Fields, i.e. enclosed areas of arable land, are distinguished according to parcel shape and size, land
fragmentation, land dispersion, and land use. The description of characteristics of a space, including a
field, is unique when expressed in measurable, i.e. quantifiable values (indicators or indices), and this
was the subject dealt with in this doctoral thesis. We designed a set of mutually independent indices
determined either at the level of a unit, a class, or an area. The values of the indices were determined
for the selected 22 fields as irregular blocks, furlongs, continuous strips, and enclosures based on the
2015 data and for selected fields also the data from the Franciscan Cadastre. The analysis of the
obtained index values and statistical data processing showed that field characteristics are well
described by the parcel shape index (IOP), index of land fragmentation (K), index of land dispersion
(SD), and the Simpson’s Diversity Index (SIDI). The low IOP index points to irregularly shaped
parcels as fields in irregular blocks and enclosures. Furlongs and fields in winegrowing areas have a
high IOP, which points to parcels of more regular shapes. Enclosures and fields in winegrowing areas
have high K and SD indices, which points to small land fragmentation and land dispersion. In all other
types of fields, land fragmentation and land dispersion are strong (low K and SD indices). Fields in
winegrowing areas particularly stand out in terms of land use diversity (SIDI index). We also found
that using only one index it is difficult to distinguish between the types of arable land division, while
this is possible if we use more indices. This was confirmed using the hierarchical clustering method to
classify the test fields, based on the statistical values of the indices, into irregular blocks, furlongs,
continuous strips, and enclosures and, as a separate group, fields in winegrowing areas. Notably, due
to the deviation of the indices for the fields in winegrowing areas from other types of arable land
division, we propose that these fields are classified as a separate type of arable land division. The
comparison of indices in two time periods confirmed the practical application of the indices for
identifying the changes in space, which could be reasonably used in continuous monitoring of land
use. The SIDI index points to significant changes in land use in two periods, while the parcel shapes as
well as land fragmentation and dispersion did not change significantly. Even though the indices were
formed to describe field characteristics, they can be also used for describing various spatial
phenomena, as proposed in the final chapters of this thesis.
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