Scenic Beauty Estimation Research Articles

The Contribution of Scenic Beauty Indicators in Estimating Environmental Welfare Measures: A Case Study.

Aesthetic indicators of landscapes, expressedas individual scenic beauty estimates, may beused as proxies of individuals' specificaesthetic values, and improve the properties ofwelfare estimates produced by contingentvaluation models. This work presents resultsfrom an interdisciplinary study where forestscenic beauty indicators are utilized in aneconomic valuation study approximating welfareestimates from increased forest fireprotection. The omission of scenic beautyindicators from the economic valuation ofenvironmental resources produces biased andoverestimated welfare measures. Combiningeconomic and environmental indicatorssignificantly improves the explanatory power ofeconomic valuation models and of the producedwelfare measures. Such a combination, however,is only possible when carried out byinterdisciplinary research teams. The resultsof such research are significant toenvironmental and natural resource policymakers and planners.

The impact of agroforestry networks on scenic beauty estimation: The role of a landscape ecological network on a socio-cultural process

The reintroduction of agroforestry networks (via a GIS-supported design procedure) is one of a number of strategies that some authorities of the lagoon of Venice drainage basin (in Italy) are planning to use in order to control lagoon pollution and to achieve landscape amelioration. While attention is paid to the conservation implications and environmental effects of an ecological network, socio-cultural impacts are not generally given the same consideration. The aims of this paper were (1) to assess the impacts of agroforestry network planning outputs on the perception of landscape in terms of scenic beauty (SB) estimation, (2) to analyze the influence of socio-economic variables on the agroforestry role in SB, (3) to analyze the relationships between SB and landscape variables as measured on the local and landscape scales, and (4) to assess the strength of an expert rating SB empirical procedure utilized in the GIS system. The outcomes of the GIS planning procedure application were found to have a positive impact on the perceptive evaluation of landscape, but landscape sites preference did not appear to be significantly different between socio-economic groups: in all cases, sites with an optimized agroforestry network were preferred to the same sites without. A strong explanatory relationship was found to exist between citizens’ scenic beauty estimation (SBE) and the landscape metrics. The representative empirical procedure gave sound qualitative results for this kind of landscape, but can be efficiently substituted by the regression model tested at the “local” scale. At the “landscape” scale it appears that (1) the explanatory power of the landscape pattern metrics selected for the GIS procedure is high, even for the mean “social” SBE, (2) the main explanatory power among network metrics is expressed by connectivity and circuitry, and (3) it is reasonable to expect that the impact of an agroforestry network on citizens’ SBE could be predicted with the empirical models that were tested.

Using Image Depth Variables as Predictors of Visual Quality

Depth is an important part of our understanding and appreciation of landscape. Attempts made to measure attributes of photographs of landscapes and to develop predictive models of scenic beauty have either failed to include depth or included it by subjective separation of the foreground, mid-ground, and background within the photograph. The process of measurement from photographs is also limiting because it does not provide a mechanism for readily assessing the effect on visual qualities of proposed landscape changes. The process described here requires a detailed digital model of the environment but is then able to generate variables relating to land-cover type, their depth, and patterns of depth in any view direction. Among these variables are several which are closely correlated with scenic beauty and which can together make a good predictive model. Computer systems, which include hardware implementations of three-dimensional visible surface algorithms, offer the possibility of very fast generation of scenic beauty estimates from any location. Such estimates are among the requirements for autonomous agent-based modelling of landscape behaviour.

Public Acceptability Thresholds of Clearcutting to Maintain Visual Quality of Boreal Balsam Fir Landscapes

Abstract Clearcutting transforms forest landscapes by creating important visual contrasts between cut areas and adjacent stands. The object of this study was to determine if it is possible to harvest a certain proportion of the visible landscape while maintaining a visually acceptable setting in the social and ecological context of the boreal balsam fir (Abies balsamea L. Mill.) forest of central Québec. Using an adaptation of the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method, a survey was conducted through slide presentations to 309 persons from 11 groups of forest users. Levels of acceptability for single-patch and dispersed-patch cutting strategies were established for this ecosystem. The results confirmed that an increase in the percentage of clearcut areas in the visible landscape induced a lower level of acceptability and that even a small clearcut created a visual impact. However, despite a generally unfavorable reaction to clearcuts, a certain level of landscape alteration was acceptable to the tested groups. When clearcuts were in the form of a single patch, the acceptability threshold of the user groups was reached at an average percentage of 25% of the visible landscape harvested by clearcutting. The dispersed-patch strategy reduced the negative visual impact; for 6 of the 11 groups, the acceptability threshold increased to a harvesting level of 50%. To remain visually acceptable, clearcuts must be in a subdominant position in the visible landscape. The visual impact of a clearcut is effectively mitigated when the vegetation has reached a minimum height of 4 m. For. Sci. 43(1):46-55.

The scenic beauty of shelterbelts on the Great Plains

Shelterbelts on the Great Plains have changed the landscape of the region. A common belief exists that this change has added aesthetic value to the landscape; however, this has not been scientifically documented. This study assessed the scenic beauty of shelterbelts. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the relationship among shelterbelts, other landscape characteristics, and scenic beauty, (2) determine differences in scenic beauty judgments based on background characteristics of the observers, and (3) determine if scenic beauty judgments remained the same over two separate viewings of the same scenes by the same observers. One hundred and eighty students viewed 60 slides of plains landscapes with and without shelterbelts. Twenty-four viewers saw the slides twice. Viewers were asked to rate the slides for scenic beauty on a scale of 0 (low) to 9 (high). They also answered demographic and background characteristic questions. The scenic beauty scores were scaled to form Scenic Beauty Estimates. Simple correlation and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. Findings show that shelterbelts contribute to scenic beauty in the plains landscape, viewers' background characteristics do not affect scenic beauty ratings, and scenic beauty evaluations remain consistent over a repeat viewing.

