Landscape Perception Research Articles

On Disquieting Ground

This article focuses on attempts by inhabitants of the island of Samothraki, in North-Eastern Greece, to make sense of rapid soil erosion and degradation. Through the use of ethnographic vignettes, collected during my first fieldwork on the island in August of 2022, and broader ethnographic material, I show the imbrication of landscape perception with questions of collective ethics as well as the specific forms of social uncertainty which emerge from soil instability. The article highlights specific and local discursive attempts to make sense of broader processes, including weather events, as prompts used by Samothracians to think about their ways of inhabiting their own island.

Comparative Evaluation of Sentiment Analysis Methods: From Traditional Techniques to Advanced Deep Learning Models

Abstract. Sentiment evaluation plays a crucial role in deciphering public perception and consumer responses in today's digital landscape. This investigation offers a thorough assessment of diverse sentiment evaluation techniques, contrasting conventional machine learning methodologies with cutting-edge deep learning frameworks. In particular, the research scrutinizes the efficacy of Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)-derived architectures (BERT-Base and Robustly Optimized BERT Pretraining Approach (RoBERTa)), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory Networks (LSTM), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Naive Bayes classifiers. The study gauges these approaches based on their precision, recall, F1-metric, overall accuracy, and computational efficiency using an extensive sentiment evaluation dataset. The results reveal that BERT-based models, particularly RoBERTa, achieve the highest accuracy (87.44%) and F1-score (0.8746), though they also require the longest training time (approximately 3 hours). CNN and LSTM models strike a balance between performance and efficiency, while traditional methods like SVM and Naive Bayes offer faster training and deployment with moderate accuracy. The insights gained from this study are valuable for both researchers and practitioners, highlighting the trade-offs between model performance, computational demands, and practical deployment considerations in sentiment analysis applications.

Research on the design and image perception of cultural landscapes based on digital roaming technology

AbstractThe preservation and advancement of cultural heritage continue to present significant challenges, arising from conflicting objectives, concepts, methodologies, and limited resources. Image perception not only serves as an observational tool for cultural heritage but also as a research method to uncover deeper meanings and implications. To explore the complex dynamics of cultural heritage and address the risks of its deterioration, this study employed virtual engine software (Unity 2019) to create digital landscapes for immersive exploration. An image perception evaluation framework was established through field surveys and behavioral synthesis experiments across five key areas, including ancient tree ecosystems and architectural sites. Our findings revealed that participants showed the greatest interest in the ancient tree ecological area, indicating a strong attachment to historical continuity and natural progression. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis further demonstrated that participants experienced positive emotional responses, suggesting that well-designed cultural landscapes can enhance mental well-being and uplift mood. Additionally, participants expressed a strong willingness to discuss the ancient tree eco-region, with image perception playing a crucial role in motivating information sharing and driving conservation efforts. This study introduces an innovative model—Design Practice, Immersive Experience, and Image Perception Evaluation—which offers a new perspective for the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage sites.

Traditional village perception and protection behavior: the mediating role of local identity and the impact of different population differences

ABSTRACT The landscape perception and identity of residents in traditional villages significantly influence their conservation behaviors and are affected by multiple factors. However, empirical studies on how residents’ perceptions of village landscapes influence their willingness to engage in conservation activities, particularly within the context of China, remain limited. This study, therefore, focuses on residents in the southeastern coastal region of China and, based on the Attitude-Behavior Theory framework, constructs a “Perceived Value – Place Identity–Behavioral Intention” model. Utilizing structural equation modeling, the study explores the mediating role and related characteristics of place identity between the perceived value of traditional village landscapes and residents’ behavioral intentions. The findings reveal that both landscape perceived value and place identity significantly impact residents’ behavioral intentions, with place identity mediating the effect of various dimensions of perceived value on residents’ behavioral intentions. The comprehensive path coefficient rankings are as follows: architectural landscape perception, layout landscape perception, cultural landscape perception, and environmental landscape perception. Additionally, residents’ demographic characteristics partially influence their attitude and behavior. This study validates the behavioral characteristics of residents in the conservation of traditional villages and highlights the critical role of the perception-identity link in promoting conservation behavior. These findings not only contribute to the knowledge system of residents’ attitudes and behaviors in traditional village conservation but also have significant implications for the targeted preservation and enhancement of village landscape elements.

