Guidance Note For Landscape And Visual Assessment

LandscapeScenic amenityViewshedLandscape is an all-encompassingterm that refers to areas of theearth’s surface at various scales.It includes those landscapes thatare: urban, peri-urban, rural, andnatural; combining bio-physicalelements with the cultural overlayof human use and values.A measure of the relativecontribution of each place tothe collective appreciation ofthe landscape. The term scenicamenity has a specific meaningand application in GIS mapping(a combination of visualexposure and scenic preference)and has been incorporated intoseveral local planning schemesacross Queensland.Areas visible from a particularlocation (may be modelled orfield-validated).Magnitude of changeThe extent of change that willbe experienced by receptors.This change may be adverse orbeneficial. Factors that couldbe considered in assessingmagnitude are: the proportionof the view / landscape affected;extent of the area over whichthe change occurs; the size andscale of the change; the rate andduration of the change; the levelof contrast and compatibility.SensitivityCapacity of a landscape or viewto accommodate change withoutlosing valued attributes. Includesthe value placed on a landscapeor view by the community throughplanning scheme protection, andthe type and number receivers.ValuesMeasures to compensate forpotential adverse impacts thatcannot be otherwise mitigated.Any aspect of landscape orviews that people consider tobe important. Landscape andvisual values may be reflected inlocal, state or federal planningregulations, other publisheddocuments or be establishedthrough community consultationand engagement, or asprofessionally assessed.PhotomontagesViewA visual representation of aproposal from a particularreceptor viewpoint, on aphotographic base. Themethodology for the preparationof any photomontage and itsaccuracy should be defined.Any sight, prospect or field ofvision as seen from a place, andmay be wide or narrow, partialor full, pleasant or unattractive,distinctive or nondescript, andmay include background, midground and/or foregroundelements or features.MitigationMeasures to avoid, reduce andmanage identified potentialadverse impacts.OffsetReceptorA place, route, viewer audienceor interest group which mayreceive an effect and requireassessment.Visibility Analysis Map (VAM)A map illustrating areas of landwith views to a particular feature.This may be modelled or fieldvalidated, and assumptions mustbe stated. A digitally modelledanalysis is usually based on adigital terrain model, and may alsoincorporate the screening effect ofvegetation and built form. Otherterms, such as Zone of VisualInfluence (ZVI), Zone of TheoreticalVisibility (ZTV), Potential VisibilityZone, Visual Envelope, may beused, but should be defined.Visual absorption capacityThe potential for the physicalattributes (landform, vegetationand built form) of a scene toabsorb a particular change.Visual amenityThe attractiveness of a sceneor view.Visual catchmentAreas visible from a combinationof locations within a definedsetting (may be modelled or fieldvalidated).Visual representationGraphic representation of aproposal in context showing itslikely appearance and scale.ViewpointThe specific location of aview, typically used forassessment purposes.Landscape and Visual Assessment AILA Guidance Note for Queensland7

04 – PrinciplesThere are some common principles whichdetermine scenic preference and the importanceof views.Whilst scenic preference andthe values placed on views maybe culturally influenced, thefollowing general principleshave been consistently found inscenic preference studies andcommunity consultation.In general: Water and natural elements arepreferred over urban scenes Mountains and hills arepreferred over flat land Views are preferred whichinclude both mid-groundelements (with some detaildiscernible) and a background Views with skyline featuresand views which include focalpoints are preferredThe following discussionidentifies further, more complexrelationships which typically guidethe preference and importance ofviews.Views dominated by, or witha high proportion of attractivefeatures (such as ocean ormountains) are considered tobe more attractive, and hencemore important to retain, thanthose with only a minor or distantproportion of such elementsSimilarly, panoramic views witha number of such distinctive8elements are more attractive andworthy of protection than narrowview corridors or a line of sight toa single element.Diversity is generally preferredover uniformity, and heritageover modernity, but these needto be balanced with preferencesfor consistency and coherence ofbuilt form, which are also valued.Viewpoints (including residencesand public places) may haveprimary views in one direction(e.g. to an attractive or distinctivefeature) and secondary views inother directions. The distinctionmay be related to desirability ofviews (e.g. ocean or river views),viewing distance, or to theorientation of viewpoints(e.g. lookouts)Discordant elements whichcontrast markedly with theirotherwise-attractive settingsare often regarded as having adetrimental impact on amenity.This depends on the viewingdistance, proportion of viewaffected, and overall design.The degree to which gooddesign can overcome or integratestrong contrasts (e.g. SydneyOpera House, Eiffel Tower) islargely a matter of subjectiveopinion. Contrast and visibilityshould be objectively analysed,Landscape and Visual Assessment AILA Guidance Note for Queensland

