Vidnost gozdov v okolici Žičke kartuzije kot merilo njihove dediščinske in estetske vloge ( = Visibility of forests in the vicinity of the Žiče Charterhouse as a criterion of their heritage and aesthetic function)

Abstract

The Žiče Charterhouse is one of the most important cultural heritage monuments in Slovenia. The forest landscape in its vicinity represents part of its indispensable natural resource and identity, as “wilderness” was one of the key factors when selecting the charterhouse’s location in the 12th century. For the purpose of defining the forests with a close-to-nature structure that are of key importance in preserving the indispensable pattern of the so-called pristine landscape structure, visibility analysis, a basic tool in modern geographic information systems, was utilized. As the basic spatial layer, a digital elevation model (DEM) based on the data provided by airborne laser scanning of Slovenia (georeferenced and classified point cloud data) with the cell size of 1 × 1 m was used. The visibility of a power line above the charterhouse, representing an obtrusive element as it diminishes the perception of a pristine environment, was calculated. The visibility of both the forests and the power line was calculated from the paths NW of the charterhouse, which were presented as a series of points (n = 1081 stands). The visibility shares of individual forest stands were also calculated. The power line was also presented with a series of points (n = 1153), including cable deflection. In this way, the power line sections visible from the paths that would benefit from undergrounding installation were determined. The most visible stands in the charterhouse’s vicinity have an emphasized function of heritage and aesthetics. Among them, increasing the share of deciduous trees in the stands with the highest share of spruce should take priority in the future.

Keywords

• Žiče Charterhouse
• cultural landscape
• indispensable pattern
• visibility model
• Lidar