The aesthetics of white pine and red pine forests

Aesthetic values of the forest in northeastern Ontario were determined with the Scenic Beauty Estimation Method, which relates psychometric analysis with quantitative forest stand characteristics. Results indicate high agreement for scenic beauty between environmental groups and other public groups, but less agreement between either of these and resource managers. In predominently coniferous forests, hardwoods (especially aspen) contribute to scenic beauty, and respondents prefer mature open stands over younger and denser ones. Linking people's aesthetic evaluations to physical stand characteristics may provide valuable insights for forest management purposes. Key words: Forest aesthetics, user preferences, white pine, red pine, scenic beauty

Predicting the Effects of Gypsy Moth on Near-View Aesthetic Preferences and Recreation Appeal

Abstract Using the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) approach, near-view color photographs were taken of 25 forested Central Appalachian Plateau sites exhibiting gypsy moth induced tree mortality from 6% (uninfested control site) to 98%. The slides were randomly arranged and presented to 400 subjects who rated the slides on a 10-point preference scale. Attitudes concerning forest management did not influence visual quality, while knowledge of the presence of gypsy moth damage had a negative effect. No differences were found between ratings of visual quality and recreation appeal. The final regression model explained 68% of the variance in visual quality. Tree mortality was an outstanding predictor, with linear and quadratic functions of tree mortality best describing the variability in ratings. Flowering mountain laurel and stand age also contributed significantly to the model. Scenic preferences and appeal for visitation increased initially as mortality approached 30-40%. Up to this point, increased sunlight, visual penetration, and flowering understory growth may have mitigated the negative effects of mortality. As mortality exceeded this level, ratings dropped sharply. We conclude that from the standpoint of near-view aesthetics or recreation value, gypsy moth suppression may only be necessary in stands where tree mortality is expected to be unusually high. FOR. SCI. 39(1):28-40.

Sensitivity of scenic beauty assessments

Measurements representing the public evaluations of scenic beauty were compared using two psychophysical measurement techniques. It had been suggested that the easier-to-use Scenic Beauty Estimation procedure might not discriminate among similar scenes as well as the Law of Comparative Judgment procedure and thus be inapplicable to certain situations. However, this study suggests that the Scenic Beauty Estimation procedure can reliably discriminate among very similar forest landscape scenes, and thus seems appropriate for most landscape assessment studies.

Measurement of scenic beauty: the law of comparative judgment and scenic beauty estimation procedures

Measurement of scenic beauty: the law of comparative judgment and scenic beauty estimation procedures

Visual Preferences in Enclosed Urban Spaces

Few design approaches have utilized scientific methods in dealing with aesthetic and visual factors. In an attempt to explore a scientific approach to environmental design, the relationship between visual preference and ratio variables in enclosed spaces on the Virginia Tech campus was investigated. Visual preference of enclosed spaces was measured by the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method. The SBE method was found to be reliable and valid in urban enclosed spaces. This study suggests that visual quality of an enclosed urban place can be predicted from the linear combination of three ratio variables-ground slope, height ratio, and vegetation coverage. The prediction model can be used as an heuristic or analytic tool for design practice.

The prediction of scenic beauty from landscape content and composition

Two studies were conducted to examine distance classes of vegetation (foreground, middleground and background) and scene composition (presence of vegetation in left, center or right section of the image) as predictors of perceived scenic beauty. In study one, 41 students rated 63 landscape scenes with regard to scenic beauty. The Scenic Beauty Estimation Method was used to derive interval scale beauty values (SBEs). For each landscape image, areal measures of vegetation in each distance class and for each vertical section were taken and used as predictors. Presence of haze, clouds and human impacts were also recorded. Among the most important contributors to scenic beauty were amount of center middleground vegetation, and center background vegetation. Left foreground vegetation and right foreground vegetation were found to have significant and opposing regression weight signs—negative for the left and positive for the right. Study two was conducted to determine whether these opposing regression weight signs for foreground vegetation were due to a perceptual right-left bias or to some specific content in the image itself. In the second study, the photographic slides used to present landscape scenes to subjects were reversed so that the content which was previously on the right was now left, and vice versa. Thirty-nine students rated the reversed slides with regard to their scenic beauty. The signs of the regression weights in study two shifted such that left foreground was now positively valued and right foreground was negatively valued. This finding suggests that viewers are sensitive to foreground content and its placement in the image, and not simply to one side of the field of vision.

Mapping the scenic beauty of forest landscapes

A method for developing maps of the scenic beauty of forests is described and applied to a Ponderosa pine forest in Arizona. Sample points were selected and located on the ground. Randomly‐oriented color slides were taken from each point. Observers were asked to rate the scenic beauty of the sites represented by the slides. Ratings were transformed to Scenic Beauty Estimates (SBEs), a standardized, relative index of interval scale. The SBEs for each location were submitted, along with data describing the location of each sample point, to a computer program (SYMAP) which produces interpolated maps of the scenic beauty of the area. Data concerning the reliability and validity of the procedure are presented. The relationship between the scenic beauty map and maps of physical forest features was investigated.