COMBINING MAP OVERLAYS
Once finalised, the different map overlays (Figure 4.3) are combined to begin the process of identifying areas of common character to be tested and validated in the field. These overlays should suggest clear correlations between different factors and allow areas of potentially similar character to be identified. This work may be done manually and judged by eye, although increasingly GIS and other computerised methods of data handling are being used to help in the process.

The level of breakdown achieved at this stage will depend on the brief, the nature of the map information collected, and the character of the landscape itself. In some cases a pattern of draft landscape character types may be obvious and their subdivision into tentative character areas may be possible. In other cases no distinctive patterns may immediately emerge and the starting point for the field work will be a simple map of areas for survey that it is anticipated may have distinct character.