Exploring the influence of body movements on spatial perception in landscape and interior design

This study investigates the influence of body movements on spatial perception in both landscape and interior design environments, focusing on how physical interactions shape spatial understanding beyond visual perception alone. Grounded in the theory of embodied cognition, the research examines how gait, posture, and movement dynamics affect spatial awareness. The study captures detailed data on movement patterns and visual engagement across different spatial contexts using a combination of real-world observations and Virtual Reality (VR) simulations, motion-tracking systems, wearable sensors, and eye-tracking technology. A total of 157 participants, aged 20 to 65, navigated both outdoor landscapes and indoor environments, with key variables such as surface materials, spatial layout, and lighting conditions manipulated to assess their effects on spatial perception. The study measured gait speed, step frequency, path deviations, time to destination, visual attention, and subjective ratings of perceived openness, ease of movement, and emotional response. Key findings include that surface materials significantly influenced gait speed and step frequency. For example, participants walking on concrete had a significantly faster gait speed (mean difference = 0.5220, p = 0.001) than those walking on gravel. In terms of spatial layout, the two-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that winding paths led to more path deviations (F-statistic = 350.00, p = 3.19 × 10−8) and longer times to destination (F-statistic = 1744.00, p = 2.39 ´ 10−11) compared to straight paths. The environment type (landscape vs. interior) also significantly affected navigation, with landscape participants showing a more significant deviation from direct paths (F-statistic = 19.60, p = 2.37 × 10−3). Visual engagement data, analyzed through a chi-square test, indicated that vertical elements like walls approached significance in attracting visual attention (Chi-square = 2.88, p = 0.0896), while other elements like trees and benches had less impact. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test results showed significant differences between real-world and VR experiences in perceived openness (W-statistic = 0.0, p = 0.001953), ease of movement (W-statistic = 0.0, p = 0.001953), and comfort (W-statistic = 0.0, p = 0.001953), highlighting VR’s limitations in replicating the full embodied experience of physical spaces.

Exploring the Role of Smellscape in Enhancing Landscape Perception: A Case Study in the University History Museum

As the cultural importance of universities continues to grow, university museums have become key platforms for promoting university heritage and values. However, enhancing the visitor experience in these museums remains challenging. This study examines the effectiveness of smellscape in enhancing the visitor experience in university history museums, with a focus on how various scents impact visitors’ emotions. Using the Fuzhou University History Museum as a case study, the museum was divided into three distinct zones: the Historical Evolution Zone (HEZ), the Contemporary Development Zone (CDZ), and the Thematic Exhibition Zone (TEZ). Specific scents were selected for each area to evaluate their emotional impact, and data were gathered using electroencephalography (EEG) indicators, emotional questionnaires, and scent pleasure scales. The results indicated that calming scents like sandalwood and agarwood, used in the HEZ, convey a sense of historical depth but may also evoke negative emotions, whereas sage enhances positive feelings. In the CDZ, rosemary and mint significantly improve emotional states, while lemongrass exhibits weaker pleasantness and appears less suited for this area. In the TEZ, scents such as patchouli and orange blossom align well with future-oriented themes, demonstrating high levels of pleasantness and emotional value. Smellwalk interviews further validated the experimental results, revealing notable differences in the emotional impact of smellscape across different exhibit zones. A thoughtful selection of scents can enhance the cultural expression of spaces and effectively regulate visitors’ emotional experiences, strengthening the cultural resonance of museum environments. Future designers may consider incorporating olfactory elements into landscape design.

