Geomatics in analysing the evolution of agricultural terraced landscapes

The present paper shows the first step of an ongoing research implemented for a dynamic characterisation and valorisation of a historical terraced landscape in Italy, the 'Costa Viola' landscape in the Calabria region. The Costa Viola dry-stone terraces characteristics and the Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC) evolution between 1976 and 2012 were analysed. In order to better understand the evolution trends and dynamics, an intermediate step in 1989 was investigated. Taking into consideration the very steep slopes of the Costa Viola landscape and the need of precision in analysing the historical evolution of agricultural terraces, the use of precision tools coupled with in situ detailed surveys were implemented. As a result, a comprehensive picture of the evolutionary trends in nearly forty years has been provided also highlighting the dynamic of abandonment still ongoing despite the policies of valorisation implemented up to now. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.