Mohamed Hilal

A Quantitative Approach to the Visual Evaluation of Landscape

A method for describing landscape in the countryside and evaluating its impact on the real-estate market is suggested. Four databases with different resolutions (7, 30, 150, and 1,000 m) are used to simulate the visual properties of landscape in the depth of the field of view. The databases, comprising digital elevation models and land use images, are processed by a raster geographical information system. A model that simulates the relationship of visibility among all the points in a given space is devised and used to produce variables that are taken as explanatory variables in a hedonic regression. On this basis, the significant contribution of several landscape features to housing prices is estimated and then mapped. The study area is located in the urban fringe of Dijon (France). A total of 4,352 houses with known price, position, and landscape amenities provide the information for calibrating the hedonic model. The results confirm that landscape amenities influence house prices. Landscapes and visible features more than 100 to 200 m away all have insignificant hedonic prices. In this study area, forests and farmland in the immediate vicinity of houses have positive prices, whereas roads have negative ones.

Ecosystem Services Along the Urban–Rural–Natural Gradient: An Approach for a Wide Area Assessment and Mapping

Landscapes can be viewed as a continuum and studied using spatial gradients along which environmental modifications determine the structural and functional components of ecosystems. The analysis and quantification of Ecosystem Services, intended as the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, play a crucial role in sustainable landscape planning. In this framework we developed a novel method for the identification and characterization of the landscapes nested along the urban-rural-natural gradient and the analysis of potential ES supply and demand within said landscapes. The Kernel Density Estimation technique was applied to calculate continuous intensity indicators associated with urbanization, agriculture, and natural elements, considered as key components of the gradient. The potential ES demand and supply within each landscape area were assessed using expert–knowledge based indices associated to the LULC CORINE classes. Results showed a complex organization of “pillar” and transitional landscapes along the gradient, which match different bundles of ES demand and supply.

Determinants of local population growth and economic development in France between 1990 and 2006

This paper analyzes local population and employment growth drivers for French data aggregated at a local level for the 1990-2006, 1990-1999, 1999-2006 periods. A simultaneous equation system, linking changes in local population and employment, is estimated. Jobs are split between export (manufacturing) and personal service sectors. The main findings are that ?people follow jobs? and simultaneously that ?jobs follow people?. However, the population only follows ?export? jobs and this effect is strengthening between the first and the second period. Whereas the ?jobs follow people? assertion is true whatever the period for the ?residential? sector, it is observed for the 1990-1999 period only for the export sector and this relation becomes insignificant for the period 1999-2006. While it is difficult to know which effect is dominant over the first period, the results lead to a dominant impact of ?people follow (export) jobs? in the most recent period.

Modélisation des déplacements domicile/travail et des déplacements associés et des déplacements associés

La dissociation lieu de residence / lieu d’activite (emploi, commerces, services...) sert de fondement a la production de zonages fonctionnels comme les aires urbaines, les zones d’emploi ou les bassins de vie. Les migrations pendulaires sont le signe d’une concentration croissante des emplois, commerces et services dans les villes et d’une dispersion residentielle autour de celles-ci.Ce travail tente de situer la logique des deplacements intercommunaux dans differentes categories d’espaces (urbaines et rurales) en explorant plus particulierement la facon dont plusieurs motifs de deplacement peuvent s’associer au cours d’une meme sequence. L’hypothese principale est qu’il existe des generateurs principaux de deplacement (tous ceux lies a l’emploi) sur lesquels se greffent des deplacements aux motifs secondaires.La principale source de donnees utilisee est l’Enquete Transports - Communications INRETS / INSEE de1993-1994 a laquelle seront appariees les donnees du Recensement de Population et de l’Inventaire Communal.