Landscape value in urban neighborhoods: A pilot analysis using street-level images

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a methodology for applying the framework of landscape value, which has been used to evaluate natural landscapes on a large scale, to the evaluations of the micro-scale urban places. First, the typology of landscape values that could be applied to urban areas was established based on the literature review of previous studies. Next, an online questionnaire survey was conducted, in which a total of 1,730 residents of the Tokyo metropolitan area were presented with the street-level images and asked to rate their overall impressions of places and the 18 types of landscape values. The results revealed: (1) the degree of correlation with the overall impression of an urban place depends on the type of landscape value, (2) it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the types of values in the evaluation of urban landscapes despite their mutual exclusiveness verified in natural landscapes, (3) eight types of values are rated significantly higher when the participants are familiar with the place, and (4) gender and age affect the evaluations of landscape values. The correlation coefficients with the overall impression of the place are more significant for women than men for all types of values. The associations between landscape values and the favorable impressions of places are stronger for the older generations. A limitation of this study is the geographic scope of the survey limited to Tokyo, Japan. The verification of the differences in the types and natures of place values among countries is a future issue.