Relationships between visual landscape preferences and map-based indicators of landscape structure

There is increasing awareness of the need to monitor trends in our constantly changing agricultural landscapes. Monitoring programmes often use remote sensing data and focus on changes in land cover/land use in relation to values such as biodiversity, cultural heritage and recreation. Although a wide range of indicators is in use, landscape aesthetics is a topic that is frequently neglected. Our aim was to determine whether aspects of landscape content and configuration could be used as surrogate measures for visual landscape quality in monitoring programmes based on remote sensing. In this paper, we test whether map-derived indicators of landscape structure from the Norwegian monitoring programme for agricultural landscapes are correlated with visual landscape preferences. Two groups of people participated: (1) locals and (2) non-local students. Using the total dataset, we found significant positive correlations between preferences and spatial metrics, including number of land types, number of patches and land type diversity. In addition, preference scores were high where water was present within the mapped image area, even if the water itself was not visible in the images. When the dataset was split into two groups, we found no significant correlation between the preference scores of the students and locals. Whilst the student group preferred images portraying diverse and heterogeneous landscapes, neither diversity nor heterogeneity was correlated with the preference scores of the locals. We conclude that certain indicators based on spatial structure also have relevance in relation to landscape preferences in agricultural landscapes. However, the finding that different groups of people prefer different types of landscape underlines the need for care when interpreting indicator values.     

Relationship between landscape visual attributes and spatial pattern indices: A test study in Mediterranean-climate landscapes

The analysis of the relationships between landscape visual quality and landscape structural properties is an active area of environmental perception research. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between landscape spatial pattern and the rating of visual aesthetic quality. Eight landscape photographs were evaluated for 11 visual attributes by 98 respondents. The scores obtained for these 11 attributes were subjected to principal components analysis in order to summarize the qualities used by the respondents and thus determine their visual preferences. For each photograph, three window sizes were defined (with respect to a landcover map) to cover the different areas corresponding to the visual field (foreground, mid-ground and background). The landscape spatial structure for each window was analyzed using spatial metrics. The correlation between each dimension and the spatial pattern indices of the landscape were then calculated. Positive correlations were obtained between visual aesthetic quality and a number of landscape pattern indices. The results suggest that landscape heterogeneity might be an important factor in determining visual aesthetic quality.     

Creating Landscape Preference Models Using Internet Survey Techniques

The use of the Internet to collect data for predictive landscape preference models is described and tested, including the issues involved in using such a method for data collection and the functionality of the questionnaire. The creation of a psychophysical landscape preference model for rural landscapes in Scotland is described. Ninety landscape images were analysed by digitizing each image into seven landform types, based on elevation and land cover. The colours present in each image were also recorded and variables representing complexity and coherence were measured. The most important predictors of visual landscape preference were found to be complexity, coherence and the presence or absence of water and mountainous landscape. These were among the variables used in two preference models, which explained over 65% of the variation in landscape preference and which produced correlations of over 0.6 with a second data set of preference scores.     

Creating Landscape Preference Models Using Internet Survey Techniques

The use of the Internet to collect data for predictive landscape preference models is described and tested, including the issues involved in using such a method for data collection and the functionality of the questionnaire. The creation of a psychophysical landscape preference model for rural landscapes in Scotland is described. Ninety landscape images were analysed by digitizing each image into seven landform types, based on elevation and land cover. The colours present in each image were also recorded and variables representing complexity and coherence were measured. The most important predictors of visual landscape preference were found to be complexity, coherence and the presence or absence of water and mountainous landscape. These were among the variables used in two preference models, which explained over 65% of the variation in landscape preference and which produced correlations of over 0.6 with a second data set of preference scores.     

Relationships between visual landscape preferences and map-based indicators of landscape structure

There is increasing awareness of the need to monitor trends in our constantly changing agricultural landscapes. Monitoring programmes often use remote sensing data and focus on changes in land cover/land use in relation to values such as biodiversity, cultural heritage and recreation. Although a wide range of indicators is in use, landscape aesthetics is a topic that is frequently neglected. Our aim was to determine whether aspects of landscape content and configuration could be used as surrogate measures for visual landscape quality in monitoring programmes based on remote sensing. In this paper, we test whether map-derived indicators of landscape structure from the Norwegian monitoring programme for agricultural landscapes are correlated with visual landscape preferences. Two groups of people participated: (1) locals and (2) non-local students. Using the total dataset, we found significant positive correlations between preferences and spatial metrics, including number of land types, number of patches and land type diversity. In addition, preference scores were high where water was present within the mapped image area, even if the water itself was not visible in the images. When the dataset was split into two groups, we found no significant correlation between the preference scores of the students and locals. Whilst the student group preferred images portraying diverse and heterogeneous landscapes, neither diversity nor heterogeneity was correlated with the preference scores of the locals. We conclude that certain indicators based on spatial structure also have relevance in relation to landscape preferences in agricultural landscapes. However, the finding that different groups of people prefer different types of landscape underlines the need for care when interpreting indicator values.     

