This group Géoindicateurs is interested in how indicators, indices and proxies are produced. These analysis tools help to target and direct our attention towards areas of knowledge related to a better understanding of the systems studied (ecosystem, geosystem, socio-system, territorial systems, …) and the phenomena or processes analyzed (land degradation, evolution of biodiversity, desertification, deforestation).

The group focuses on how indicators, indices and proxies are generated. These analysis tools help to target and direct our attention towards areas of knowledge related to a better understanding of the systems studied (ecosystem, geosystem, socio-system, territorial systems, …) and the phenomena or processes analyzed (land degradation, evolution of biodiversity, desertification, deforestation). In return, they allow a faster reading (a sort of shortcut) of our territories or the analysis of their spatio-temporal dynamics. The objective of this group is to study and develop qualitative and quantitative methods of indicator analysis in order to identify the importance of each factor or variable that constitutes them in relation to an environmental theme of societal impact. Two approaches are more particularly studied:

1) The analysis of the methods of construction of indicators and spatialized indices produced to apprehend the dynamics of territories subjected to the impacts of global changes

2) The determination of analogies (or “deep invariants”) between some shapes/structures/patterns observed.

This includes the search for equivalent trends in shape, structure, statistical distribution, observables from data which are spatial, spectral and temporal proxies/patterns to be studied in order to characterize knowledge and bring out new knowledge on processes such as land degradation, biodiversity, fragmented forest areas. Research issues are strongly linked to the identification of proxies related to a process, not an observation. The spatio-temporal dimension to identify patterns, changes or anomalies is essential.