Landscape is heterogeneous land area composed of a cluster of interacting systems which forms an interconnected system called ecosystem (Forman & Godron, 1986). Landscape can be further defined as a distinct, measurable unit defined by its spatially repetitive cluster of various interacting systems (Forman & Godron, 1986). As the functional ability of the landscape is dependent on its structure, landscape studies basically focus on mainly three aspects

1. Structure of the landscape deals with its constituent ecosystem elements along with its size, shape and configuration. It can be further divided as patches, matrix, corridors and networks.
2. Landscape functions deal with the interaction of the spatial elements and results in nutrient cycles, bio-geo-chemical cycles and water cycling in a landscape.Landscape changes deal with the alteration in structure and consequent functions of the ecological mosaic over time.
3. Landscape configuration are virtually non-randomly distributed, using various pattern that may occur and are divided (Forman and Gordon, 1986) into: Regular or even landscapes (where the distance between the landscape elements are relatively uniform), Aggregated distributions (landscape in the form of various clusters), Linear patterns (landscape elements clustered linearly), and Distinctive patterns. These configurations can be linked through two major approaches namely, Line (compared to a line, aggregation or compactness of a landscape element type and spatial linkages between different types) and Grid (analyse the horizontal distribution of a landscape) approaches.

Landscape influenced by humans may create a high contrast structures within large homogeneous patches. As a result, micro-heterogeneity is induced in the original landscape having macro-heterogeneous patches and are extremely common in all parts of the earth. Thus the reflectivity from the landforms decides the contrast which can be subdivided into low and high contrast (Forman and Gordon, 1986). Landscape can be divided as coarse or fine grained depending on the size of the landscape elements present. These helps in better understanding of landscape structure with its dynamics and are useful in modelling the landscape dynamics with its functions.