What are the best tools for researching historical landscapes in landscape architecture?

Landscape must be interpreted in its multiple dimensions. Reconstructing historical landscapes requires understand not only the elements, sets or components that characterize the built elements, the anthropic forms, but also its natural elements, and the ecological, social, economic and perceptual processes that characterize them, interacting during the time. In this way, mapping the landscape requires integrating all these layers of information in a friendly, readable and understandable way. Digital cartography offers us 4D tools. We can draw graphically these components and their interactions, or even the perception that various actors have after interacted . A complete semiotic and graphic challenge for the constrution of historical maps

I just listened to a great episode of Ologies with Alie Ward titled 'Critical Ecology' and I can only suggest listening to that as a starting point, and look up Critical Ecology Lab!

Los mapas históricos son fundamentales en la arquitectura del paisaje, revelando la evolución de áreas a lo largo del tiempo. Ofrecen insights sobre cambios topográficos, uso del suelo y elementos naturales, facilitando la comprensión de la historia cultural. Para arquitectos del paisaje, estos mapas son clave en la identificación de características perdidas, guiando la restauración de áreas históricas. También informan sobre patrones climáticos pasados y ecosistemas, influyendo en estrategias de dise?o sostenible. Integrar mapas históricos en el proceso de dise?o promueve la preservación cultural y la creación de entornos respetuosos con la identidad y la historia de un lugar.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): This technology uses lasers to create highly accurate 3D models of landscapes, revealing hidden features and structures buried beneath vegetation or soil. GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Overlay historical maps, aerial photographs, and other data layers to understand spatial relationships and identify patterns of change. Popular GIS software includes ArcGIS and QGIS.

Geographic Information Systems. Old maps can be fitted and turned into data layers. This is particularly helpful with things like drainage tiles laid in stream beds and buried, let alone not hitting things like gas lines.

To me this requires a combination of tools that offer a blend of historical data, visual records, and scholarly analysis. Engagement with local communities and oral histories can uncover invaluable insights into the historical use and significance of landscapes, which might not be recorded in formal archives.

Las fotografías aéreas son esenciales en arquitectura del paisaje. Desde perspectivas elevadas, ofrecen una visión completa del área, revelando patrones de uso del suelo, vegetación y conectividad. Facilitan la planificación al analizar distribución de espacios, rutas peatonales y la relación con el entorno. Son cruciales en proyectos regionales para comprender influencias geográficas y patrones climáticos. Combinadas con mapas y tecnologías 3D, las imágenes aéreas brindan una perspectiva completa, mejorando la eficacia y sostenibilidad en el dise?o del paisaje.

La bibliothèque de la mission LIDAR-FR est une technologie, et un outil puissante pour voir l'évolution des paysages d'un territoire spécifique au fil de temps. Heureusement la France est répertorié dans l'ensemble de son territoire à plusieurs dates

El estudio de campo es esencial en arquitectura del paisaje. En este proceso, se recopilan datos directamente del sitio, observando la topografía, vegetación y condiciones ambientales. Este enfoque brinda información detallada sobre la ecología local, la calidad del suelo y los patrones climáticos. El estudio de campo respalda decisiones de dise?o informadas, asegurando que el proyecto se adapte al entorno de manera sostenible y estética. También facilita la identificación de desafíos y oportunidades únicas del lugar. Integrar datos del estudio de campo con otras herramientas, como mapas y tecnologías digitales, potencia la eficacia en la creación de entornos paisajísticos que respetan la naturaleza y satisfacen las necesidades locales.

Great points all over. Being engaged in global landscape architecture forums such as the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) by attending webinars will make you aware of the unique challenges and opportunities on different continents. The use of mapping and data analysis provides you with the opportunity to incorporate several layers that have, has and potentially would impact any landscape be it rates of poverty, public health concerns and heavy civil engineering infrastructure. Having done this task as a landscape architect especially on large areas such as regions, states, provinces, countries and even continents help to deliver landscape led solutions that are based on data.

Try to access people's stories and narratives, including personal experiences of the lived landscape. Stories, often transferred between generations, can tell a lot about changed landscapes or at least changed perceptions and uses.

One way to direct the stories that everyone can accept is through the genomics soil testing that is provided free to all communities where soil health is human health and environmental changes can be measured through healthy communities.

Other than documented data, we need to research the climatic changes also because they impact the plant species and their growth pattern in a particular landscape setting. In due course of time many stepping stones for migratory species have changed and hence landscape has been affected for those regions.