Abstract
Sediment control structures such as check dams, groundsills, and revetments are commonly used to balance sediment transport. In this study, we investigated the visual quality of sediment control structures that have been installed to manage mountain streams by analyzing images from the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (SWCB) of Taiwan. We used visual preference (P) as an indicator in the evaluation of visual quality and considered two softscape elements and four cognitive factors associated with P. The two softscape elements were the visible body of water and vegetation, which were represented by the percentage of visible water (WR) and the percentage of visible greenery (GR). We considered four cognitive factors: naturalness, harmony, vividness, and closeness. Using a questionnaire-based survey, we asked 212 experts and laypeople to indicate their visual preferences (P) for the images. We examined the associations of the P ratings with cognitive factors and softscape elements and then established an empirical relationship between P and the cognitive factors using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the subjects’ visual preferences were strongly affected by the harmony factor; the subjects preferred the proportion of softscape elements to be 30% WR and 40% GR for optimal harmony, naturalness, and visual quality of the sediment control structures. We discuss the visual indicators, visual aesthetic experiences, and applications of the empirical relationship, and offer insights into the study’s implications.
Highlights
Sediment-related disasters in natural rivers usually occur as a result of erosion, landslides, debris flow, and other sources, especially during high pulses or floods, as particulates move downstream, altering the river’s geomorphology [1]
This study focused on people’s assessments of the visual quality of 16 different sediment control structures in mountain streams in Taiwan according to four cognitive factors and the softscape elements of the landscape
Through questionnaire surveys and statistical analyses, we performed an analysis of the association between four cognitive factors and the softscape elements of water and vegetation and between visual preferences and the cognitive factors
Summary
Sediment-related disasters in natural rivers usually occur as a result of erosion, landslides, debris flow, and other sources, especially during high pulses or floods, as particulates move downstream, altering the river’s geomorphology [1]. The interaction between riverbeds and sediment transport has interested scholars because sediment transport is closely associated with the erosion process, landscape evolution, and river geomorphology [2,3]. Sediment control facilities such as check dams, groundsills, and revetments are commonly constructed and used to reduce erosion by stabilizing torrents or streams and preventing flood and sediment disasters in mountainous areas. The top priorities for these facilities must be their function and safety; the intrusion of artificial structures into the natural landscape can have a negative visual impact, and these structures are sometimes criticized by the public as discordant and aesthetically unpleasant.
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