Landscape Preferences Research Articles

Eye-Tracking and Visual Preference: Maybe Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder?

The “Content-Identifying Methodology”, or CIM, is an approach developed by environmental psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan to understand the landscape characteristics that people find visually attractive. The Kaplans did this by surveying people’s landscape preferences and then analyzing the preferences to develop sets of landscape scenes to which people reacted in a similar pattern. The underlying assumption is that a common stimulus or content exists in the photographs of a set responsible for the preference. However, identifying the common stimulus or content in each set or grouping of scenes and how it affects preference can still be challenging. Eye-tracking is a tool that can identify what the survey participants were looking at when indicating their preference for a landscape. This paper demonstrates how eye-tracking was used in two different landscape preference studies to identify the content important to people’s preferences and provide insights into how the content affected preference. Eye-tracking can help identify a common stimulus, help determine if the stimulus is a physical or spatial characteristic of the landscape, and show how the stimulus varies in different landscape contexts.

Urban Physical Environments Promoting Active Leisure Travel: An Empirical Study Using Crowdsourced GPS Tracks and Geographic Big Data from Multiple Sources

Specific environmental characteristics can encourage active leisure travel and increase physical activity. However, existing environment-travel studies tend to ignore the differences in environmental characteristics associated with route choice and travel distance, of which the latter could be more important for health benefits, since longer trips are associated with increased exercise. Additionally, the most recent studies focus on leisure walking and leisure cycling, and activities such as hiking, climbing, and running are examined less frequently. This study, therefore, compares the similarities and differences of the environmental factors associated with route selection and travel distance through non-parametric tests and Cox proportional hazard models. The results show that two intersecting sets of environmental elements relate to both the route chosen and the distance traveled. Land use diversity and varied topography are appealing for both leisure trips and trip length. In addition, the differences in environmental characteristics among specific leisure travels may be attributed to variations in physical activity requirements, preferences for landscape viewing, and/or sensitivity to crowding. Therefore, conclusions drawn without considering the different types of leisure travel could be skewed. Whether particular surroundings may effectively increase physical activity remains uncertain. A more holistic perspective could be beneficial when studying the connection between the environment, active travel, and health.

Using Deep Learning Approaches to Quantify Landscape Preference of the Chinese Grand Canal: An Empirical Case Study of the Yangzhou Ancient Canal

Landscape preference emerges from the dynamic interaction between individuals and their environment and plays a pivotal role in the preservation and enhancement of the Chinese Grand Canal’s scenery. As a vast linear heritage, employing conventional methods for analyzing landscape preferences can be resource-intensive in terms of both time and labor. Amid the rapid advancement of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), a cognitive framework for understanding the Chinese Grand Canal’s landscape preferences has been developed, encompassing two primary aspects: the characteristic features of landscape preference and its spatial organization. Geotagged photographs from tourism media platforms focused on the Yangzhou Ancient Canal were utilized, and the EasyDL deep learning platform was employed to devise a model. This model assesses current landscape preferences through an analysis of photographic content, element composition patterns, and geospatial distribution, integrating social network and point density analyses. Our findings reveal that the fusion of Yangzhou Ancient Canal and classical gardens creates a sought-after ‘Canal and Watercraft Remains’ landscape. Tourists’ preferences for different landscape types are reflected in the way the elements are combined in the photographs. Overall, landscape preferences are dense in the north and sparse in the south. Differences in tourists’ perceptions of the value of and preferences for heritage sites lead to significant variations in tourist arrivals at different sites. This approach demonstrates efficiency and scalability in evaluating the Chinese Grand Canal landscape, offering valuable insights for its strategic planning and conservation efforts.

