly described. The case is 
about landscape analysis in Palojoki area (Nurmijärvi, 
Finland). Landscape analysis is made for the purposes of 
general/master planning. This project was made by a landscape 
architect student and documented in her diploma thesis (Erke, 
1995). Intergraph MGE GRID Analyst was used as the 
software tool. 
4.1 The goal of the project 
The goal of the project was to test the GRID-analyst software 
tool in landscape analysis. We wanted to identify the most 
useful raster analysis functions in GRID and in Tomlins map 
algebra. Later on the purpose is to develop a more specified 
application for landuse planner. This case was to be as an 
prestudy showing the requirements of landscape analyst and 
land use planner which should be known in developing an 
application. 
4.2 Source data 
The basic source materials which were used in this case project 
were partly received in digital raster form (scanned maps, 
classified satellite images, digital aerial photographs) and 
partly they were scanned by using a colour scanner. The source 
data which were used are listed below: 
-digital elevation model (pixel size 25m x 25m), 
-base map 1:20 000 in raster form 
-topographic map 1:50 000 in raster form 
-soil map (scanned) 
-classified land use data from satellite image (pixel 25m x 25) 
-digital air photo 
-copies of historical maps (scanned) 
-plan maps and drawings (scanned) 
-data from building register (converted to raster format) 
-photographs of the area. 
Raster maps, satellite images and aerial photographs were 
delivered by the National Land Survey. 
The first stage in the project was the conversion of different 
data sets into the same coordinate system. 
4.3 Analysis procedures 
The analysis procedures which were made are documented in 
the poster. In the following a brief description of the analyses: 
4.3.1 Map overlays 
Different maps were overlayed in order to see “what there is in 
different locations”. In this analysis almost all 2d material was 
used. 
4.3.2 Digital elevation model -based analyses 
On the basis of digital elevation model the southern slopes 
were ientified. These areas were combined with the “warm soil 
types" classified from the soil map. 
The drainage analysis was also made on the basis of the DEM. 
4.3.3 The use of classified satellite images 
The classified satellite images show different forest types as 
well as open areas. The edge areas where for example old 
forest or leaf-tree forest meet an open area are important in 
landscape analysis and they were calculated in this case study. 
In the same way the surroundings of water areas and damp 
places were identified. 
4.3.4 The use of historical maps 
Colour copies of historical maps of the planning area were 
available, they were scanned and rectified as well as the data 
was classified. They were used to study the change in the open 
areas as well as the built areas. 
4.3.5 3d visual analysis 
The digital elevation model was also used in constructing a 3d 
view about the historical situation: the height of the historical 
forest are was calculated on the top of the digital elevation 
model and a perspective view was then computed. This view 
was visually compared with normal perspective photographs 
which were taken in the area. 
4.4 Conclusions of the case project 
By using the grid analyst the planner can make inventories. 
Best analysis procedures are typically the simple ones which 
can be easily ruled by the planner, it means that the planner 
knows what happens and how to interpret the results. 
Computational analysis is not always required. A lot of things 
can be seen visually (Artimo,1996,1995). Use of colours in 
visualization of computations as well as in pure visual analysis 
is very important. The use of colours was one of the challenges 
in the case project. 
S. FUTURE PLANS 
Raster analysis seems to be a strong tool. The main advantages 
are the easyness of getting source data by scanning, aerial 
photography and remote sensing as well as visualizing both 
source data and analysis results. 
The use of attribute data from registers as well as the linkage 
between 2d and 3d data are the future topics of study. 
At the moment we are implementing a prototype of land use 
planners GIS which is based on raster data analysis and 
processing. The goal is to design an easy-to-use user interface 
as well as make prototypes of analysis and design procedures 
required in land use planning. 
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