Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USA

Abstract This perspective article presents considerations based on an attempt for initiating a landscape characterization in the United States using the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) method initially developed in Great Britain. Literature on LCA underlines the issue of its transferability and...

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Main Authors: Stefania Staniscia, Charles Yuill, Vincenzo Cribari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2020-06-01
Series:City, Territory and Architecture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40410-020-00116-9
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spelling doaj-cde0db32e93d45a69f57ae79bc2505202020-11-25T03:51:06ZengSpringerOpenCity, Territory and Architecture2195-27012020-06-017111510.1186/s40410-020-00116-9Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USAStefania Staniscia0Charles Yuill1Vincenzo Cribari2School of Design and Community Development, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia UniversitySchool of Design and Community Development, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia UniversitySchool of Design and Community Development, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia UniversityAbstract This perspective article presents considerations based on an attempt for initiating a landscape characterization in the United States using the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) method initially developed in Great Britain. Literature on LCA underlines the issue of its transferability and the necessity to address, both theoretically and practically, its adaptation when the method is transplanted to other territories. The authors focus on the development of a theoretical framework for the adaptation of the method to a different cultural, geographical, social, political, and institutional context from the one it was designed for. The region of application are West Virginia southern coalfields where mountaintop removal coal mining coexists with rural landscapes, forested mountains, and scarcely inhabited valleys. The significance of conducting a landscape characterization in such an area is acknowledged as well as the necessity to address five dimensions of the question of transferability: physical, cultural, disciplinary, political, and social. In the article the authors examine the British and USA character-based approaches to landscape highlighting the main differences. The environmental history of West Virginia southern coalfields is introduced, and the current landscape is described. Finally, the authors discuss how the five dimensions of transferability can be addressed in the USA context stimulating further theoretical developments and practical attempts of landscape characterization.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40410-020-00116-9Landscape Character AssessmentMountaintop removalSouthern coalfieldsWest VirginiaAppalachian Mountains
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Stefania Staniscia
Charles Yuill
Vincenzo Cribari
spellingShingle Stefania Staniscia
Charles Yuill
Vincenzo Cribari
Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USA
City, Territory and Architecture
Landscape Character Assessment
Mountaintop removal
Southern coalfields
West Virginia
Appalachian Mountains
author_facet Stefania Staniscia
Charles Yuill
Vincenzo Cribari
author_sort Stefania Staniscia
title Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USA
title_short Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USA
title_full Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USA
title_fullStr Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USA
title_full_unstemmed Four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the USA
title_sort four plus one dimensions of transferability: defining a framework for the application of a landscape characterization in the usa
publisher SpringerOpen
series City, Territory and Architecture
issn 2195-2701
publishDate 2020-06-01
description Abstract This perspective article presents considerations based on an attempt for initiating a landscape characterization in the United States using the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) method initially developed in Great Britain. Literature on LCA underlines the issue of its transferability and the necessity to address, both theoretically and practically, its adaptation when the method is transplanted to other territories. The authors focus on the development of a theoretical framework for the adaptation of the method to a different cultural, geographical, social, political, and institutional context from the one it was designed for. The region of application are West Virginia southern coalfields where mountaintop removal coal mining coexists with rural landscapes, forested mountains, and scarcely inhabited valleys. The significance of conducting a landscape characterization in such an area is acknowledged as well as the necessity to address five dimensions of the question of transferability: physical, cultural, disciplinary, political, and social. In the article the authors examine the British and USA character-based approaches to landscape highlighting the main differences. The environmental history of West Virginia southern coalfields is introduced, and the current landscape is described. Finally, the authors discuss how the five dimensions of transferability can be addressed in the USA context stimulating further theoretical developments and practical attempts of landscape characterization.
topic Landscape Character Assessment
Mountaintop removal
Southern coalfields
West Virginia
Appalachian Mountains
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40410-020-00116-9
work_keys_str_mv AT stefaniastaniscia fourplusonedimensionsoftransferabilitydefiningaframeworkfortheapplicationofalandscapecharacterizationintheusa
AT charlesyuill fourplusonedimensionsoftransferabilitydefiningaframeworkfortheapplicationofalandscapecharacterizationintheusa
AT vincenzocribari fourplusonedimensionsoftransferabilitydefiningaframeworkfortheapplicationofalandscapecharacterizationintheusa
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