Seeing through their eyes: Revealing recreationists’ landscape preferences through viewshed analysis and machine learning

Planning for outdoor recreation requires knowledge about the needs and preferences of recreationists. While previous research has mainly relied on stated preferences, recent advances in spatial data collection and analysis have enabled the assessments of actual usage patterns. In this study, we explored how landscape characteristics interact with the attributes of recreationists to determine their area choice for recreation. Using a public participation GIS (PPGIS) approach we asked residents of a Swedish city in the boreal region to draw typical recreational routes and identify favourite places for recreation on a digital online map (1389 routes, 385 individuals). We employed a novel methodology, where LiDAR data was used to calculate what was visible along all routes and at favourite places (viewsheds) in order to more realistically capture the landscape that each recreationist had experienced. Using machine learning modelling, we compared landscape characteristics of experienced areas with areas available to each recreationist. Our novel approach yielded accurate models that revealed that water environments, recreational infrastructure and deciduous forests increased the probability of choosing an area for recreation, while urban environments, noise, forest clearcuts and young forests had the opposite effect. Characteristics of the recreationists such as age, gender, level of education, or of the activity, such as type of activity performed, did not meaningfully influence area choice. Our findings suggest that it is possible to improve the conditions for recreation by developing recreational infrastructure, maintaining recreation opportunities close to waters, and adapting forest management in areas important for recreation.

Designing for harmony in urban green space: Linking the concepts of biophilic design, environmental Qi, restorative environment, and landscape preference

Landscapes positively affect psychological perceptions and mental health. The biophilia hypothesis postulates that humans are innately connected to nature. Biophilic design improves health by fostering a proximity to nature in urban environments. Eastern philosophies also emphasize the health benefits of environmental Qi, defined as the flow of energy in the atmosphere. Combining Western and Eastern perspectives on the environment could foster a more holistic understanding of environmental perceptions and qualities and how they affect landscape preferences and perceived restorativeness. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the relationship among perceived biophilic design, traditional environmental Qi, perceived restorativeness, and landscape preference. Data were collected from 516 valid questionnaire surveys completed online. The results suggested that overall environmental perceptions strongly correlate with perceived biophilic design and Qi. For example, there was a high correlation between perceived biophilic design and the landscape structure of traditional environmental Qi (TEQ), visual quality of TEQ, the healthy psychological Qi perception of TEQ, and the healthy physical Qi perception of TEQ. Perceived biophilic design also had strong correlations with both perceived restorativeness and landscape preference. This study provides significant implications, as it explored the relationships between humans and nature while considering both Western and Eastern environmental perspectives. By considering those relationship can enhance human well-being within urban landscapes. Furthermore, the results revealed that while some design aspects, such as the natural form of design, have limited direct impact on people's sense of restorativeness, healthy psychological and physical Qi perceptions, and preference for the environment, the holistic application of biophilic design principles can significantly enhance human–nature connections. By focusing on security, sensory experiences, and the integration of natural elements, landscape architecture can create spaces that not only improve environmental quality but also foster a deeper connection with nature and offer health benefits.

Shifting from techno-economic to socio-ecological priorities: Incorporating landscape preferences and ecosystem services into the siting of renewable energy infrastructure.

This study examines the siting scenarios for renewable energy installations (REI) in a mountainous region of Europe (Switzerland), incorporating the external costs of ecosystem services and, innovatively, social preferences. This approach challenges the prevalent techno-economic siting paradigm, which often overlooks these externalities. To minimize the external costs of the scenarios while maximizing energy yield, Marxan, an optimization software, was employed. The energy target for all scenarios is set at 25 TWh/a, stemming from the energy gap anticipated due to the phase-out of Swiss nuclear reactors by 2050. This target is met using renewable energy infrastructure such as wind, roof-mounted photovoltaic, and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. By integrating social preferences into the optimization, this study showcases a promising implementation that transcends the software's intended applications. It complements techno-economic approaches and offers alternative decision-making avenues. The conventional "roof first" strategy proved ineffective in preventing extensive land use for the development of new renewable energy infrastructure. Strategies incorporating ground-mounted photovoltaic infrastructure were more spatially, ecologically, and socially efficient than those without. The strategy optimized for energy yield exhibited the highest spatial efficiency but incurred significant ecosystem service costs and, surprisingly, had low social costs. In contrast, the strategy prioritizing ecosystem services was the most efficient in terms of ecosystem service costs but had elevated social costs and was spatially less efficient than other strategies. The strategy optimized for social preferences incurred the lowest social costs and excelled in spatial efficiency and ecosystem service costs. Notably, this strategy employed a limited number of planning units linked to both high ecosystem service and social costs. The findings underscore that incorporating social preferences significantly enhances the evaluation of siting options. This inclusion allows for the social acceptance of investments to be factored into costs, facilitating more informed and inclusive decisions.

