Predictor variables of public perceptions and preferences for landscape planning and management

Abstract

Landscape perception research has attempted to explain how people see and perceive landscapes, as well as, why people tend prefer some landscapes over others. An understanding of public perceptions and preferences is important for making appropriate decisions in the planning and management of our landscapes. Landscape perception research has focused on four major paradigms--expert, psychophysical, cognitive, and experiential--and has shown a wide variety of variables related to the landscape perceptions and preferences of the public. A comprehensive review of journal literature published over the last fifteen years revealed a total of 32 variables that, through empirical study, have been found to be important predictors of people's preferences for landscape. These important predictor variables are grouped into five categories and characterized to assist planners, landscape managers, and decision-makers in selecting appropriate variables for landscape assessment and evaluation. Recommendations for selecting predictor variables are provided.