| 1. |
- Brogaard, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Ground-truths or Ground-lies? : environmental sampling for remote sensing application exemplified by vegetation cover data
- 1997
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During time of fast development of computer and sensor technology, ground data sampling strategies have achieved diminished attention in many remote sensing studies. This paper discusses the importance of designing an appropriate sampling scheme of ground data collection for remote sensing applications. The difficulties of achieving a balance between the size and the error of the samples are identified. Different techniques of vegetation cover estimations are evaluated to illustrate parts of the proposed sampling design. The study indicates that traditional methods of ground data collection for remote sensing applications do not have to result in "ground lies". Determination of a reliable and appropriate sampling scheme for the ground data collection should be given a more attention when assuring accurate results in remote sensing studies.
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| 2. |
- Haraldsson, Hördur, et al.
(författare)
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A novel modelling approach for evaluating the preindustrial natural carrying capacity of human population in Iceland
- 2006
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1026 .- 0048-9697. ; 372:1, s. 109-119
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The pre-industrial natural carrying capacity is believed to have limited the human population in Iceland to a maximum of fifty to sixty thousand inhabitants. Since AD 1800 the Icelandic population has gradually grown up to nearly 300 thousand in 2005. In this paper a simple approach is used to evaluate the potential population size that the pre-industrial Icelandic environment could possibly sustain. A dynamic model was constructed that simulates the population size according to potential biological production available for livestock. Biological production was determined by the extent of the total potential vegetation cover based on the Degree-Day concept. Fluctuations in the mean annual temperature causes changes in the potential vegetation cover and as a consequence change the biological production sustaining livestock and ultimately human population. The simulation's results indicate that the potential population that the Icelandic environments could sustain during the pre-industrial period fluctuated between 40 and 80 thousand. The results further indicate that the severe land degradation experienced after the Viking settlement period in AD 900 had a marginal impact on the population size. The pre-historical population did however overshoot the natural sustainability on several occasions. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Haraldsson, H V, et al.
(författare)
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Simulating vegetation cover dynamics with regards to long-term climatic variations in sub-arctic landscapes
- 2003
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Ingår i: Global and Planetary Change. - 1872-6364. ; 38:3-4, s. 313-325
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Iceland is facing severe land degradation in many parts of the country. This study aims to increase the understanding of the complex interactions and interconnectivity between the critical factors that help maintain the land degradation processes in sub-arctic environments. A holistic approach in the form of a causal loop diagram (CLD) is applied for diagnosing the influencing factors. To further study the relationship between vegetation cover and its degradation, a dynamic model that uses a long-term temperature data as the main indicator function is constructed to simulate potential vegetation cover during the Holocene. The results depict an oscillating vegetation cover. Gradual degradation in potential vegetation cover begins ca. 3000 BP and accelerates greatly after ca. 2500 BP. From the time of the Norse settlement in the latter halve of the 9th century to present time, the simulated vegetation cover retreats ca. 25% in relation to climatic cooling.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Nouza, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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A new approach to spatial–temporal development of second homes : case study from Iceland
- 2013
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-2250 .- 1502-2269. ; 13:1, s. 20-37
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In northern Europe, the interest in rural tourism is widely connected with the phenomenon of second homes as a private place to relax and spend holidays. This paper describes second home development in Iceland with the aim of assessing and analysing changes in spatial patterns. Furthermore, based on the data analysis, a new model of second home distribution development, describing the emergence of existing patterns with regard to both mobility and urbanization processes is being proposed. The results reveal that despite the relatively late start of the second home development in comparison with the Scandinavian countries, second home tourism in Iceland has grown to a significant size. The spatial distribution of second homes in Iceland reflects the country's specific physical, demographic and historical conditions. Common factors generating the need for second homes such as pollution, noise and high levels of stress seem not to be the major catalyst for second home development in Iceland, since a high occurrence of second home ownership can be observed in both smaller towns and rural areas. However, similar to other countries, the largest second home areas have developed a relatively short distance from the country's major cities.
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| 6. |
- Olafsdottir, Rannveig, et al.
(författare)
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A GIS Approach to Evaluating Ecological Sensitivity for Tourism Development in Fragile Environments. A Case Study from SE Iceland
- 2009
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-2250 .- 1502-2269. ; 9:1, s. 22-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Expansion of tourism in the northern periphery regions provides innovative resources for an economic boost to many of the peripheral communities. The northern ecosystems are however extremely vulnerable. It is therefore of vital importance for such communities to plan the growth of tourism along sustainable lines in order to secure long-term economic benefit from tourism. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can handle multiple spatial criteria and provide a tool for the allocation of resources between conflicting demands and aid decision-makers in planning. Despite increased use of GIS in environmental planning and management, the application of GIS to tourism planning is still limited. This study aims to develop a methodology to generate a Tourism Decision Support System (TDSS) to aid planning of sustainable tourism. A GIS model was developed based on classification of identified impact factors and variables, as well as selected classification algorithms that were used to assess categories of ecological sensitivity that may aid decision makers in planning and managing sustainable tourism in sensitive areas that are facing the risk of being subjected to ecological degradation.