Why Boulder Springs has no boulders and no springs: Evolved landscape preferences and naming conventions.

Why Boulder Springs has no boulders and no springs: Evolved landscape preferences and naming conventions.

Decoding Differences in Nature Park Visitors’ Experience

This article aims to explore the discourse construction through the institutional apparatus and technologies within Pyhä-Luosto National Park, one of the first two national parks established in Finland, by analysing visitors’ reviews. This article investigates the causes behind the differing levels of emphasis that tourists of various languages (Finnish and other languages) and cultural backgrounds place on environmental values or physical activities during their visits. By employing a mixed-methods approach, merging quantitative (frequency analysis) and qualitative (discourse analysis) methodologies, the analysis reveals a distinct divergence in the visitor experiences of the national park based on the background of visitors. Finnish-speaking visitors exhibit a stronger preference for landscape, while international visitors empha- size the experiences derived from physical activities. Through a closer field study in Pyhä- Luosto National Park, it is proposed that these differences originate from distinct cultural contexts and environmental engagements that shape each visitor’s interaction with the natural landscape.

What can be learned from using participatory landscape scenarios in Rio Doce State Park, Brazil?

ContextThe goal of this work is to describe and explain the conditions that trigger, enable or prevent the implementation of preferred land uses by local communities.ObjectiveThe questions this paper addresses are as follows: Is there a set of preferred scenarios for land use change? What triggers, enables and prevents the implementation of preferred land uses? What did we learn by using participatory landscape scenarios?MethodsIn order to answer the research questions, we synthesize knowledge from a long-term case study in the buffer zone of the Rio Doce State Park in Brazil by (1) Developing participatory landscape scenarios and spatially explicit models for exploring desirable futures and associated land uses, as seen by local communities; (2) Explaining the conditions that trigger, enable or prevent the implementation of preferred landscape scenarios; and (3) Synthesizing knowledge on research and practice for working towards preferred land use changes.ResultsPreferred scenarios for land use change are agroforestry, animal husbandry, tourism and conservation. Although there is biophysical potential and funding available through multiple social and environmental programs, the Rio Doce State Park’s institutional setting is confusing. Although preferred land use scenarios will likely be implemented, participatory landscape approaches require a new, strategic role and leadership by regional institutions. Universities need to bring in social theories and institutional analysis to educate a new generation of landscape stewards.ConclusionWe highlight the role of more responsive social agents and their representative institutions, including the changing role of university-based research and practice for working towards sustainable landscape outcomes.

We need a radical change to take place now´–The potential of integrated healthcare for rural long-term care facilities

This study explores healthcare professionals' perceptions in rural German long-term care facilities, focusing on integrated health systems. The aim is to understand experiences, challenges, and preferences. Twenty nurses and paramedics participated in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was applied to transcripts, revealing key themes: acute healthcare provision, interdisciplinary collaboration, telemedicine use, and preferences for the future healthcare landscape. Themes highlighted factors influencing acute care situations and the crucial role of interdisciplinary collaboration. Integrated care was infrequently encountered despite high demand in rural long-term care facilities. Though uncommon, integrated healthcare remains crucial in addressing long-term care facility residents' complex needs. Healthcare professionals express a strong demand for integrated care in rural areas, citing potential benefits for resident wellbeing, healthcare effectiveness, and job satisfaction. The findings guide healthcare organizations in developing institutional-level strategies for integrated care integration, emphasizing its importance in rural settings.

