The project consists of two parts. Firstly, the concept of a land access map will be modelled. The methodology used and the necessary datasets will be outlined in detail. The aim is to create a transparent model that can be applied on any area of interest. The second part of the project consists of performing a case study and applying the model on a research area.

The aim of the model is to make full use of current geospatial technology such as satellite imagery, image processing, digital datasets, and GIS. The methodology will also include fieldwork. The main objective is to generate a land access map based on several datasets of different types and formats. Satellite imagery and ground-truthing is needed for the land cover classification process.

Satellite image	Land cover map
Land use map	Ancillary data

Agricultural data such as growth season for crops, breeding season for animals is necessary when suggesting restricted access to particular crop fields and pastures. Data on plants and wildlife, particular protected species, will be used when suggesting level access to forests and fields. To facilitate the process of assessing areas that are sensitive, the project will make use of existing data on protected areas (i.e. SSSI, SPA, SAC, and Ramsar). Furthermore, information on other seasonal activities, such as hunting needs to be incorporated in the model. Ancillary data such as land ownership, roads, and paths will also be used.

A flowchart outlining the procedure and necessary datasets to generate a land access map. (Click on the image to view a larger version.)