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This research is based on application of landscape metrics in GIS environment for determination of the basic features of horizontal landscape structure of the southern part of Vis island, Croatia. Landscape elements (or geocomplex types) are determined based on their abiotic (lithological and geomorphological features) and biotic elements (natural vegetation cover). Anthropogenic impact during historical-geographic development (agriculturally cultivated land and urbanized areas) are also considered. By means of GIS tools, the three layers of abiotic and biotic parameters were overlayed (lithology, slope inclinations and types of vegetation cover) and 2556 basic units (geocomplexes) were obtained. Generalization of this basic units by criterion of similarity enabled extraction of 132 types of geocomplexes. This types represent generalised homogenous spatial units which were basis for all further analyses. In the next phase, landscape metrics has been applied in order to determine basic characteristics of horizontal landscape structure: total area of each geocomplex type (including minor elements or basic geocomplexes included in each type), frequency, average areas of individual geocomplexes within types and spatial variability index. The main goals of the research are precise determination of abiotic and biotic features of landscape elements, their spatial structure and interrelationships, classification, typology and determination of existence of specific dominant/stable and vulnerable/labile geocomplex types. The results should serve as methodological framework for evaluation of the current state and future development trends of landscape elements of the researched area. They can be applied in planning and preserving landscape of the southern part of Vis island, and other areas as well., Ovo istraživanje se temelji na primjeni krajobrazne metrike u GIS okruženju za određivanje osnovnih obilježja horizontalnih krajobraznih struktura južnog dijela otoka Visa, u Hrvatskoj. Pejzažni elementi (ili vrste geokompleksa) određene su na temelju njihovih abiotičkih (litološka i geomorfološka obilježja) i biotičkih elemenata (prirodni biljni pokrov). U obzir je uzet i antropogeni utjecaj tijekom povijesno-geografskog razvoja (poljoprivredna zemljišta i građevinska područja). Pomoću GIS alata, preklopljena su tri sloja abiotičkih i biotičkih parametara (litologija, nagibi padina i vrste biljnog pokrova) i dobiveno je 2556 osnovnih jedinica (geokompleksi). Generalizacijom ovih osnovnih jedinica po kriteriju sličnosti omogućeno je izdvajanje 132 vrsta geokompleksa. Ove vrste predstavljaju uopćene homogene prostorne jedinice koje su bile temelj za sve daljnje analize. U narednoj fazi, metrika je krajolika primijenjena kako bi se utvrdile osnovne karakteristike horizontalne strukture krajolika: ukupna površina svake vrste geokompleksa (uključujući i manje elemenate ili osnovne geokomplekse uključene u svaku vrstu), učestalost, prosječne površine pojedinih geokompleksa unutar vrste i indeks prostorne varijabilnosti. Glavni ciljevi istraživanja su precizno određivanje abiotičkih i biotičkih obilježja elemenata krajolika, njihova prostorna struktura i međusobni odnosi, klasifikacija, tipologija i utvrđivanje postojanja specifičnih dominantnih i nedominatnih vrsta geokompleksa. Rezultati bi trebali poslužiti kao metodološki okvir za procjenu trenutnog stanja i budućih razvojnih trendova krajobraznih elemenata istraživanog područja. Oni se mogu primijeniti u planiranju i očuvanju krajolika kako južnog dijela otoka Visa, tako i drugih područja također.

This research is based on application of landscape metrics in GIS environment for determination of the basic features of horizontal landscape structure of the southern part of Vis island. Landscape elements (or geocomplex types) are determined based on their abiotic (lithological and geomorphological features) and biotic elements (natural vegetation cover). Anthropogenic impact during historical-geographic development (agriculturally cultivated land and urbanized areas) are also considered. By means of GIS tools, the three layers of abiotic and biotic parameters were overlayed (lithology, slope inclinations and types of vegetation cover) and 2556 basic units (geocomplexes) were obtained. Generalization of this basic units by criterion of similarity enabled extraction of 132 types of geocomplexes. This types represent generalised homogenous spatial units which were basis for all further analyses. In the next phase, landscape metrics has been applied in order to determine basic characteristics of horizontal landscape structure: total area of each geocomplex type (including minor elements or basic geocomplexes included in each type), frequency, average areas of individual geocomplexes within types and spatial variability index. The main goals of the research are precise determination of abiotic and biotic features of landscape elements, their spatial structure and interrelationships, classification, typology and determination of existence of specific dominant/stable and vulnerable/labile geocomplex types. The results should serve as methodological framework for evaluation of the current state and future development trends of landscape elements of the researched area. They can be applied in planning and preserving landscape of the southern part of Vis island, and other areas as well.