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coastseparate from any opinionsoffered as to the appropriatenessof design or the acceptability (orotherwise) of high visibility andstrong contrasts.When assessing the importance ofviews, for example in prioritisingscenery and sightlines forplanning scheme protection, orwhen evaluating the landscapeand urban character of a place,views from accessible publicspaces (streets, lookouts, parksetc.) are valued more than viewsavailable only from privateresidences. In general, no residenthas a ‘right’ to a view, but impactson private residential views maybe relevant in relation to planningscheme intentions.Landscape and Visual Assessment AILA Guidance Note for Queensland9

05 – Scope and approachThe scope should be designed to fit the scale andpotential impacts of the project. It should alsoconsider the project stage and purpose.For example in the preliminarydesign phase an assessmentmay identify opportunitiesand constraints for the design,whereas a full EnvironmentalImpact Assessment may berequired where a planningdecision relies on the assessment.Guideline: Landscape and VisualAssessment (LVA) should bescoped to reflect the scale ofthe project It should reflect communityvalues and preferences,particularly as described inany published study It should be based on anunderstanding of the settingand valued attributes It should have an appropriatelevel of rigour to informdecision makingKingfisher Bay, Fraser Island10Landscape and Visual Assessment AILA Guidance Note for Queensland

The following are the keyquestions to be asked whenscoping a LVA: What legislation and planningregulations are relevant? What receptors may beimpacted by the project? Who and what may beimpacted by the project(current and future)?Any limitations to the approachundertaken should be clearlystated within an assessmentreport, such as project timeframesand constraints, access issues,availability of information, anddesign changes for example.The first four of the aboveare largely objective andpresent information whichdecision-makers and thecommunity can interpret,whereas the fifth incorporatesa degree of expert judgement.In overview, a project-specific LVAshould address the following:LVA, like other aspects ofimpact assessment, shouldclearly distinguish betweenfact and subjective opinion,and avoid advocacy. Visibility - where will theproposed development beseen from and by whom? What is the purpose ofthis assessment, and whois the audience? Appearance - what will itlook like? How does the settingof the project (urban,rural etc.) influence theassessment approach? Mitigation - to what extent canthe visibility and/or appearancebe modified by screeningor integration? Will there be impactsduring construction,operation, decommissioning? Effects and impacts - what viewsand viewers will be affected,and to what extent, with andwithout mitigation measures? Will there be impacts duringthe day and night or duringdifferent seasons? Are there any other projectsplanned that may change thelandscape in the future? What visual representationsor Visibility Analysis Map (VAM)are required? What coordination orconsultation with othertechnical disciplines and/orstakeholders needs to occur? Will the amenity of receptors bereduced by shadowing, overlooking, and character contrast? Context and planningintention - is the developmentconsistent with existing andintended local character andcommunity expectationsand values? Are the impactsimportant in this context?Landscape and Visual Assessment AILA Guidance Note for Queensland11

05 – MethodologyThere is a range of approaches to Landscape andVisual Assessment. These include viewpointassessments, character assessments, and mappingbased assessments.There are some fundamentalsteps that must be undertakenin order to identify potentiallandscape and visual impacts. Itis essential that a landscape andvisual assessment has a clear,logical and repeatable approachto the identification of effects andcategorisation of impacts, and thismethod should be clearly statedin any assessment.Guideline: Methodology should be clearlyset out, logical and repeatable The process of assessmentshould be consistently appliedthroughout any assessment A methodology may be refinedto reflect the specific issues ofthe site or project and shouldnot be designed to achieve aparticular outcomeAll methodologies should generallyfollow the following steps:1. Describe and analyse theexisting conditions2. Describe the proposeddevelopment3. Identify effects andcategorise potential impacts4. Identify opportunities to modifythe project and / or mitigateadverse effects5. Identify and categorise residualimpacts i.e. with mitigationincorporated into the proposedconditions (if requi

(GLVIA), Third Edition (2013) prepared by the Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment; and Scenic Management System (1996) as described in the publication . Landscape Aesthetics: A Handbook of Scenery Management prepared by the . US Forestry Service. In each state there are also . different department specific guidance documents, and guidelines .