Characterizing Garden Greenspace in a Medieval European City: Added Values of Spatial Resolution and Multi-Temporal Stereo Imagery

Domestic gardens provide residents with immediate access to landscape amenities and numerous ecological provisions. These provisions have been proven be largely determined by greenspace composition landscape, but the fragmentation heterogeneity of garden environments present challenges mapping. Here, we first developed a recognition method create parcel data set in medieval Leuven city Belgium, based on land use layers agricultural parcels. Then, applied multi-sourced satellite imagery evaluate added value spatial resolution, plant phenology 3D structure identifying four vegetation types. Finally, characterized landscapes Compared single ALOS-2 imagery, SPOT-7 Pleiades-1A increased overall accuracy 4% 8%, respectively. The improvement (21%) produced from multi-temporal stereo strongly verified significance average cover parcels was 71% varied 56% urban 82% rural gardens. is fragmented artificial structures areas has more aggregated size less complex shapes areas. This study calls for greater attention paid gardens, multi-disciplinary studies conducted collaboration ecologists designers maximize benefits both provisions, face global environmental changes public health risks.