Towards a sustainable city: Deciphering the determinants of restorative park and spatial patterns

Urban parks have been found to provide mental health benefits. Some empirical studies have tested natural features and perceptual measures respectively, announcing their contribution to psychological restoration. However, inconsistent findings were occasionally reported, whereas few attempts have been made to combine both observed and perceptual factors for validation. Little is known about the variation of restorative drivers and their spatial patterns. To address these problems, this study combined public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) and deep learning method to capture visual qualities of landscape features along with several important perceptual measures. A typical urban park in Wuhan, China, was selected for a pilot study, and 1560 crowdsourced on-site images were collected, with thematic and geographic information being integrated. A series of statistical models, e.g., OLS, QRM, and MGWR, were employed successively for validation. The results showed that landscape preference, place attachment, greenery and water were validated as the global explanatory factors to estimate the conditional mean of psychological restoration. The variation of influential effects of these factors were detected at different restoration levels. There exist spatial heterogeneity for these influential factors on restorative effects. Findings provided new knowledge on a deeper understanding of the subtlety of restoration drivers and their spatial patterns. The findings offered useful insights and guidance for urban planners in creating high-quality green parks with restorative values.

Measuring Villagers’ Perceptions of Changes in the Landscape Values of Traditional Villages

This study aims to analyze the perceptions and driving factors behind villagers’ changing perceptions of landscape values in the context of drastic landscape changes in traditional Chinese villages. Empirical evidence emphasizes the interplay between local residents’ values and the local policy framework. This study establishes a method to capture the landscape values and preferences of rural community residents by combining participatory mapping with questionnaire interviews. We identified the evaluation of changing landscape values by rural residents and extracted four categories of rural development orientations, namely, economic benefits, emotional culture, public participation, and environmental protection. Furthermore, we delved into the significant heterogeneity in landscape value changes among different social groups. This study highlights the role of villagers’ value judgments in guiding the scientific formulation of traditional village conservation and development policies and promoting the socially sustainable development planning of traditional villages. The research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the rural community’s needs and preferences for the local landscape as well as the convergence and divergence between these needs and the government-led rural development trajectory.

An Interpretation of Landscape Preferences Based on Geographic and Social Media Data to Understand Different Cultural Ecosystem Services

A crucial component of ecosystem services (ES) that represents social and humanities values is the cultural ecosystem service (CES), which refers to the non-material advantages that the environment provides for humans. CES are challenging to deeply understand, and little is known about the interactions between CES and landscape variables, particularly in some remote Chinese cities. In order to assess the dominant landscape variables of different CESs from physical, experiential, intellectual and inspirational aspects, this article investigates the landscape variables that may influence the public preferences of various CESs based on social media and geographic data in Anshun, China. The findings are displayed below. The public preferences of various CESs are impacted by the landscape variables in different ways. Physical CESs are influenced by both natural and infrastructure elements, demonstrating that accessibility to restaurants, accommodation, and transit affects how people interact with plays in public. Experiential CESs are primarily influenced by sensory elements, particularly the visual senses, suggesting that when people visit such settings, they place more emphasis on sensory experiences. Intellectual CESs are mostly affected by sensory and natural elements, implying that intellectual CESs with a natural perception are more alluring to tourists. Inspirational CESs are mainly influenced by natural and infrastructure elements, people usually consider nature and convenience when they go to such scenic spots. From the standpoint of promoting people’s wellbeing and boosting tourism appeal, the study’s results can offer fresh perspectives and content additions for the tourism landscape planning and management in Anshun.

Landscape Preference for Tourism Resourceization of Coastal Bridges in Busan, Republic of Korea

Landscape Preference for Tourism Resourceization of Coastal Bridges in Busan, Republic of Korea

Landscape Preference Study of Urban Waterfront Ecological Space under Public Participation

Landscape Preference Study of Urban Waterfront Ecological Space under Public Participation

Research on Landscape Preference of Urban Mountain Park Based on Visitors’ Perception—Taking Xishan Park in Mianyang City as an Example

Research on Landscape Preference of Urban Mountain Park Based on Visitors’ Perception—Taking Xishan Park in Mianyang City as an Example

Preferensi Wisatawan terhadap Keindahan Lanskap Akomodasi Berbasis Vegetasi Di Gili Meno, Nusa Tenggara Barat