New wilderness in the Netherlands: An investigation of visual preferences for nature development landscapes

The present research investigated visual preferences for nature development landscapes among 500 residents from six plan areas in The Netherlands. Significant differences in relative preferences for wild versus managed scenes were found between landscape types and respondent groups. Development of wild nature was evaluated less positively in a forested area than in more open, rural areas. Among the background variables included in the study, place of residence, age, socio-economic status, farming background, preference for green political parties, and recreational motives were found to be systematically related to relative preferences for wild versus managed nature scenes, accounting for 16% of the variance in preference ratings. These findings are discussed within an applied decision making context in The Netherlands.     

Comparing live experience with pictures in articulating landscape preference

This study defines the dynamic variables affecting landscape perception. Twenty‐five respondents were taken along a trail in southern Indiana through sixteen representative settings, providing preference ratings for each. They were also asked to articulate their feelings about the sites. The same group repeated the study in a laboratory using slides. The resulting data were analysed to determine to what extent dynamic variables were affecting preference for experiences in the landscape and in the simulated environment. Results clearly illustrate that multi‐sensory variables have a profound impact on preference for certain environments not found in standard, laboratory research.     

Analysing Visual Landscape Complexity: Theory and Application

The experience of landscape has, through the development of the European Landscape Convention, been highlighted as an important aspect to be incorporated in the management and planning of future landscapes. Complexity is a concept that appears in the development of indicators for several landscape functions, including visual quality and biodiversity. In environmental psychology, complexity has been used as an explanatory factor for landscape preference. This paper outlines the factors which constitute the dimensions of complexity perception and how these relate to coherence—a factor which seems to interact with complexity as regards to landscape experience. The paper further explores how indicators of landscape complexity developed within the framework of landscape ecology may be applied and used to capture relevant information on visually experienced landscape complexity. Particular attention is paid to the dimensional transitions which must be considered in order for map based indicators and perceived environmental qualities to be readily related in an applied setting. The paper concludes with some suggested models for how to link landscape indicators with landscape preference in future research.     

过度艺术化景观的对面——城市“野趣”自然景观的概念探讨

在本文中,对城市建设中越来越人工化的景观建设提出质疑,提出野趣景观的概念。野趣景观的产生和发展有以下五种途径：历史遗留下来的原生＂野趣＂自然景观,由经济林地发展而来的为风景林地,由农业耕作景观发展而来的自然景观,自然的溪流和湿地,工业化历史文化景观。为此需要在尊重自然景观发展演变规律的基础上,创造富有生机和活力的新型城市自然景观。     

Landscape Visual Aesthetics Measurement,Assessment, and Improvement of Street Pedestrian Spaces in Mountainous Cities—Case Study on the Historic Downtown of Jinan,Shandong Province

Urban streets support citizens’ daily commuting and social and recreational activities. Streetscape is also a visual resource and an important part of urban landscape appearance. Serving as an important ecological base and natural components of urban spatial structure, mountains often determine a city’s spatial layout and landscape identity so as to promote mountaincity integration. The study focuses on the historic downtown of Jinan, a typical mountainous city, analyzes the landscape aesthetic visual characteristics of street pedestrian spaces, and measures their landscape visual aesthetic quality by using panoramic images; the research then evaluates the visibility of high-visual-aesthetic-quality urban mountainous landscape to urban streets; finally, based on the overall landscape visual aesthetic quality evaluation results of urban street pedestrian spaces, the paper proposes a series of optimization suggestions of the streets at different levels to improve the harmony with urban mountain landscapes. The study hopes to provide a reference for the creation of mountain–city-integrated urban landscapes, as well as the healthy and sustainable urban development.     

地域性景观的风景园林学实践——以岳阳尚书坊规划设计为例

在研究地域性景观的概念及特点的基础上,以岳阳尚书坊规划设计为例,着重介绍了地域性景观特色塑造的过程和方法。在规划设计中,通过研究岳阳自身的地域环境如区位特点、尚书文化、自然资源等,基于中国古代山水骨架的塑造传统以及规划定位和自然资源基础上的地域特色景观挖掘与提炼,将场地独特的地形地貌、地理位置、文化精神、历史传说、功能定位等融八设计方案中,营造了自然景观与历史文脉融合的地域性景观。     

城市湿地旅游开发中的景观特质保护——以杭州西溪湿地为例

城市湿地具有重要的生态和环境功能以及美学娱乐价值、文化历史价值，在维持区域生态平衡，保护生物多样性方面具有重要作用。特别是像杭州西溪湿地这种罕见的城中次生湿地，有丰富的湿地生态资源、幽雅的自然景观、丰富的人文景观、深厚的文化积淀，能给人们提供许多视觉美学享受，是一种宝贵的自然旅游资源，更应该谨慎合理地开发。通过对杭州西溪湿地开发前后景观特征的影响分析，用景观生态学理论与形态指数的量化方法探讨了城市湿地旅游开发中的景观特质保护与资源可持续利用的课题。     

