Willy A. Schmid

Multiple-Case Study of Landscape Visualizations as a Tool in Transdisciplinary Planning Workshops

This paper presents a transdisciplinary multiple-case study, set in Switzerland, that was part of the European Fifth Framework Program project VISULANDs—Visualization Tools for Public Participation in Managing Landscape Change (2003–2005). The project sought production of new visualization tools enabling public participation in landscape management. In cooperation with workshop participants, researchers constructed three-dimensional (3-D) landscape visualizations to represent various scenarios of landscape change. The planning objective was to develop sustainable solutions for landscape-related planning problems in tourism, agriculture, and forestry. Two of the case studies produced implemented results. The research objective was to analyze the effectiveness of landscape visualization as a tool in transdisciplinary workshops with external researchers and local stakeholders. The research illustrates how the interactive construction of different types of landscape visualization may contribute to solutions for planning problems on local to regional scales through transdisciplinary knowledge construction, dialogue, and consensus building.

The emerging role of visual resource assessment and visualisation in landscape planning in Switzerland

Abstract The evolution of our understanding of landscape planning and therefore of landscape as a visual resource occurred in parallel with the changes of perception of spatial planning (urban and regional planning), since landscape planning is part of spatial planning. Already in the 1970s the visual landscape was an issue in spatial planning. This can be traced back to the romantic period when the close emotional ties with one’s home country were very important. With the emerging discussion at the end of the 1970s about ecology and ecological planning, more and more the components of natural science of ecological planning were discussed, at the expense of the visual landscape and aesthetics. With the improvement of the possibilities of the digital 3-dimensional (3D) representation of landscape, it seems that landscape as visual resource has once again become more important in the discussion. 3D visualisation will support participation in the planning process and will become an important part of decision support systems in spatial planning. The use of virtual landscapes will help to study processes in the landscape such as fragmentation of landscape and/or urban sprawl.

Ecological Planning With Virtual Landscapes: Three Examples From Switzerland

The instrument that links environmental protection and spatial planning is ecological planning, which can be either reactive or strategic. Ecological planning comprises components of natural science as well as of aesthetics. Having once been the driving force of nature protection, the visual quality of the landscape has been neglected for a long time. In the past few years digital 3D-visualization techniques have increasingly found a wider distribution. Based on examples from Switzerland, the potential of 3D-visualization techniques in ecological planning is illustrated in this article. These include a proposed hydroelectric project at the Bernina Pass, alternative development scenarios for the town of Brunnen on Lake Lucerne, and the modeling and visualization of functions and effects of landscape elements on the habitat of the Greater Mouse-Eared Bat.