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| 7. |
- Ólafsdóttir, Rannveig, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing hiking trails condition in two popular tourist destinations in the Icelandic highlands
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. - : Elsevier BV. - 2213-0780. ; 3-4, s. 57-67
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nature-based tourism in the fragile Arctic environments is emerging as a major environmental concern, mainly due to extreme seasonality in these locations, the lack of suitable infrastructures and planning, and its interference with fragile ecosystems. In Iceland tourism has increased exponentially during the past decades, causing more environmental impacts on the country's natural recourses. Hiking is one of the most popular tourist activities in Iceland, especially in the interior highlands. This study had two goals: to map the current status of hiking trail conditions in two popular tourist destinations of the southern highlands, Pórsmörk and Fjallabak Nature Reserve (FNR); and to examine the relationship between trail condition assessment and local physical properties, such as elevation, gradient, soil type, and vegetation cover, in GIS. The current status of the hiking trails is much worse in the Pórsmörk area, where over 30% of the trail system is classified as being in bad and very bad condition, compared to 12% for the FNR. Of the analyzed physical properties only elevation has a clear relationship with hiking trail condition in both study sites and gradient in the Pórsmörk area. Importantly, severe conditions never apply to a whole trail, suggesting that trail conditions are a function of trampling magnitude and local physical properties. Hence, when maintaining hiking trails in vulnerable environments, such as the Icelandic highlands, a holistic understanding of the environmental impact of trampling is critical. Management implications When nature-based tourism enters very fragile environments, good monitoring techniques become even more important. Such is the case on hiking trails in the highlands of Iceland, where the study produced the following findings: Monitoring the conditions of hiking trails is vital for understanding the major causes of trail degradation in the Icelandic highlands. Implementing a visual field assessment with a condition scale based on simplified classification system, a whole trail system can easily and cost-effectively be monitored and changes recorded. Visual interpretation of the spatial patterns of a trails' condition can further aid managers to identify problem areas and to avoid this type of area in future planning.During new trail design, steep slopes should be avoided as trampling easily intensifies solifluction and thus contributes to soil instability and soil erosion. In flat areas trails should be designed so hikers do not easily walk off the trails and thus increase the area of their impact.Inevitably, the number of users contributes the most to trail degradation. Therefore in the most vulnerable areas of the highlands the flow and number of tourists should be restricted.Gathering high resolution geographical data for use in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are important in order to monitor and track changes of hiking trail conditions. The possibilities to analyze spatially distributed data and relationships between variables further provides better understanding of cause and effect regarding tourism impact in sensitive natural environments.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Olafsdottir, Rannveig, et al.
(författare)
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Holocene land degradation and climatic change in northeastern Iceland
- 2002
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Ingår i: The Holocene. - : SAGE Publications. - 0959-6836 .- 1477-0911. ; 12:2, s. 159-167
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The spatial and temporal pattern of land degradation in northeastern Iceland during the Holocene is analysed in relation to climatic fluctuations. Tephrochronology is used to date the infer-red terrestrial changes. and remote sensing and geographical information systems to assess the dynamic relationships between topographic relief. geomorphic processes and soil structure. Changes in vegetation and soil cover during the Holocene are found to he more dynamic than previously reported, highlighted by three substantial degradation phases, two of which occurred prior to the recorded Viking settlement in the ninth century AD, c. 5000 BP and c. 2500 BP. The results demonstrate the role of climate in modifying land cover, hence triggering land degradation without anthropogenic influence. However, anthropogenic activity probably had a significant role in the acceleration of the third degradation phase in the sixteenth century AD, when the system was possibly forced beyond its threshold of recovery, resulting in land degradation on a catastrophic scale.
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| 10. |
- Olafsdottir, Rannveig, et al.
(författare)
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How Wild is Iceland? Wilderness Quality with Respect to Nature-based Tourism
- 2011
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Ingår i: Tourism Geographies. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1461-6688 .- 1470-1340. ; 13:2, s. 280-298
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Icelandic highlands are one of the few places left in Europe where tourists can experience pristine wilderness. During the past decades the highlands have, however, witnessed a rapid expansion in natural resource exploitation. This study attempts to evaluate the pristine condition of Icelandic wilderness by testing different methods of identifying and analysing wilderness with respect to nature-based tourism. The wilderness areas were mapped with respect to proximity to anthropogenic structures (proximity analysis) as well as what is actually visible in the landscape in relation to topography (viewshed analysis). When analysed with respect to proximity, result maps indicate that wilderness covers a little less than 34 percent of Iceland. When assessed at a national scale, results from the viewshed analysis show similar results. However, evaluation of the two methods tested indicates that the viewshed analysis gives a more dynamic image of the Icelandic wilderness areas, whereas the proximity analysis simply highlights static buffer zones relative to the network of anthropogenic features. It is concluded that a viewshed analysis provides a more qualitative result regarding the Icelandic wilderness resource at a local scale with respect to nature-based tourism.
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