Laeillegeography

Laeillegeography is an interdisciplinary field that studies landscapes as dynamic systems formed by the interaction of geophysical processes, ecological conditions, and human activity. It seeks to understand how landforms, soils, hydrology, climate, and cultural practices combine to produce spatial patterns at regional to local scales, and how those patterns change over time.

The term is a neologism coined in scholarly discussions in the early 21st century to express an integrated approach that transcends traditional geography subfields. It emphasizes landscape-scale analysis and the layered nature of place, incorporating physical, biological, and human dimensions into a single conceptual framework.

Core concepts in laeillegeography include landscape units, process chains, resilience, and transformation. Methods draw on geographic information systems, remote sensing, LiDAR, field surveys, and participatory mapping, often paired with landscape metrics and scenario modeling to quantify change and compare processes across space and time.

Subfields within laeillegeography span geomorphology-informed landscape planning, hydrogeography and water-systems science, urban and cultural landscapes, ecological landscape dynamics, and climate-adaptive land-change studies. This mix reflects a focus on how natural and human systems co-produce landforms, resources, and risk.

Applications of laeillegeography include urban design and planning that account for long-term landform behavior, conservation and restoration of degraded landscapes, agricultural and watershed management, cultural heritage protection, and risk assessment under climate change. As an emerging field, laeillegeography continues to develop methods, terminology, and collaborative networks to support evidence-based decision making across sectors.