Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate visual preferences of the methods for river embankment based on seasonal changes and to reveal the relationship between visual preference and effective factors, which are the physical and esthetic elements inside the river. For this research seven river embankment methods including concrete block, concrete wall, gabion, and vegetated concrete block were selected in Dongchon of Gwangyang. Twenty-eight pictures by the four pictures of each embankment method based on seasonal changes, the winter and summer of the first and second years after construction were used for a photo-questionnaire by 49 participants. In the analysis of the relationship between visual preference and effective factors, the independent variables included eight factors: form of the material, harmony with the surroundings, the cleanness of river floor, the green area of embankment methods, the water area in river floor, the stone and sand area in river floor, the planting area in river floor, and the area of embankment itself. The result of this study are as follows. First, visual preference in summer was higher than in winter, and the summer landscape of the second you scored the highest value for visual preference. Second, similarly to the way the vegetated concrete block produced a green effect, cobblestone and gabion embankments made of natural materials scored higher than others, whereas the concrete retaining wall scored the lowest of all methods because of it's artificiality. Third, the seven independent variables, except form of the material, are proved statistically significant at the 5% level. The water area in river floor, harmony with the surroundings, the planting area in river floor, and the cleanness of the river floor were revealed as more effective factors influencing visual preference. The research results suggest that the riverscape has to be controlled in terms of seasonal change and embankment methods. Natural materials and green effects in embankment methods are more important for increasing landscape preference, and the landscape factors inside a river should also be considered important variables. It is recommended that advanced study on other factors affecting visual preference of the riverscape be carried out to support this research.
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