Oğuz Gökçe

Bir mekânı değerli kılan yalnızca nasıl göründüğü değil, insanın yaşamına nasıl dokunduğudur. Kentlerin hızla değiştiği, doğal alanların giderek daha fazla baskı altında kaldığı ve insanın doğayla ilişkisinin yeniden sorgulandığı günümüzde açık alanlar, her zamankinden daha önemli bir anlam taşımaktadır. Bir parkta nefes almak, bir ağacın gölgesinde dinlenmek, bir meydanda insanlarla buluşmak ya da yeşil bir alanda doğayı hissetmek… Günlük yaşamın sıradan görünen bu anları, aslında insanın mekânla kurduğu ilişkinin ve yaşam kalitesinin ayrılmaz bir parçasıdır. Açık alanları yalnızca fiziksel çevrenin bir bileşeni olarak değil; insanın duygularını, toplumsal ilişkilerini ve doğayla bağını şekillendiren çok yönlü yaşam alanları olarak ele almaktadır. Peyzajın estetik değerinin ötesine geçerek ekolojik sürdürülebilirlik, kentsel yaşam kalitesi, mekânsal deneyim ve insan-çevre ilişkisi üzerine düşünmeye davet eden bu eser, farklı yaklaşımları ortak bir bakış açısında buluşturmayı amaçlamaktadır. Açık alanların gizli gücü: insan, mekân ve peyzaj kitabı farklı bilimsel perspektifleri bir araya getiren bu çalışma; peyzaj mimarlığı, mimarlık, şehir ve bölge planlama ile çevre tasarımı alanlarında çalışan akademisyenler, araştırmacılar, öğrenciler ve uygulayıcılar için bir başvuru kaynağı olmanın yanında, yaşadığı çevreye farklı bir gözle bakmak isteyen tüm okuyuculara da seslenmektedir. Çünkü açık alanlar, kentlerin arasında kalan boşluklar değil; yaşamın filizlendiği, ilişkilerin güçlendiği ve doğayla bağımızın yeniden kurulduğu ortak mekânlardır. Onları anlamak, korumak ve geliştirmek ise daha yaşanabilir bir gelecek için hepimizin sorumluluğudur. Açık alanların gizli gücü: insan, mekân ve peyzaj; İnsan, mekân ve peyzaj arasındaki ilişkiyi yeniden düşünmeye; yaşadığımız çevrenin görünenden daha derin bir anlam taşıdığını keşfetmeye yönelik bir eserdir.

Drones have rapidly emerged as transformative tools in landscape research, enabling high-resolution spatial data acquisition, real-time environmental monitoring, and advanced modelling that surpass the limitations of traditional methodologies. This scoping review systematically explores and synthesises the technological applications of drones within the context of landscape studies, addressing a significant gap in the integration of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs) into environmental and spatial planning disciplines. The study investigates the typologies of drone platforms—including fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and hybrid systems—alongside a detailed examination of sensor technologies such as RGB, LiDAR, multispectral, and hyperspectral imaging. Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, utilising predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings reveal that drone technologies are predominantly applied in mapping and modelling, vegetation and biodiversity analysis, water resource management, urban planning, cultural heritage documentation, and sustainable tourism development. Notably, vegetation analysis and water management have shown a remarkable surge in application over the past five years, highlighting global shifts towards sustainability-focused landscape interventions. These applications are critically evaluated in terms of spatial efficiency, operational flexibility, and interdisciplinary relevance. This review concludes that integrating drones with Geographic Information Systems (GISs), artificial intelligence (AI), and remote sensing frameworks substantially enhances analytical capacity, supports climate-resilient landscape planning, and offers novel pathways for multi-scalar environmental research and practice.

Agricultural terraces are critical landscape elements that promote sustainable rural development by enhancing water retention, mitigating soil erosion, and conserving cultural heritage. In northeastern Türkiye, particularly in the mountainous Erikli neighborhood of Uzundere, traditional terraces face growing threats due to land abandonment, topographic fragility, and socio–economic decline. This study applies a spatial–functional assessment framework that integrates UAV–based photogrammetry, GIS analysis, terrain modeling, and DBSCAN clustering to evaluate terrace conditions. UAVs provided high–resolution topographic data, which supported the delineation of terrace boundaries and morphometric classification using an adapted ALPTER model. A combined Terrace Density Index (TDI) and Functional Status Index (FSI) approach identified zones where terraces are structurally intact but functionally degraded. Results indicate that 76.4% of terraces fall within the meso and macro classes, yet 58% show partial or complete degradation. Cohesive terrace clusters are located near settlements, while isolated units in peripheral zones display higher vulnerability. This integrated approach demonstrates the analytical potential of drone–supported spatial diagnostics for monitoring landscape degradation. The method is scalable and adaptable to other terraced regions, offering practical tools for site–specific land use planning, heritage conservation, and resilience–based restoration strategies.

This research was carried out at the Öşkvank Monastery, located within the Uzundere district of Erzurum province in the northeast of Turkey. Öşkvank Monastery is a significant cultural heritage and tourism asset for the region with a history dating back to the 10th century. Despite its importance as a tourism attraction, the monastery currently lacks any protection or management strategy that threatens the transfer of the monastery to future generations. This research focuses on the management of cultural heritage through sustainable tourism development, and it was conducted using a mixed methodology, combining quantitative and qualitative studies. As part of the research, a survey was made, and Öşkvank Monastery was evaluated in terms of sustainable tourism principles. The survey results showed that the participants did not appreciate Öşkvank Monastery regarding sustainable tourism principles. A SWOT analysis was performed through a focus group study to identify the internal (strengths, weaknesses) and external (opportunities, threats) conditions of the region in relation to sustainable tourism. Based on the SWOT analysis, a TOWS matrix was developed and strategies for sustainable tourism development were formulated. TOWS strategies were classified by the content analysis method, and an eight-step Cultural Heritage Management Framework (CHMF) was prepared.

The history of agricultural terraces dates back to agricultural society; and throughout history, they have enabled agricultural activities to be carried out on lands with irregular relief. They have also served as an essential element of rural landscapes due to their architectural features, building materials, and techniques, as well as the landscapes they create. Furthermore, terraces also contribute to soil conservation by preventing erosion, adding organic matter to the soil, and harvesting rainwater. The significance of agricultural terraces in the cultural landscape has triggered the need to define and classify them. In this regard, agricultural terraces across many different locations have found their place on the List of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites (GIAHS) and UNESCO cultural heritage lists. In the present study, the agricultural terraces of the Erikli neighborhood of the Uzundere district were mapped through surveys, drone shots, and orthophotos, and analyzed based on the size and density indices previously used in the classification of Alpine terraces. The study is important in terms of demonstrating the use of drone technology in mapping agricultural terraces. The results of the study revealed that 51.6% of the agricultural terraces in the study area had very steep slopes and 22195 meters of total stone wall length, the average density index was 523.29 m/ha, and 76.4% of the terraces were meso and macro in character. Moreover the study shows that the terraces in the region are more susceptible to deterioration.