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Fractal analysis for studying the evolution of forests

Author

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  • Andronache, Ion C.
  • Ahammer, Helmut
  • Jelinek, Herbert F.
  • Peptenatu, Daniel
  • Ciobotaru, Ana-M.
  • Draghici, Cristian C.
  • Pintilii, Radu D.
  • Simion, Adrian G.
  • Teodorescu, Camelia

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Andronache, Ion C. & Ahammer, Helmut & Jelinek, Herbert F. & Peptenatu, Daniel & Ciobotaru, Ana-M. & Draghici, Cristian C. & Pintilii, Radu D. & Simion, Adrian G. & Teodorescu, Camelia, 2016. "Fractal analysis for studying the evolution of forests," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 310-318.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:chsofr:v:91:y:2016:i:c:p:310-318
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2016.06.013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dang Phan, Thu-Ha & Brouwer, Roy & Davidson, Marc, 2014. "The economic costs of avoided deforestation in the developing world: A meta-analysis," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16.
    2. Chomitz, Kenneth M & Kumari, Kanta, 1998. "The Domestic Benefits of Tropical Forests: A Critical Review," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 13(1), pages 13-35, February.
    3. Roger Sedjo & Joe Wisniewski & Alaric Sample & John Kinsman, 1995. "The economics of managing carbon via forestry: Assessment of existing studies," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 6(2), pages 139-165, September.
    4. Philipp Kainz & Michael Mayrhofer-Reinhartshuber & Helmut Ahammer, 2015. "IQM: An Extensible and Portable Open Source Application for Image and Signal Analysis in Java," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(1), pages 1-28, January.
    5. Zhang, Jian & Alavalapati, Janaki R.R. & Shrestha, Ram K. & Hodges, Alan W., 2005. "Economic impacts of closing national forests for commercial timber production in Florida and Liberty County," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 207-223, February.
    6. Goio, Ilaria & Gios, Geremia & Pollini, Claudio, 2008. "The development of forest accounting in the province of Trento (Italy)," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 177-196, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andreea Karina GRUIA & Alexandra GRECU & Marian MARIN & Roxana Andreea RADU & Vlad LOGHIN, 2017. "Spatial Dynamics Of The Creative Economies In Romania," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(1), pages 586-594, November.
    2. Alexandra GRECU & Andreea Karina GRUIA & Ana-Maria CIOBOTARU & Ion ANDRONACHE & Adrian Gabriel SIMION, 2017. "Structural Dynamics Of Economic Profile In Spa Resorts Of Romania," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(1), pages 550-560, November.
    3. Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor & Walid Hamma & Huu Duy Nguyen & Giovanni Randazzo & Anselme Muzirafuti & Mari-Isabella Stan & Van Truong Tran & Roxana Aştefănoaiei & Quang-Thanh Bui & Dragoş-Florian Vintilă, 2020. "Degradation of Coastlines under the Pressure of Urbanization and Tourism: Evidence on the Change of Land Systems from Europe, Asia and Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-43, August.
    4. Ana-Maria Ciobotaru & Ion Andronache & Helmut Ahammer & Marko Radulovic & Daniel Peptenatu & Radu-Daniel Pintilii & Cristian-Constantin Drăghici & Marian Marin & Donatella Carboni & Gavino Mariotti & , 2019. "Application of Fractal and Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix Indices to Assess the Forest Dynamics in the Curvature Carpathians—Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Karina Andreea Gruia & Razvan-Cătălin Dobrea & Cezar-Petre Simion & Cristina Dima & Alexandra Grecu & Oana Simona Hudea & Marian Marin & Ion Andronache & Daniel Peptenatu, 2019. "The Use of Sholl and Kolmogorov Complexity Analysis in Researching on the Sustainable Development of Creative Economies in the Development Region of Bucharest‒Ilfov, Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Ion Andronache, 2024. "Analysis of Forest Fragmentation and Connectivity Using Fractal Dimension and Succolarity," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-29, January.

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