Application of the Visual Protection Surface Method (VPS) for Protection of Landscape Interiors within a City

Abstract

The article concerns application of the Visual Protection Surface method for analysing landscape interiors and to provide objective computer simulations useful in planning. In this article, landscape interiors are understood as open areas within the city borders, chiefly composed greenery (e.g. Champ-de-Mars in Paris or Belvederegarten in Vienna). The Visual Protection Surface method (VPS) allows to analyse geometrical relationships between the scope of visual protection (selected strategic views) and the heights of new buildings (planned investments). According to a simplified approach, the VPS determines a surface above the city, which defines the maximum height of new buildings in such a way that no new facility can be seen in any of protected strategic views. The research shows how to apply the VPS method for the protection of landscape interiors. It introduces a case study prepared for the Central Cemetery in Szczecin, Poland (described in detail). Related computational aspects, such as 3D models, greenery modelling and scanning, LiDAR, application of VPS, and software solutions, are also analysed.