The primary focus of this study is to provide a general methodology which can be utilized to understand and analyze environmental issues such as long term ecosystem dynamics and land use/cover change by development of 2D dynamic landscape models and m...
The primary focus of this study is to provide a general methodology which can be utilized to understand and analyze environmental issues such as long term ecosystem dynamics and land use/cover change by development of 2D dynamic landscape models and model-based simulation. Change processes in land cover and ecosystem function can be understood in terms of the spatial and temporal distribution of land cover resources. In development of a system to understand major processes of change and obtain predictive information, first of all, spatial heterogeneity is to be taken into account because landscape spatial pattern affects on land cover change and interaction between different land cover types. Therefore, the relationship between pattern and processes is to be included in the research. Landscape modeling requires different approach depending on the definition, assumption, and rules employed for mechanism behind the processes such as spatial event process, land degradation, deforestration, desertification, and change in an urban environment. The rule-based models are described in the paper for land cover change by natural fires. Finally, a case study is presented as an example using spatial modeling and simulation to study and synthesize patterns and processes at different scales ranging from fine-scale to global scale.