Exploring tourist perceptions of calligraphic landscapes: Insights from social media text analysis

Calligraphic landscapes, as distinctive cultural symbols and landscapes with Chinese characteristics, are widely used in urban design, placemaking, and tourism promotion. In cultural heritage tourism, tourists’ perceptions of the symbolic meanings of landscapes significantly influence their travel experiences. This study primarily utilizes social media text analysis to explore the perceptual characteristics and symbolic meanings of calligraphic landscapes in different touristic contexts. Using Python tools, user-generated content was extracted from the Xiaohongshu app and analyzed with ROST CM6, VOSviewer, and NVivo 20 to conduct systematic quantitative and qualitative analyses, including content analysis, semantic network analysis, and co-occurrence clustering. The findings indicate that cultural exchanges on social media significantly enhance public perception of the symbolic meanings of touristic spaces. As online check-in behavior becomes increasingly popular, calligraphic landscapes have gained new esthetic-symbolic meanings among young tourists, becoming part of fashion culture and reflecting the digitalization of a sense of place. In addition, user-generated content reveals that tourists’ perceptions of calligraphic landscapes are intricately linked to place recognition, cultural symbolism, calligraphic appreciation, heritage value, and esthetic experiences. As a significant cultural symbol, calligraphic landscapes are frequently encountered during travel, with their symbolic meanings varying according to the surrounding environment, thereby influencing tourists’ preferences in diverse settings. Furthermore, this study proposes several innovative strategies for designing calligraphic landscapes. This research not only validates the feasibility of web text analysis for exploring the symbolic meanings of cultural landscapes but also enhances theoretical perspectives on how symbolic landscapes shape tourists’ psychological and behavioral responses.

Research on Landscape Perception of World Cultural Heritage in Quanzhou, Fujian Based on Machine Learning

Research on Landscape Perception of World Cultural Heritage in Quanzhou, Fujian Based on Machine Learning

Riskscapes: A framework for risk assessment in colonial contexts

Risk assessment is a critical aspect of coping with environmental changes. The identification of values at risk — entities, attributes, and ideas that are important to a community — is a key component of a population's ability to resist or adapt to hazards. In colonial contexts, risk assessment must take into account the distinct relationality to the land of Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups and the historicized power relations. Most risk assessment frameworks ignore or oversimplify the cultural heterogeneity of human–environment relationships by using generalized value concepts. The few context-dependent frameworks that have been proposed do not account for different sociocultural groups living on the same land. We propose a spatial-based risk assessment approach inspired by the concept of riskscape, acknowledging diverse perceptions of risk and landscape among different sociocultural groups. We present a risk assessment method eliciting values for different sociocultural groups in their specific contexts using separate valuation methods, and then aggregating them into a joint geospatial interface to highlight convergent and competing interests. Illustrated with the boreal region of northwestern Quebec (Canada), we discuss how the riskscape framework balances Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives in a non-hierarchical assessment of values at risk.

A Comparison of the Efficacy of Fuzzy Overlay and Random Forest Classification for Mapping and Shaping Perceptions of the Post-Mining Landscape of Gauteng, South Africa

