Visual preference and ecological assessments for designed alternative brownfield rehabilitations

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.01.063 Byline: Raffaele Lafortezza (a), Robert C. Corry (b), Giovanni Sanesi (a), Robert D. Brown (b) Keywords: Alternative landscapes; Visual preferences; Cost-surface modeling; Urban forests; Brownfield sites Abstract: This paper describes an integrative method for quantifying, analyzing, and comparing the effects of alternative rehabilitation approaches with visual preference. The method was applied to a portion of a major industrial area located in southern Italy. Four alternative approaches to rehabilitation (alternative designs) were developed and analyzed. The scenarios consisted of the cleanup of the brownfields plus: (1) the addition of ground cover species; (2) the addition of ground cover species and a few trees randomly distributed; (3) the addition of ground cover species and a few trees in small groups; and (4) the addition of ground cover species and several trees in large groups. The approaches were analyzed and compared to the baseline condition through the use of cost-surface modeling (CSM) and visual preference assessment (VPA). Statistical results showed that alternatives that were more ecologically functional for forest bird species dispersal were also more visually preferable. Some differences were identified based on user groups and location of residence. The results of the study are used to identify implications for enhancing both ecological attributes and visual preferences of rehabilitating landscapes through planning and design. Author Affiliation: (a) greenLab, Department of Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali, University of Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy (b) School of Environmental Design & Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Article History: Received 16 December 2005; Revised 17 October 2006; Accepted 9 January 2007