Classifying landscape character

This chapter discusses landscape character classification and provides an example of how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to produce landscape classifications. The first section examines the complexities of classifying landscapes; landscape has a range of meanings and can be conceptualized at a range of scales. The second section discusses the important role that landscape classification plays in communication and in determining how geographic space itself is conceptualized. The third section demonstrates how a landscape classification can be constructed with a GIS and uses the New Zealand Landscape Classification as an example. The last section reflects on how this classification can be improved through collaboration between landscape scientists and linguistic and cultural researchers.