Post-mining landscapes are multifaceted, comprising multiple characteristics, more so in big metropolitan regions such as Gauteng, South Africa. This paper evaluates the efficacy of Fuzzy overlay and Random Forest classification for integrating and representing post-mining landscapes and how this influences the perception of these landscapes. To this end, this paper uses GISs, MCDA, Fuzzy overlay, and Random Forest classification models to integrate post-mining landscape characteristics derived from the literature. It assesses the results using an accuracy assessment, area statistics, and correlation analysis. The findings from this study indicate that both Fuzzy overlay and Random Forest classification are applicable for integrating multiple landscape characteristics at varying degrees. The resultant maps show some similarity in highlighting mine waste cutting across the province. However, the Fuzzy overlay map has higher accuracy and extends over a larger footprint owing to the model’s use of a range of 0 to 1. This shows both areas of low and high memberships, as well as partial membership as intermediate values. This model also demonstrates strong relationships with regions characterised by landscape transformation and waste and weak relationships with areas of economic decline and inaccessibility. In contrast, the Random Forrest classification model, though also useful for classification purposes, presents a lower accuracy score and smaller footprint. Moreover, it uses discrete values and does not highlight some areas of interaction between landscape characteristics. The Fuzzy overlay model was found to be more favourable for integrating post-mining landscape characteristics in this study as it captures the nuances in the composition of this landscape. These findings highlight the importance of mapping methods such as Fuzzy overlay for an integrated representation and shaping the perception and understanding of the locality and extent of complex landscapes such as post-mining landscapes. Methods such as Fuzzy overlay can support research, planning, and decision-making by providing a nuanced representation of how multiple landscape characteristics are integrated and interact in space and how this influences public perception and policy outcomes.

Landscape Perception in Cultural and Creative Industrial Parks: Integrating User-Generated Content (UGC) and Electrodermal Activity Insights

Landscape Perception in Cultural and Creative Industrial Parks: Integrating User-Generated Content (UGC) and Electrodermal Activity Insights

Deciphering Motorists’ Perceptions of Scenic Road Visual Landscapes: Integrating Binocular Simulation and Image Segmentation

Traditional scenic road visual landscape assessment methods struggle to quantify drivers’ subjective visual perceptions. This study aims to develop a new method to decipher Scenic Road Visual Landscape Evaluation (SRVLE) of motorists’ visual field, reconciling the longstanding subjectivity–objectivity dichotomy in landscape quality research. By adopting binocular visual simulation and image segmentation, this paper conceptualizes a novel “non-scale semantic differential approach” to quantify landscape qualities across the dimensions of naturalness–artificiality (NA), diversity–coherence (DC), and openness–deepness (OD), constructing a three-dimensional visual landscape quality evaluation system. Taking the Nujiang Beautiful Road in Yunnan as a case study, the results show the following: (1) The three indicators reveal the scenic road’s distinctive visual landscape characteristics, marked by high naturalness, coherence, and relative openness. (2) SRVLE is found to vary between the two driving directions and different sections. (3) The three-dimensional evaluation cube intuitively displays the comprehensive characteristics of landscape quality, providing a basis for scenic road planning. This method offers a new approach to resolving the subjective–objective divide in SRVLE and can assist road administrations in enhancing policy planning, construction, and management, thereby promoting the high-quality development of scenic roads.

HAPI-DE: Differential evolution with hierarchical archive based mutation strategy and promising information

Differential Evolution (DE), as a population-based meta-heuristic global optimization technique, has shown excellent performance in handling optimization problems in continuous spaces. Despite its effectiveness, the DE algorithm suffers from shortcomings such as complexity of parameter selection and limitations of the mutation strategy. Therefore, this paper presents a new strategy for generating trial vectors based on a hierarchical archive, which integrates promising information during evolution with current populations to obtain a good perception of the objective landscape. Moreover, to mitigate mis-scaling by scale factor, an adaptive parameter generation mechanism with hierarchical selection (APSH) is proposed. Furthermore, a novel population diversity metric technique and a restart mechanism based on wavelet functions is introduced in this paper. Comparative experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm using 100 benchmark functions from the CEC2013, CEC2014, CEC2017, and CEC2022 test suites. The results demonstrate that the HAPI-DE algorithm outperforms or is on par with 6 recent powerful DE variants. Additionally, HAPI-DE was utilized in parameter extraction for the photovoltaic model STP6-120/36. The findings suggest that our algorithm, HAPI-DE, demonstrates competitiveness when compared to the 6 other DE variants.

