Abstract:
Riverscape is the basis of human social systems. Throughout human history, people have used the ecosystem services of the river as a criterion for settlement, development of culture along the river, and urbanization. However, urban developments in recent decades lack concern about natural river patterns and processes and have altered channel structures. These changes cause negative impacts on river dynamics, ecosystem devastation, and disconnection between humans and the river. The study aimed to understand and define the riverscape in dimensions of the structure, process, and the role that is the human foundation of livelihood, including indicating the change and effect that happened from riverscape change, which impacts livelihood and quality of life. Land Use and Land Cover Classification Mapping and Historical Repeat Photography Methods were performed to analyze landscape structure, and changes in the Ping River riverscape in Chiang Mai City and its vicinity. The study found that the characteristics of the Ping River riverscape in terms of river structure and dynamics, which are the foundation for the livelihood of the people in the area, as well as patches of change and the effects of current changes in the Ping River structure on humans.