Matrix Approaches are a quick and simple way to get an overall spatially-explicit picture of the ES in case study areas. The method is based on the idea of linking tabular spreadsheet data and spatial data together, i.e. joining external datasets to spatial units to create maps. The spreadsheet format data can be collected, for example, as expert evaluation or constructed from indicators or statistics. Simple application of the approach typically involves land use or land cover (LULC) datasets, although other datasets can be used.
