Abstract
People are drawn to natural settings because they instinctively associate them with providing, nurturing environments. Many studies have linked higher urban greenery ratios to social, psychological, economic, and human health improvements. While urban greenery benefits a large number of people, the monetary burden of its installation and maintenance falls typically to local governments or private entities, requiring urban designers to be able to justify the higher costs of implementation and maintenance.
 To date, there is still no precise data linking tree cover ratio and the specific effects it has on peoples’ perceptions and impressions of urban plazas or in the environment’s suitability for different activities. This study expands on the findings of previous studies to explore the effects of tree cover ratio and environment scale across twenty-three different evaluation scales.
 It used immersive virtual environments to control for confounding variables and head-mounted displays to present the stimuli, allowing participants to experience the environment in its totality as in a natural setting.
 Higher tree cover ratios improved participants’ willingness to stay and pay for goods, improved perception, impressions, and how suitable the environment was for different activities. The specific effects on five measurement scales for activities, nine measurement scales for impression and seven different measurement scales for perception are shown as well as the effects of the interaction of tree cover ratio and environment scale.The effects of sex and architectural background are also tested and discussed. Results offer designers with evidence for the definition of tree amount in relation to environment scale, based on the desired effect.
Highlights
Special attention to the selection of trees may be given in the design of ecological systems, wildlife/green corridors, or parks, in contrast to the urban context where the attention is given to characteristics such as tree shape/height, aesthetics, or maintenance
The present study investigates the effects of tree cover ratio (TCR) on users’ perceptions and impressions of privately owned public spaces (POPS) and the environments’ suitability for five specific activities and their willingness to stay and willingness to pay in said environment
An analysis of variance was conducted using the variables as predictors to the score of each evaluation scale to evaluate the effects of TCR and environment scale, presenting the following results: 4.1 Activities TCR affected Read activity, increasing it from 5% or 10% to 50% increased perceived suitability for Read activity
Summary
Special attention to the selection of trees may be given in the design of ecological systems, wildlife/green corridors, or parks, in contrast to the urban context where the attention is given to characteristics such as tree shape/height, aesthetics, or maintenance. M. et al, 2008; WARD THOMPSON, 2013) and overall context (SUMMIT; SOMMER, 1999), a qualification of “preference” is needed This qualification may be achieved by asking participants about the environment’s suitability for a specific activity instead of preference. The mere presence of trees can positively affect the perception of an urban plaza, city image, shopping atmosphere, cleanliness, worth of stay, and willingness to visit or revisit urban squares (RAŠKOVIĆ; DECKER, 2015). They can positively affect perceptions, patronage behavior, and product pricing in business districts (WOLF, 2005) and reduce crime rates for assault, battery, robbery, and narcotics (SCHUSLER et al, 2018).
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