Structural elements of the visual landscape and their ecological functions

Agricultural policies in Switzerland provide for financial incentives to encourage biological diversity in the use of landscapes. These can support the management of existing, or the addition of new, structural elements in the landscape which are significant for their value in both the ecological and visual landscape. A method for the 3D-visualization of spatial-functional relationships in the landscape, based on ecologically important structural elements, has been implemented in a geographic information system. To demonstrate spatio-functional relationships in the landscape, certain animal species were selected as indicators. The subsequent description is based upon the specific habitat requirements of these species, and information extracted from topographic map data such as buildings, lakes and streams, and vegetation structures. The role of 3D-visualization in emulating the use of the landscape features by the selected species is presented, discussed and examples given to illustrate comparisons between the derivation of habitat areas and the use of such areas by different species.