Visualisation tools for public participation in managing landscape change (VISULANDS)

Actually seeing how landscapes may change helps the pubic to participate in land management

Summary

The VISULANDS project developed and applied visualisation tools to support public involvement in the assessment of landscape change. Forest Research coordinated three study sites that were used to test indicators, visualisations, and evaluate the perceptions and experiences of end users.

Our involvement

Forest Research helped to develop the methods for multi-dimensional analyses of landscape quality. The researchers applied their expertise on landscape ecology and stakeholder engagement. Forest Research also coordinated the development and testing of VISULAND prototypes at three case study sites: Clashindarroch (Northern Scotland), Isle of Wight (Southern England) and Clocaenog (North Wales).

The team assessed how visualisation methods could be used for forested landscapes in the UK, looking at whether visualisation tools could support stronger visual design and landscape ecology, and greater public participation in forest landscape planning.

Funders and partners

VISULANDS was a 3-year European Commission funded 5th Framework research project led by Prof. David Miller, Macaulay, Aberdeen with project partners in Sweden, Norway, France, Switzerland, Portugal and the UK.

Forest Research’s involvement was also funded through the Forestry Commission’s Ecosystems and Biodiversity programme.

Status

2003-2005

Contact

Liz O’Brien