Comparing the functional recognition of aesthetics, hydrology, and quality in urban stream restoration through the framework of environmental perception

Abstract

This study explores the application of a civic perception analysis in the context of stream restoration as a social-ecological system (SES). Analysing such a SES is useful for understanding correlations between civic interests and environmental conditions in river restoration. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis was used to quantify the demand for restoration objectives. Additionally, an image-based survey was used to precisely capture residents' perceptions of urban stream restoration by comparing aesthetic images, hydrologic functions, and environmental quality. Based on the AHP results, a hierarchical multiple regression was derived. A total of 181 participants responded to our survey, and the results were summarized by each subwatershed in the An'Yang watershed. The results demonstrated that the perceptions of residents who live in various environmental and regional conditions may manifoldly reflect their personal visual and aesthetic preferences by subwatershed. The upstream subwatershed values (SW1 = 7.86 and SW2 = 7.39) were higher than those in the downstream areas (SW5 = 5.28 and SW6 = 5.15). Consequently, this hierarchical multilevel model showed that individual environmental perception was highly associated with visual preference regarding stream restoration at the subwatershed level (p < 0.001). Urban environmental and spatial planners could use such information when restoring and designing waterfront spaces.

Residents' perception of flood risk and urban stream restoration using multi‐criteria decision analysis

“…While the current study reveals some interesting aspects of how individual's sociodemographic characteristics and perception of the sites are related to flood risk perception, other factors can be considered for future research. Studies have shown that individual's professions and safety concerns and neighbourhood characteristics such as the number of casualties (Slovic, 2016; Slovic & Peters, 2016; Slovic & Weber, 2002), employment rate (Rufat, 2015), crime rates (Brownson, Hoehner, Day, Forsyth, & Sallis, 2009), and protection of natural habitats and landscape aesthetics (Brownson et al, 2009; Hong, Chang, & Chung, 2019) are associated with risk perception and the use of space. Additionally, since the survey respondents were chosen by those who were already using the space, the findings of the study may not reflect the perceptions of the entire population living the study watershed.…”

“…In the respondent groups of S4, the participants who showed a (Slovic, 2016;Slovic & Peters, 2016;Slovic & Weber, 2002), employment rate (Rufat, 2015), crime rates (Brownson, Hoehner, Day, Forsyth, & Sallis, 2009), and protection of natural habitats and landscape aesthetics (Brownson et al, 2009;Hong, Chang, & Chung, 2019) are associated with risk perception and the use of space. Additionally, since the survey respondents were chosen by those who were already using the space, the findings of the study may not reflect the perceptions of the entire population living the study watershed.…”

What are the Political, Social, and Economic Issues in River Restoration? Genealogy and Current Research Issues

“…The majority of survey-based studies focus on the general public (Figure 1.7). They often target residents of a neighborhood or town near to a restored river site (e.g., Tunstall et al 2000;Perni et al 2012;Seidl and Stauffacher 2013;Hong et al 2019). They are also interested in the users and visitors of the sites, whether or not they are residents (e.g.…”

“…It is therefore often mobilized for the aesthetic or landscape evaluation of different restoration scenarios (e.g. Chin et al 2008;Junker and Buchecker 2008;McCormick et al 2015;Hong et al 2019). Preference is also a benchmarking process that is very often invoked in economic evaluations (Hausman 2011).…”

The Right to Urban Streams: Quantitative Comparisons of Stakeholder Perceptions in Defining Adaptive Stream Restoration

“…Social and industrial changes in the Ahn-Yang negatively influenced the water quality and ecosystem of the Ahn-Yang stream [19]. Ultimately, the severe contamination of the Ahn-Yang stream prompted citizen stakeholder groups to work together for the stream restoration [20,21].…”