Multitemporal landscape pattern analysis a quantitative approach to support sustainable land management

Remotely sensed images are an essential component for the analysis of landscape trends. In this contribution we introduce the analysis of a large study area in the Bassin Minier Nord-Pas-de-Calais (France) were we reconstructed a Corine Land Cover map for the year 1954 on the basis of historical aerial orthophotos. On such a basis we were able to analyse land use/land cover changes and their relative impact on landscape pattern. Whereas the main driver revealed being the urban sprawl in areas dominated in 1954 by agriculture, the study shown how quantitative approach in landscape pattern analysis can provide possible innovative tools to support patrimonial landscape mapping and the identification of possible future projects for territorial development