Download (PDF 267 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/35661.pdf
Abstract
Finding sites with a pleasant view is important to maximize visitors' scenic satisfaction. A geographic information systems analysis of viewsheds is helpful for locating sites with maximum visibility. Viewshed analyses can also be combined with public perceptions of scenic beauty for selecting the most scenic sites. This research modeled the perceived beauty of the Highland Scenic Highway of West Virginia with the visible land cover features in early and late fall 2007. The area of each land cover type visible from 16 different locations was calculated, and photographs taken at each of the sites were used to elicit public perceptions of scenic beauty. Forest cover was significantly related to the scenic beauty of late fall but not to that of early fall. This result shows that leaf cover diversity is a major factor in perceived scenic beauty in the study area.
Parent Publication
Citation
Dhami, Ishwar; Deng, Jinyang. 2010. Modeling the scenic beauty of the Highland Scenic Highway, West Virginia. In: Watts, Clifton E., Jr.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 180-188.