Rural Landscapes as Cultural Heritage and Identity along a Romanian River

In contemporary narratives, rural landscapes and identities, as judged by the inhabitants’ sense of belonging, continue to be important points that need to be (re)considered when discussing places as instruments for local development. This paper pushes forward these debates and explores the construction of rural and regional identity in Romania with the help of a case study that focuses on perceptions of rural landscapes as cultural heritage in two rural communities situated on opposite sides of the river Mureș. Based on participant and ethnographic observation and making use of a survey and a qualitative analysis, this paper highlights the most significant features of the local cultural identities and their rural landscape heritage expressed by the two sets of people, which often coincide with the most important characteristics attributed to the regions separated by the river Mureș. The results of this study underline the dividing role of the river in the preservation of rural identity and cultural heritage. They also demonstrate that rural landscapes and the construction of identities along the river have generated both development opportunities and various risks.

Incorporating public perception of Renewable Energy Landscapes in local spatial planning tools: A case study in Mediterranean countries

The European energy transition requirements have been posing many questions on the deployment of renewable energy sources. The development of renewable energy infrastructures entails landscape transformations affecting the perceived landscape quality and local acceptance. Sustainable energy spatial planning considers environmental, cultural, ecological needs but often neglect community perception of landscape transformations including both the physical landscape structures and the meanings associated to them. To address this issue, the paper aims to explore public perception and incorporate it in the planning tools. The research draws on a survey of residents of Arcos de la Frontera, Spain, conducted with the visual Q methodology, and on structured interviews with local experts. A selection of 36 different photovoltaic applications in urban and rural areas was evaluated by 21 citizens. The analysis identified four distinct viewpoints on photovoltaic applications in urban and rural landscapes. Local experts provided feedback on the current local spatial planning tools and on their consideration of landscape transformations. Considering both citizens and experts, we provided landscape integration strategies linked to siting and landscape design of solar power plants to be included in urban planning tools.

Evaluation and interpretation of landscapes from satellite imagery

Satellite imagery allows us to view landscapes from a bird’s eye view, providing a new dimension in appreciating the environments we inhabit. This alternative perspective has the potential to shape individual perceptions of landscapes and play a pivotal role in land management decision-making and communication. However, the interpretation and appreciation of landscapes seen in satellite imagery may vary among observers. This study investigates the relationship between individuals’ ability to interpret images from eye-level and satellite perspectives, their familiarity with the landscape, and their appreciation of land cover from this viewpoint. To achieve this, a survey was conducted presenting respondents with images of land cover classes captured at eye level and from satellite imagery of the Yungay municipality in Chile. Participants were asked to interpret the primary land use land cover (LULC) depicted in the imagery and indicate their appreciation of that landscape. Variation in the interpretation of LULC was observed between the image source and land cover type. For instance, forest classes seen in eye-level imagery were more accurately interpreted compared to satellite imagery, while the reverse was true for agriculture. These differences in interpretation also impacted the appreciation scores assigned to the landscapes in the images. Specifically, if respondents perceived an image to be dominated by a traditionally appreciated land cover (e.g., Native Vegetation), they provided a higher score, even if the image depicted another class (e.g., Plantation Forestry). These findings highlight that considering the influence of satellite imagery in shaping perception is crucial in supporting land management activities.

Perception of Industrial Heritage Tourism Destination Image Based on Web Text Analysis: A Case Study of Beijing Shougang Park

With the transformation of China's economic structure, industrial heritage tourism has gradually become a new form of tourism. This paper uses Beijing Shougang Park as a case study. Utilizing Octopus software to collect reviews from Dazhong Dianping and Mafengwo, and employing ROST CM6 software, the paper analyzes tourists' image perceptions of Shougang Park based on the "Cognitive-Affective" model. The results indicate: Firstly,natural landscapes, cultural landscapes, and activity experiences are the basic cognitive images for tourists; Secondly, tourists generally have a positive emotional response to Shougang Park, with negative emotions primarily stemming from issues such as fees, holiday crowding, service attitude, and the park's large size; Thirdly, overall image perception mainly involves six aspects: tourism motivation, tourist attractions, tourism environment, tourism support system, tourism experience, and tourism evaluation. There is strong perception of natural and cultural landscapes, but weaker and more fragmented perception of historical culture. The study identifies problems in the scenic area and provides suggestions to offer effective practical guidance.

