No abstract

Landscape Visual Quality (LVQ) 'assessment has become a core component of landscape architecture, landscape planning and spatial planning. Different approaches for assessing the scenic qualities of landscapes have been developed in the last few decades. Two contrasting paradigms, expert/design approach and community perception-based approach, have dominated methodology development. In the expertdesign approach the landscape visual quality is defined by biological and physical (or biophysical) values, while the perception-based approach emphasises the human view (subjective) of the landscape. This paper outlines a methodology combining expert and perception approaches to assess the LVQ.The application of information technology to landscape analysis dates back to the early work in computerbased mapping. Much of the early work on what became Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and threedimensional landscape modelling was carried out by landscape architects and landscape planners. In the past years, significant advances in computers and GIS have enabled analysis of vast amounts of spatial information, which is the foundation of the methodology described in this paper. The methodology is explained in detail through its application to assess the LVQ of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, AUSTRALIA.There are six stages in the procedure: viewpoints selection; calculation of factor indices based on Visual Exposure Modelling; landscape preference rating; use of statistical methods (such as multiple regression model) to determine the key predictors of LVQ; application of the formula thus generated to assess the LVQ of viewpoints; and use of spatial interpolation to map LVQ across the study area.The results are discussed in the last section of this paper with reference to key methodological issues. Results show that the perceived LVQ increases with the area of water visible, the degree of wilderness and percentage of natural vegetation, and the presence of hills. On the other hand, it decreases with the presence of perceived negative human-made elements such as roads and buildings.

This paper reports on two models that have been developed using ArcView Model Builder to map suitability for agricultural and urban land uses. Both models use a GIS-based multiple criteria modelling approach combining empirical data with experts' judgement.The Agricultural Suitability Model considers soil, landscape and climate criteria; whereas the Urban Buildability Model assesses biophysical, socio-economic and spatial phenomena to define locational suitability from a sustainable development perspective.These models have been used to help develop strategic development plans for several rural shires in Victoria, Australia. One of the major objectives of these Shire development strategies was to protect good agricultural land from urban development. There are more than 30 agricultural land suitability models that have been developed to address particular commodities of interest to these Shires. Shires where these models have been applied so far include South Gippsland.

No abstract

Australia's natural capital is under growing cumulative pressure from land use change and intensive agriculture, fishery, forestry, and urban sprawl. This consequently reduces the benefits and services that it provides. This paper firstly assessed how current trends of land-use change have an impact on the natural capital loss in South Victoria, Australia during 2006-2016. Then in order to increase natural capital inherent value and to ensure that natural capital is multifunctional, a system of Blue-Green Infrastructure is designed within the current natural capital of Tarwin Lower, in Victoria. Given that natural capital area is declining in Australia, incorporating designed elements into existing natural capital to create multifunctional natural capital, enables maximising the supply and value of ecosystem services in order to meet the demands of a growing population. Here, three ecosystem services (stormwater abatement, water quality improvement, and water supply services) were compared in terms of existing natural capital or with integrated Blue-Green Infrastructure elements to create multifunctional natural capital system. The results indicate that planning Blue-Green Infrastructure will enhance multiple aspects of regional sustainability and resilience in the Tarwin catchment and will maximise the multifunctionality of the natural capital. Finally, the paper simulates the cost-benefit analysis for the implementation of Blue-Green Infrastructure to show that it is a cost-effective and sustainable solution to cope with the current demographic, economic and agricultural trends, which affect natural capital. This paper confirms that in order to provide ecosystem services for extra demands of growing inhabitants, Blue-Green Infrastructure networks require to be extended in the Victoria State of Australia to compensate natural capital and ecosystem service losses due to the regional and urban development.