Gili Meno is one of the popular tourist destinations in West Nusa Tenggara. On Gili Meno there are many accommodation landscapes. This study aims to determine tourist preferences for the accommodation landscape in Gili Meno, West Nusa Tenggara. The research was conducted by purposive sampling. Questionnaires were given to respondents who were tourists. Based on the research, it can be seen that tourists preferences for accommodation landscapes based on ornamental flower plants are higher than leaf ornamental plants, fruit trees, bonsai plants, and palm plants. Therefore, in the accommodation landscape on Gili Meno it is necessary to increase the number of plant groups favored by tourists in the form of ornamental flower plants.

The Relationship of Visual Preference for Traditional Village Landscape with View on Development Approaches in China

The Relationship of Visual Preference for Traditional Village Landscape with View on Development Approaches in China

An empirical study on the response of university students to viewing autumn secondary forest phytocommunities landscape via virtual reality in Northeast China

Secondary forests play a critical role in the natural environment and have the potential to provide significant benefits for human physical and mental well-being. The secondary forests in the Sanhu National Nature Reserve, located in Northeast China, have extremely high ecological value. In this study, we selected seven types of secondary forest phytocommunities in this region, measured ecological indicators at various sites, and captured panoramic photos on-site. Virtual reality (VR) technology was used to present and record participants' electroencephalogram (EEG) data for studying neural activity. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0 to evaluate the data obtained from the study. The results showed that participants preferred landscapes predominantly consisting of mixed forests of Pinus koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest (FP1.α and FP2.α: p = 0.001), featuring colorful and verdant scenery. Experiencing these seven types of secondary forest landscapes through virtual reality improved participants' mood and had a positive impact on them. Within a certain range (300–400 m, 0-30°), participants favored landscapes with higher elevations (FP1.β: p = 0.008, FP2.β: p = 0.001, F3.β: p = 0.006) and gentler slopes (F3.θ: p = 0.002, F4.θ: p = 0.031, F8.θ: p = 0.005). Additionally, participants showed a preference for secondary forest landscapes with a moderate canopy density ranging from 0.7 to 0.8 (FP1.θ: p = 0.015, FP2.θ: p = 0.014). The study also found that participants preferred landscapes with a greater abundance of trees and shrubs, as well as taller and narrower trees. Moreover, our study revealed that males favored autumn forest landscapes more than females, with graduate students showing a stronger preference compared to undergraduates. Urban residents also displayed a stronger preference for these landscapes over rural residents, and individuals from the Southern region expressed a higher inclination than their Northern counterparts (T3.δ: p = 0.002, p = 0.001 for others). These findings can provide reference for the design and plant arrangement of urban forest landscapes.

Investigation and optimization of outdoor thermal comfort in elementary school campuses: Example from a humid-hot area in China

The elementary school campus is the primary location where children both learn and live. The school environment significantly impacts children's health and well-being. While today's primary school campus designs generally adhere to regulations, they may still offer an unsafe thermal environment. To address this concern, we conducted a thermal sensory questionnaire in a representative outdoor space of an elementary school campus in Guangzhou, China. The thermal comfort of children was assessed using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Additionally, to enhance the thermal environment of current primary school campuses, we conducted a tree landscape preference survey. Based on children's thermal benchmarks and plant landscape preferences, a bioclimatic design for outdoor activity spaces on primary school campuses in humid-hot areas is proposed. The results show that: (1) Air temperature and mean radiant temperature are the main meteorological factors affecting children's thermal sensations in summer; (2) The outdoor neutral UTCI of male and female children is 25.0 and 22.8 °C, respectively, and the acceptable UTCI is 29.7 and 27.1 °C, respectively; (3) With respect to landscaping, children prefer large trees and evergreens planted in a plant community or singly. Their weighted preference scores were 3.10, 2.63, 2.27 and 1.89 respectively; and (4) Based on children's thermal benchmarks and plant landscape preferences, a tree-planting design strategy for primary school campuses in hot and humid regions is proposed. This study provides valuable advice for architects and landscape planners with respect to the design of elementary school campuses.