TY - JOUR
T1 - Fractal analysis for studying the evolution of forests
AU - Andronache, Ion C.
AU - Ahammer, Helmut
AU - Jelinek, Herbert F.
AU - Peptenatu, Daniel
AU - Ciobotaru, Ana M.
AU - Draghici, Cristian C.
AU - Pintilii, Radu D.
AU - Simion, Adrian G.
AU - Teodorescu, Camelia
N1 - Includes bibliographical references.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - Deforestation is an important phenomenon that may create major imbalances in ecosystems. In this study we propose a new mathematical analysis of the forest area dynamic, enabling qualitative as well as quantitative statements and results. Fractal dimensions of the area and the perimeter of a forest were determined using digital images. The difference between fractal dimensions of the area and the perimeter images turned out to be a crucial quantitative parameter. Accordingly, we propose a new fractal fragmentation index, FFI, which is based on this difference and which highlights the degree of compaction or non-compaction of the forest area in order to interpret geographic features. Particularly, this method was applied to forests, where large areas have been legally or illegally deforested. However, these methods can easily be used for other ecological or geographical investigations based on digital images, including deforestation of rainforests.
AB - Deforestation is an important phenomenon that may create major imbalances in ecosystems. In this study we propose a new mathematical analysis of the forest area dynamic, enabling qualitative as well as quantitative statements and results. Fractal dimensions of the area and the perimeter of a forest were determined using digital images. The difference between fractal dimensions of the area and the perimeter images turned out to be a crucial quantitative parameter. Accordingly, we propose a new fractal fragmentation index, FFI, which is based on this difference and which highlights the degree of compaction or non-compaction of the forest area in order to interpret geographic features. Particularly, this method was applied to forests, where large areas have been legally or illegally deforested. However, these methods can easily be used for other ecological or geographical investigations based on digital images, including deforestation of rainforests.
KW - Deforestation
KW - Forest ecology
KW - Forest management
KW - Fractal dimension
KW - Fractal fragmentation index
KW - Global warming
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84976448005&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84976448005&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chaos.2016.06.013
DO - 10.1016/j.chaos.2016.06.013
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84976448005
SN - 0960-0779
VL - 91
SP - 310
EP - 318
JO - Chaos, Solitons and Fractals
JF - Chaos, Solitons and Fractals
ER -
