ILUSC: Models on Land Use

The James Hutton Institute has developed a range of datasets and tools that build understanding of land use, landscapes and land use change.  Here is a selection of tools and methods already developed that can help to build understanding of landscapes and land uses. Many of these have been developed for the Scottish context but are adaptable elsewhere. 

This model shows spatial land use change scenarios under climate change. Its latest developments include shaping the land use changes to enhance multiple Ecosystem Services, while considering land capability and farm types. 
https://ics.hutton.ac.uk/landsfacts/

This app lets you explore how climate might shape where native trees can thrive across the UK, exploring the effect of different climate change scenarios.

https://abshy02.hutton.ac.uk/tracce

This online mapping tool visualises net change in carbon (combining soils and vegetation) from afforestation over time for different woodland planting options.

Mapping Net Change in Carbon from Afforestation in Scotland

EcoForest is a web-based interactive tool that allows non-experts to suggest suitable areas for plating of new woodlands via spatial multi-criteria analysis.  It is based on maps that show where different benefits from afforestation could occur: users select the benefits and their importance; individual maps are combined to give a map of overall planting priorities.

  ECOFOREST

RIVERTOOL (Riparian Vegetation Ecosystem Services-based Ranking Tool) is the “riparian-only” version of ECOFOREST (with some extra relevant data).

Story map:

FARMTREE landscape tool. Spatial multicriteria analysis to site agro-forestry.

For more information on many of the researchers and research that produce these, and other tools, please visit https://ics.hutton.ac.uk/research/land-systems-research-team/ You can also visit https://www.hutton.ac.uk/soil-data-and-maps/ to find out more about soils data and maps, which underlie many of these models.

Key contacts:

Lee-Ann Sutherland

Director of International Land Use Study Centre
Based in Aberdeen
E: lee-ann.sutherland@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Prof Lee-Ann Sutherland is Director of the James Hutton Institute’s International Land Use Study Centre. The innovation centre reflects the Institute’s a vision for inclusive, open science that engages the public, stakeholder groups and scientists with a wide range of expertise in tackling the urgent problems of our time: climate change, food and water security, biodiversity preservation and One Health.
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Dr. Kerry Waylen

Social Research on Natural Resource Management
Based in Aberdeen
E: kerry.waylen@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1224 395313
Kerry Waylen is a senior researcher in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) department at the James Hutton Institute, and Deputy Director of the International Land Use Study Centre (ILUSC).  She builds understanding of how to achieve more ‘joined up’ approaches to natural resource management – i.e. working holistically, inclusively and adaptively to consider multiple issues and interests in interconnected systems. In 2022, Kerry was named as one of Scotland’s Leaders in Biodiversity Conservation Science.
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