A Community of People Like Me. An Analysis of Members’ Perceptions of Their Engagement in Party Youth Wings

This study investigates how members of party youth wings perceive their respective youth wings and identifies areas they believe require improvement. Empirically, the study surveys the youth wings of eight Swedish political parties, exploring members’ experiences using open-ended questions. The findings confirm that political and social aspects hold greater importance for youth wing members compared to material benefits. Additionally, the analysis reveals how members view the youth wing as a transformative community fostering personal growth, self-exploration and the development of values. Notably, the youth wing is seen as a community unified by shared values, with a collective vision for the world and a focus on collaborative efforts to realize that vision. Challenges include expectations set by the mother party, such as campaigning and career aspirations, and negative perceptions of the competitive political landscape, citing conflicts and factionalism.

Exploring the Intersection of Subliminal Perception and Digital Marketing

Abstract: Subliminal refers to stimuli that operate below the threshold of conscious perception. Subliminal advertisements target the subconscious, where consumers may not consciously assess the content. However, their impact becomes apparent through indirect observations, such as the influence on emotions, the effect on cognitive processes, the ability of consumers to consciously evaluate these ads, the level of excitement and engagement with characters portrayed in subliminal ads, and various other aspects. This research delves into the intersection of subliminal perception and digital marketing, seeking to unravel the subtle influences that impact consumer behaviour in the digital realm. By employing a comprehensive methodology that includes surveys, content analysis, and hypothesis testing, the study aims to explore how individuals perceive and respond to subliminal cues embedded in digital marketing content. Ethical considerations guide the research process to ensure transparency and consumer well-being. A sample size of 126 participants, encompassing both male and female youths aged 18-30, was selected from diverse professional and non-professional backgrounds. The findings contribute valuable insights into the complex interplay between subliminal perception and digital marketing strategies, offering implications for marketers aiming to enhance user engagement, brand perception, and overall effectiveness in the online landscape.

Assessing the visual landscape of Istanbul Bosphorus: Exploring the role of vegetation and built environment characteristics

Istanbul Bosphorus is one of the most important protected landscapes of Türkiye with its dramatic topography, natural landscape, and historical and cultural heritage embedded within this natural setting. However, studies focusing on the visual landscape assessment (VLA) of Bosphorus are limited. The main goal was to evaluate the VLA of Bosphorus and to understand the users' perception of this multi-layered landscape via utilizing VLA based on the evaluation of 45 photographs taken from the sea. For this goal, the study investigates the environmental texture proportion (ETP: vegetation, built environment, sea, and sky) and RGB values of the photographs using parameters such as naturalness, beautiful scenery, disturbance, excitement, safety, and livability in 5-Likert’s scale. Findings demonstrated that photographs with more vegetation than built environment, with those containing 10 % or more vegetation receiving higher overall scores. Vegetation showed a high positive correlation with naturalness, beautiful scenery, excitement, safety, and livability. Moreover, disturbance was positively correlated with the built environment, and negatively correlated with vegetation. Namely, the most problematic ETP type for VLA was the built environment in Bosphorus. The study further identified built environment characteristics as a critical environmental component, with historical and mansion-type buildings scoring higher than other building types. Another important finding was that certain user features, such as gender, influenced perceptions of beautiful scenery (9 p-value), excitement (10), safety (11), and livability (21), while usage frequency affected perceptions of excitement (14) and safety (13). In other words, men gave higher scores to photographs compared to women, and users who regularly utilized the study area rated the photographs more favorably than those who used it less frequently. In conclusion, the study found that user characteristics of gender and usage frequency were influential factors, and vegetation (10 % and above) was the most paramount element for preferences when considering the visual landscape of the Bosphorus in Istanbul.