Integrating UAV Photogrammetry and GIS to Assess Terrace Landscapes in Mountainous Northeastern Türkiye for Sustainable Land Management

Ayşe Karahan, Oğuz Gökçe, Neslihan Demircan (), Mustafa Özgeriş and Faris Karahan
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Ayşe Karahan: Department of Landscape Architecture, Architecture and Design Faculty, Atatürk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey
Oğuz Gökçe: Department of Garden Agriculture, Baskil Vocational School, Fırat University, Elazığ 23119, Turkey
Neslihan Demircan: Department of Architecture, Architecture and Design Faculty, Atatürk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey
Mustafa Özgeriş: Department of Landscape Architecture, Architecture and Design Faculty, Atatürk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey
Faris Karahan: Department of Landscape Architecture, Architecture and Design Faculty, Atatürk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-38

Abstract: Agricultural terraces are critical landscape elements that promote sustainable rural development by enhancing water retention, mitigating soil erosion, and conserving cultural heritage. In northeastern Türkiye, particularly in the mountainous Erikli neighborhood of Uzundere, traditional terraces face growing threats due to land abandonment, topographic fragility, and socio–economic decline. This study applies a spatial–functional assessment framework that integrates UAV–based photogrammetry, GIS analysis, terrain modeling, and DBSCAN clustering to evaluate terrace conditions. UAVs provided high–resolution topographic data, which supported the delineation of terrace boundaries and morphometric classification using an adapted ALPTER model. A combined Terrace Density Index (TDI) and Functional Status Index (FSI) approach identified zones where terraces are structurally intact but functionally degraded. Results indicate that 76.4% of terraces fall within the meso and macro classes, yet 58% show partial or complete degradation. Cohesive terrace clusters are located near settlements, while isolated units in peripheral zones display higher vulnerability. This integrated approach demonstrates the analytical potential of drone–supported spatial diagnostics for monitoring landscape degradation. The method is scalable and adaptable to other terraced regions, offering practical tools for site–specific land use planning, heritage conservation, and resilience–based restoration strategies.

Keywords: agricultural terraces; functional degradation; UAV photogrammetry; GIS spatial analysis; DBSCAN clustering; Terrace Density Index (TDI); Functional Status Index (FSI); landscape fragmentation; sustainable rural planning; terraced heritage landscapes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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