Impact of trail network on landscape

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Impact of trail network on landscape

• MSc. Ondrej Vítek
• Impact of road and tourist trail network on
  alpine and subalpine landscape in the Krkonoe
  Mts. - GPS measurements and GIS evaluation

GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental
Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science P
raha, Czech Republic The Krkonoe Mts. National
Park Administration Vrchlabí, Czech Republic
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• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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• Krkonoe - outstanding nature
• visible problem - road effect expansion
  invasion
  
• indicators individuals vs. communities
• area of interest
• targets

Find out the extent of non-natural growths
Find out main reasons for distribution/extinction
Propose improving activities
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KRKONOE MTS.

• National park (1963)
• Krkonoe/Karkonosze Biosphere reserve (1992)
• Weak subalpine nature vs. tourism
• grassland, peat-bogs, corries, Swiss Mountain
  Pine stands,
  
• trails roads, chalets, viewpoints, tourists, ...

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natural state
naturally occuring species (no influence)
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expansion
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
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expansion
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
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expansion
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
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expansion
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
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expansion
f
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
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natural state
naturally occuring species (no influence)
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invasion
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
invading species
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invasion
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
invading species
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invasion
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
invading species
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invasion
f
stable species expanding species (positive influe
nce of trail network) disappearing species (negat
ive influence of trail network)
invading species
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Indicators individuals vs. communities

• expansion invasion - pictures of individuals
• summarising research - mapping of communities
  (all or only several types)

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Area of interest

• Krkonoe Mts. - high tourism exploatation and
  outstanding nature
  
• alpine nature - little visible influence on
  vegetation
  
• mountain veg. belt - giant impact of forestry
• subalpine communities - effect of trails best
  visible

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Area of interest II

• 6.8 km2 on Czech side until 1999
• ca 10 km2 on both Czech and Polish sides since
  1999

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• Krkonoe - outstanding nature
• visible problem - road effect expansion
  invasion
  
• indicators individuals vs. communities
• area of interest
• targets

Find out the extent of non-natural growths
Find out main reasons for distribution/extinction
Propose improving activities
21

• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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• target 1 Find out the extent of non-natural
  growths
  
• GPS - position info (database)
• GIS - maintenance and evaluation of data

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• target 2 Find out main reasons for
  distribution/extinction
  
• GIS - combination of GPS data (e.g. average width
  of TMV vs. trail stabilising material)
  
• other sampling methods (counting tourists,
  botany, water, soil etc.)

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• target 3 Propose improving activities
• complex analysis of all data, field observations
  and experience

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• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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TRIMBLE data dictionary (.ddf)

• community
• according to dominant (menu)
• Senecio hercynicus
• Rumex alpinus
• Cirsium heterophyllum
• Calamagrostis villosa
• Deschampsia cespitosa
• ruderal comm. around chalets
• trampled grass
• veg. covering
• other comm. (text) - different type or
  co-dominants

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TRIMBLE data dictionary (.ddf)

• trail
• according to restrictions (menu)
• open
• closed
• according to stabilising material (menu)
• asphalt
• dolomite
• melaphyre
• dolomite/melaphyre mix.
• autochthonous stab.
• non-stabilised
• according to seasonality (menu)
• summer
• winter
• full-year

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TRIMBLE data dictionary (.ddf)

• individual species (menu)
• sampling point (number)
• viewpoint (text)
• drainage (menu)
• phytosociological relevé (number)
• bunker
• crossroad sign (text number)
• frontier stone (text)
• anthropogenous relief shapes (menu number)

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• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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Definition of borders

• trails
• vegetation types

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Difference between area/line/point

• species occurrence (area/point)
• how many idividuals are 1 point?
• roads/trails/paths (area/line)
• community (area/0) - comm. width

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PDOP

• max. 6 ? accuracy - 40 cm
• max. ? ? inaccuracy max. 40 cm
• periods of PDOP 6
• distance to the reference station (150 km)

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other problems of field measurement

• stormy weather
• swinging of antenna while walking
• inquisitive tourists

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• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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ArcView, ARC/INFO

• under construction
• precision checked with othophotos and digitalised
  maps
  
• GIS database - sums of area, length (total or by
  categories)

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average width of TMV
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trails according to tourist load
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• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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• oldest trail map from 16th century
• new roads bunkers before II.ww
• trail density 4.5 km/km2
• trails 1 of the area (71 trails stabilised
  with allochthonous mat.)
  
• summer use 19 km (on 6.8 km2 area)
• winter use 15.5 km
• max. tourists 700 in ave. day

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• area of TMV 3 of AOI
• absolutely dominating Senecio hercynicus
  (expanding species)
  
• bioindicator of worst stands Rumex alpinus
• ave. TMV width along asph. r. 32 m
• non-stabilised trails no TMV

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dolomite (limestone) Ca2
road
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• WHAT - introduction
• HOW - methods
• WHICH - overview of collected data
• WHY - problems of measurement
• HOW - GIS evaluation
• WHAT - some interesting results

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Ondrej Vítek

• ovitek_at_natur.cuni.cz
• www.labgis.natur.cuni.cz
• - our GIS laboratory _at_ FSc, ChU, Praha
• www.krnap.cz
• - The Krkonoe Mts. NP Administration, Vrchlabí