GeoDesign Approach in Vital Landscapes Project

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S. Jombach, L. Kollányi, J. L. Molnár, Á. Szabó and T. D. Tóth
application. Geodesign is hold as a combined “toolset” of future world developers in
various fields from transport network planners to social science. Some think that geodesign
is one form of decision making (TOMLIN 2011), some considers as a convergence-program
for bridging the gap between spatial analysis, and shaping the future of spatial
environments (SCHWARZ 2011). It is obvious that geodesign can involve efforts to analyse,
plan or interpret alternative futures, describe landscape and its changes for stakeholders as
many applications show (STEINITZ 2003, WOLF & MEYER 2010, LANGE & HEHL-LANGE
2010). It has relevance to be used for planning of complex systems where geographical,
visual and design aspects do matter. From our landscape architect’s point of view
Geodesign is the combination of software from GIS to CAD, that integrates materials from
photographs to digital maps, believes the purpose of informing locals and planners, and
supports the activities from planning to implementation. Some believe that geodesign is not
a new enterprise for landscape architects (ERVIN 2011) as only the supporting tools were
strengthened by new computing technology and deeply renewed its concept. Definitely
true. The task is to prove that we can analyse, assess and manage landscapes better and
communicate this process more clever than without digital geodesign. Are we able to do it?
2 Study Area
Nagyberek Pilot Area in Southwest-Hungary used to be the largest swampy bay of Lake
Balaton. This is one of the most transformed landscapes of Hungary with many
contradictory characteristics. After the water regulations of the 19th century and the
intensive agricultural use in the middle of 20th century it still plays an important role in the
ecological system of the largest lake in Central Europe. This drained but still swampy
region is mostly dominated by patches of forests, agricultural land, reeds, built up areas,
network of channels and the international highway line between Ljubljana and Budapest or
generally between Italy and Russia. The area of about 300 km2 is represented by water
management, forestry, hunting, fishing activities, nature protection, extensive agriculture of
pasturing, viticulture, fruit and honey production, highway and railway lines, traditional
crafts, rural tourism and mass lakeshore tourism (Fig 1.).
Due to the changing environmental circumstances, the disadvantageous economic
tendencies and peripheral location in the Lake Balaton touristic area, Nagyberek is bankrupt
and has tremendous conflicts at the moment. Increasing unemployment, aging population,
low level of infrastructure, opposition of nature protection, agriculture and forestry do all
represent the site. Due to the poor soil quality and extreme water conditions agriculture has
low productivity. The mass tourism at the Balaton lakeshore has very slight effect on local
rural tourism of the whole area right now. Depopulation and ethnic conflicts make the
situation even more difficult. Despite of dominant human influence and intensive
agricultural utilisation in the past, the area still has relevant natural and cultural values. It
seems like the conflicts with nature conservation of “Fehérvíz” marshland do not strengthen
rural tourism, but decrease the breakout options in agriculture and forestry. In few
settlements only extensive agriculture, activities related to heritage and unique landscape
features and traditional land use can be beneficial activities for a limited number of farmers.
There is a debate whether any of these could mean breakout choice for the study area.