Abstract Connectivity models and green infrastructure analysis have become key tools for establishing design and planning strategies for urban environments. In this study, the influence of scale (local and regional) on the connectivity analysis of an urban area of approximately 250,000 inhabitants from Vitoria-Gasteiz, province of Álava (Basque Country, Spain) was evaluated using LiDAR technology and connectivity analysis tools. With our study we prove that local scales provide more detailed data but based on the results of the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) and component analysis, it is important to take into account the surrounding area, since otherwise information would disappear. Therefore, not only the resolution should be taken into account, but also the extent of the study area. It also showed that vegetation surfaces model from high-resolution LiDAR should be well-considered an input for connectivity calculations. Finally, this study highlighted the role of urban areas as source of ecological connectivity in the region, which suggests that urban policies should be focused on improving the design and planning of urban green infrastructures to promote the mobility of species.
Heredia et al. (Wed,) studied this question.