Showing papers on "Landscape planning published in 1979"

The Q-Sort method: use in landscape assessment research and landscape planning

Abstract: The assessment of visual quality inherently involves the measurement of perceptual response to landscape. The Q-Sort Method is a psychometric technique which produces reliable and valid interval measurements of people's perceptions of landscape visual quality as depicted in photographs. It is readily understood by participants across a wide range of age groups and cultural backgrounds, and it provides data which can be mapped within a region and/or statistically compared to various social and physical dimensions.

Descriptive approaches to landscape analysis

Abstract: Descriptive landscape analyses include various procedures used to document visual/scenic resources. Historic and regional examples of landscape description represent desirable insight for contemporary professional inventory work. Routed and areal landscape inventories are discussed as basic tools. From them, qualitative and quantitative evaluations can be developed although certain landscape attributes are omitted. Aesthetic evaluations and visual impact predictions for environmental impact studies can originate from landscape analyses. Scope and implications of needed research in visual landscape studies are discussed. Finally, landscape planning goals and landscape design policies are outlined as visual quality controls. The professional role of landscape architects and environmental planners is stressed in the paper.

The hardrock minerals industry and the landscape architect

Abstract: The landscape architecture profession is a source of creative thinking and planning which is relatively untapped within the mining industry in the United States of America. The landscape architect has been active in European operations for years as indicated by the four examples presented. The landscape architect can provide an important interface with mine design and engineering and environmental affairs. To initiate this interface within the United States, and increase its effectiveness, six objectives are presented and discussed.

Assessing the visual resource and visual development suitability values in metropolitanizing landscapes

Abstract: In response to urbanization pressures on the New England landscape, researchers at the University of Massachusetts have developed and tested two visual landscape assessment procedures as part of a comprehensive research project in landscape planning. The first procedure identifies those visually significant and unique areas within a town or region that warrant public intervention in decisions affecting their protection and preservation. The second procedure identifies the relative frequency of visual attributes within an area which enhance its liveability and hence its suitability and value for development. Both assessment procedures were constructed from research findings in the areas of scenic perception and preference, and resource econometrics. Application of the procedures seemed to show a strong corroboration between methods of scenic perception and econometric valuation techniques. The importance of relating visual values to other landscape values when making land use decisions was also demonstrated.

Land-Type Classification and Ecological Land Evaluation in Izena Island, Okinawa, Japan

Abstract: This study aims to discuss the method of land-type classification and ecological land evaluation especially for the landscape conservation in Izena Island located in Okinawa Islands, southwest Japan, wherein geographical distributions of plant communities (actual vegetation) were phytosociologically surveyed by the author et al. (1978).First of all methodological discussion concerning land classification, the concept of which has been reviewed by many applied geographers like MABBUTT (1968), was carried out. In this article the author proposed “potential natural vegetation (TUXEN 1956) and landform” -oriented land classification as a sort of bio-physical land classification from genetically interpreted landscape approach. This method of classification is considered to be useful for land evaluation because of the integrated character of the two indexes and the appropriateness of forming a connection with land-use through actual vegetation which is influenced by both land potentiality and land use.In this study island land was classified into 13 bio-physical land units and their connection with other land elements such as surface geology and soils was considered. Such land units were mapped and connected with land use by using vegetational substitution. In the contemporary relationship possibility of land uses and land-use forms seem to be dependent upon the potentiality of land units. It is suggested that land evaluation can be performed through consideration of the way the relations between land units and land uses should be planned from the ecological point of view in the future. Concerning such ecological land evaluation, land units have summarized into 6 evaluated groups which present common characters for the countermeasures of land conservation. Then, in the specified area of the study island, land evaluation was tried for the purpose of protection of nature and recreation. This is an example of a landscape plan based on the results of land evaluation, which include the importance of land conservation, the value of natural or semi-natural vegetation and the desirability of land for the construction of roads, footpaths and recreational facilities. As a result of the case-study, the effectiveness of land classification and ecological land evaluation has been suggested.This study is a preliminary attempt to join the geographical and ecological method to landscape planning through land-type classification and evaluation. This sort of approach seems to get much importance under the critical circumstances for the development planning in Japan, especially in the humid subtropical islands where land potentiality for developments is relatively low and land itself is very limited.