艺术化的乡土——浙江德清下渚湖湿地公园规划

平淡、真实的乡土是自然的,通过艺术手法加工的乡土更富有强烈的感染力。以浙江下渚湖湿地公园规划为例,介绍规划过程中对地域乡土特色“土、草、水、木、山”等自然元素的挖掘、整合和利用。在保护生态湿地资源的基础上,以现代风景园林艺术手法处理自然乡土,塑造别具一格的乡土景观形象。     

浅析温泉景观设计中的植物配置——以同安翠丰温泉度假村景观设计为例

随着人民生活水平提高,温泉度假已成为普遍,人们越来越关注温泉度假的环境品质、舒适性,对园林景观设计要求越来越高,本文结合同安翠丰温泉度假村景观设计,对温泉景观的特性初步探讨,主要从植物景观主题营造,植物种类选择,植物配置原则及配置方式来阐述,通过植物配置营造一个舒适的淋浴环境,满足人们对温泉景观环境品质的要求,力求将同安翠丰温泉度假村景观建设成生态型温泉度假景观。     

A comparison of landscape metrics for conservation planning

This study examined the extent to which commonly used and easily obtained landscape metrics contribute to a conservation planning process that must be completed rapidly and economically. Specifically, we aimed to determine if landscape metrics could be used to guide the prioritization process when the importance of sites to conservation portfolios is measured in terms of irreplaceability, as measured by the probability that a particular site will be required in conservation reserve network. This question was examined in the context of a flexible planning process where the size of a conservation portfolio may vary over time. We used avian survey data from 35 riparian forest sites in central Ohio to calculate irreplaceability scores for each site. Landscape composition within a 1-km radius of each site was measured as the number of buildings and the percent forest, agriculture, roads, pavement and mowed surfaces. Multinomial logistic regression models were created and compared using Akaike Information Criterion. Results suggest that when predicting the irreplaceability value of a site, a simple yet effective method involves the use of forest coverage at the landscape-level plus one metric measuring human disturbance. This result appears to hold across a range of portfolio sizes and is therefore useful even in the context of a planning process that varies in scope over time.     

The “Change” and the “Constancy” of Landscapes

Scientifically recognizing and wisely intervening the evolution of landscape is an important topic in Landscape Architecture, since evolution (change) is absolute. For human, landscape changes, however, can be measured in a relative sense. Upon such an understanding, the concept “persistent landscape” highlights the landscape’s continuity and stability over time, as well as the stable variety of physical environment. The key to understand this concept lies in landscape architects’ observation of not only the stability of natural ecosystems but also the harmony of cultural-social contexts. However, the rapid urbanization has caused many pressing problems such as the loss of characteristics in urban and rural area, environmental pollution, ecological fragmentation, and cultural fracture, which calls for landscape architects who can re-recognize the man-land relationship and formulate scientific strategies for sustainable development. In this issue, LA Frontiers hopes to offer landscape architects with insights to meet contemporary needs by embracing new landscape forms and implications, so as to create healthier and more poetic-quality living environments with cultural and spatial characteristics.     

Evaluation of five landscape-level metrics for measuring the effects of urbanization on landscape structure: the case of Tucson, Arizona, USA

Landscape-level metrics can be used to measure changes in landscape structure over time. Four landscape-level metrics and rank-size distributions were used to describe changes in landscape structure caused by urbanization in a portion of the Tucson, Arizona metropolitan area between 1984 and 1998. This analysis describes what each metric conveys regarding how urbanization affects landscape structure. It also compares the efficacy of rank-size distributions with the other metrics. Results indicate all five metrics provided information about a specific aspect of landscape structure including patch size, shape, or dispersion. Results indicate that rank-size distributions and their scaling exponents are useful because they provide information not available from the other metrics. Rank-size distributions describe the patch-size scaling properties of specific land-cover types, the relative effect of large and small patches on the distribution of patch sizes, the magnitude of change in patch size, where patch sizes differ from what is expected by the regression model, and the range of patch sizes displaying fractal patterns.     

Issues in using the Internet as a medium for landscape preference research

A survey has been undertaken using the Internet as a medium for gathering data on landscape scenic preference for a number of Scottish landscapes. This work has raised several issues on the use of the Internet for conducting such visually based surveys. The paper examines these issues in light of the results from the landscape preference questionnaire and discusses the future of the Internet for public input into the decision making process. The major issues addressed are those of the medium of display and the resolution of the display, the sample of respondents that can be obtained using the Internet, and the design of such surveys.