Landscape is part of the vernacular of architects, artists, earth scientists, geographers, historians, and planners, although the term has a slightly different use and meaning in each discipline. Geographers, landscape pioneers, initiated the exploration and examination of physical geography, land, and environment to organize knowledge about the world. An early definition of landscape was provided by Alexander von Humboldt, the famous German geographer who viewed landscape 200 years ago as the sum of characteristics that make up a region. The roots of landscape interpretation lie in traditional geomorphology and plant ecology.

The concept of landscape held an important place in the geography lexicon during the two world wars and continues to do so today, although it is now less emphasized. Making meaning to better understand the ...