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This paper presents an innovative methodological framework – Landscape Preferences Spatial Framework (LPSF) – which is able to translate landscape preferences, as expressed by various users, concerning possible land cover pattern compositions into land cover pattern preference maps. The innovative potential of the contribution lies in the exploration of a comprehensive methodical framework that facilitates the spatial representations of landscape demands by relevant user groups thus bridging the gap between landscape preference research and landscape planning. The LPSF developed here goes beyond the state of the art in translating local scale preference by people into regional scale planning settings. Throughout the paper the development and testing of the LPSF is described and explained. Although the paper focuses on the conceptual framework of the method, it also shows the results of its application in a case study.

Functionally Graded Materials (FGM) are a class of advanced composites with a gradual and continuously varying microstructural composition. This paper presents MicroFEA 1.0, which is a software package developed to help overcoming the challenges of designing and analyzing FGM structures. It provides capabilities to fit FGM experimental data to B-Spline curves and to analyze composite materials using mean-field micromechanics homogenization techniques. The package is composed of MATLAB scripts and Fortran subroutines intended for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using Abaqus. The Abaqus user-material subroutines (UMATs) are designed to work with heterogeneous materials at the integration points level, discarding the need for custom-designed elements. Thermomechanical analyses can also be carried out with the help of UTEMPs. This software will provide valuable help for scientists and engineers facing the development of new FGM structural components.