Urban Planning Practicum Dr.

Chaima kefi

Spatial pattern analysis of urban land use using Landscape

Ecology Statistics in QGIS
1. Context and Rationale

Urban expansion and land-use transformation are critical challenges impacting regional
planning and ecological sustainability in the Nabeul region. The accelerating pace of
urbanization has resulted in the fragmentation of natural habitats, loss of agricultural land,
and disruption of landscape connectivity. Despite the significance of these spatial
transformations, evaluating them in a consistent, quantitative framework remains difficult
due to the lack of accessible and standardized methodologies.

Traditional spatial analysis tools often fall short in capturing the complex, multiscale nature
of land cover dynamics. This creates a demand for robust geospatial instruments capable
of delivering detailed insights into spatial configuration and ecological structure. In this
context, the LECoS (Landscape Ecology Statistics) plugin in QGIS represents a valuable
solution. It enables the computation of a diverse array of Spatial Pattern Indicators, which
are crucial for assessing fragmentation, diversity, and connectivity in classified raster
datasets. Applied to the Nabeul region, these indicators support evidence-based decision-
making for sustainable land-use planning.

2. Objectives

 To configure the LECoS plugin in QGIS as a tool for computing spatial pattern
indicators tailored to urban and ecological analysis.
 To compute and interpret key spatial pattern indicators for the Nabeul region,
providing insight into land cover dynamics, fragmentation, and landscape structure.
 To apply these indicators at multiple levels patch, class, and landscape in order to
better understand and monitor the transformation of land use patterns over time.

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3. Data description

This practicum employs two classified raster datasets, classif20.tif and classif25.tif,
representing land cover classifications for the years 2020 and 2025, respectively, within
the Nabeul region. These datasets constitute the primary input for deriving landscape
metrics through the Landscape Ecology Statistics (LECoS) plugin integrated into the QGIS
environment

4. Workflow

 Installing LECoS Plugin

 Open QGIS.
 Click on the Plugins menu and choose Manage and Install Plugins.
 In the search bar, type LECoS.
 Click Install Plugin.
 Once installed, close the dialog.
 After installation, LECoS will appear in the Raster menu and the Processing
Toolbox.
 Go to Raster, then hover over Landscape Ecology.

Table 1: Operational structure of LECoS plugin components in QGIS

LECoS module Primary functionality

Landscape statistics Computing patch, class, and overall
landscape metrics.

Landscape vector overlay Integrating raster analysis with vector data

such as zones or points.

Landscape modifications Reshaping patches in the raster dataset.

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  Accessing LECoS via the Processing Toolbox
The Processing Toolbox in QGIS provides advanced access to all LECoS tools. This
method is especially useful for users working with batch processing or custom workflows.

 Go to View > Panels > Processing Toolbox, or click the gear icon in the toolbar.
 In the search bar, type LECoS.
 The LECoS tools will be organized into the following categories:

-Landscape modifications:

The landscape modifications tools in LECoS provide a suite of raster-editing operations

that enhance spatial configuration analysis and simulate structural changes in urban and
ecological landscapes.

Table 1: LECoS raster patch modification tools and their applications in spatial
configuration refinement and urban morphology analysis.

Tool Analytical intent

Clean small pixels in patches Removes isolated noise pixels.

Close holes in patches Fills gaps within patches. Helps ensure

continuity in urban or green land classes.

Extract Patch edges Detects boundaries of patches. Useful to

define transition zones between land uses.

Increase/Decrease Patches Expands or contracts patches. Can

simulate urban growth or green loss.

Isolate smallest/greatest Patches Filters only the largest or smallest patches.

Helps target key land units.

Label Landscape patches Assigns unique IDs to patches. Enables

patch-specific tracking or statistics.

Neighbourhood Analysis Moving window analysis for local spatial

structure. Highlights fragmented areas.

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-Landscape preparation

Landscape preparation: A suite of geospatial tools enabling the generation, comparison,

and intersection of raster layers to facilitate quantitative analysis of spatial patterns,
landscape dynamics, and scenario-based modeling in raster-based environments.

Table 2: Landscape preparation tools for comparative raster analysis.

Tool Analytical intent

Create random Landscape (Distribution) Generates artificial patterns. Useful for

scenario modeling.

Intersect Landscapes Calculates overlaps between two rasters.

Helps detect urban change or growth.

Match two landscapes Compares raster similarity. Assesses

consistency between planning maps and
outcomes.

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-Landscape statistics
Quantitative metrics derived from classified raster data that describe spatial patterns such
as structural complexity, heterogeneity, and fragmentation across multiple scales, enabling
analysis of land use dynamics and ecological structure.

Table 3: LECoS statistical tools for quantifying landscape structure, composition, and
fragmentation

Tool Analytical intent

Count Raster Cells Counts raster pixels by class. Allows for

class area estimation.

Landscape wide statistics Calculates full-map indices like diversity

and fragmentation.

Patch statistics Computes shape, cohesion, and area for

patches. Measures spatial structure of land
use.

Zonal statistics Calculates summary statistics of raster

values within specified spatial zones to
analyze regional landscape patterns

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-Landscape vector overlay

The landscape vector overlay tools in LECoS facilitate the integration of raster-derived
metrics with vector data, enabling spatial analysis and quantitative assessment across
defined zones or survey points.

Table 4: Tools for overlaying raster metrics with vector data for zonal and field analysis

Tool Analytical intent

Overlay raster metrics (Polygons) Summarizes raster metrics for polygon

features. Supports spatial reporting per
zone.

Query raster values (Points) Extracts values at point locations. Useful

for ground truth and field surveys.

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  Selecting and computing multiple landscape metrics using the 'select multiple
metrics' tab

The Select Multiple Metrics tab provides access to a detailed list of landscape structure
metrics that can be applied to the selected raster layer (classif20.tif - classif25.tif). These
include class- and patch-level metrics commonly used to describe land use configuration,
fragmentation, and connectivity.

1. Open the Landscape Statistics tool and select the appropriate classified raster.

2. Click on the Select Multiple Metrics tab.

3. Select the Metric list on the left.

4. Choose direct output or CSV export, then click OK to execute.

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Questions

 What is the primary function of the landscape ecology statistics plugin when
analyzing land use?
 How can landscape metrics support sustainable land-use planning?