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Visual Impact Assessment in Rural Areas: The Role of Vegetation Screening in the Sustainable Integration of Isolated Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • María Jesús Montero-Parejo

    (Department of Graphical Expression, University of Extremadura, Avda. Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600 Plasencia, Spain)

  • Lorenzo García-Moruno

    (Department of Graphical Expression, University of Extremadura, Avda. Sta. Teresa de Jornet 38, 06800 Mérida, Spain)

  • Julio Hernández-Blanco

    (Department of Graphical Expression, University of Extremadura, Avda. Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600 Plasencia, Spain)

  • Jacinto Garrido-Velarde

    (Research Institute for Sustainable Territorial Development, University of Extremadura (INTERRA), 06006 Badajoz, Spain)

Abstract

Rural tourism has led to an increase in the number of buildings, meaning that visual integration of these buildings into the landscape is not always achieved. The silhouettes of buildings in rural areas are always recognisably simple but can be visually discordant if their sharpness is high. The literature provides analyses of how the visual impact of a given construction can be minimised by vegetation screening. The main objective of this study was to propose a method of quantifying the visual impact of isolated buildings (1 (low visual impact)–5 (high visual impact)). The method combines a measurement of the sharpness of building silhouette lines and vegetation screening ( Scr ) percentage (high or low) using theories based on the cognitive aspects of visual perception and digital image processing. The method was validated through a survey in which photos were shown to a wide range of respondents. A second objective was to analyse the combined effect on the visual perception of Scr and building colour (C), which is broadly analysed in the literature. The main result is that the required percentage of vegetation screening for a building with sharp lines and discordant colours to be accepted was determined to be around 40%. The proposed method can be applied by landscape planners; it is easy to use, and the cognitive principles on which it is based do not depend on the working environment.

Suggested Citation

  • María Jesús Montero-Parejo & Lorenzo García-Moruno & Julio Hernández-Blanco & Jacinto Garrido-Velarde, 2022. "Visual Impact Assessment in Rural Areas: The Role of Vegetation Screening in the Sustainable Integration of Isolated Buildings," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:9:p:1450-:d:904262
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jacinto Garrido Velarde & María Jesús Montero Parejo & Julio Hernández Blanco & Lorenzo García Moruno, 2019. "Using Native Vegetation Screens to Lessen the Visual Impact of Rural Buildings in the Sierras de Béjar and Francia Biosphere Reserve: Case Studies and Public Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Jacinto Garrido-Velarde & María Jesús Montero-Parejo & Julio Hernández-Blanco & Lorenzo García-Moruno, 2018. "Visual Analysis of the Height Ratio between Building and Background Vegetation. Two Rural Cases of Study: Spain and Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Suling Guo & Wei Sun & Wen Chen & Jianxin Zhang & Peixue Liu, 2021. "Impact of Artificial Elements on Mountain Landscape Perception: An Eye-Tracking Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Jacinto Garrido Velarde & María Jesús Montero Parejo & Julio Hernández Blanco & Lorenzo García Moruno, 2017. "Use of Video and 3D Scenario Visualisation to Rate Vegetation Screens for Integrating Buildings into the Landscape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-14, June.
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