The landscape development intensity (LDI) index refers to the measurement of potential impacts from human induced activities on ecological systems within watersheds or other spatial areas. It is intended to measure the human disturbance gradient in ecosystems, i.e., the impact on the biological, chemical, and physical processes of surrounding spatial area or water. The landscape development intensity (LDI) index derives from the intensity of human-dominated activities affecting ecological processes. It quantifies human activity as emergy use per unit area per time, which is basically energy, corrected for different qualities. Emergy use per unit area per time is referred to as empower density, which is calculated as average values for LULC type and LDI coefficients and is the normalized natural log of empower density. The total LDI for my study area was 4.335. The score is quite good, and it indicates minimal change in flow regime, withdrawal of some water, drainage of some wetlands, some ditching, and some impervious surfaces

Source: BROWN, M.T., VIVAS, M.B. LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY INDEX. Environ Monit Assess 101, 289–309 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-0296-6