• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 1992

To prevent unwanted visual impacts of proposed projects before they are actually built, Visual Impact Assessment(VIA) is conducted in current landscape planning and management process. The application of VIA to actual projects raises some important questions: "What views will the project affect?" "What tools and techniques are effective for predicting and portraying future landscape conditions?" "Who should determine the value of the impacts?" and "How can the impacts be measured?" Types and levels of visual impacts should be decided through analyzing both the existing landscape and the proposed project. Computer-based visual simulations will play a pivotal role as effective prediction and communication tools. With professionals' assistance, the public participation in the VIA process will produce meaningful solutions for planning and managing the future landscape. Also, the use of a proper response format and sensitive assessment criteria in measuring the public's opinion will enrich outcomes of the assessment. Based on the methodological framework, the case study briefly explains an application of VIA to an actual project.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 1994

This study conducted a visual impact assessment of an apartment complex project proposed in Jungkye-dong, Seoul. Three design alternatives of the project-alternatives 1, 2, and 3-which differed in form, color, scale, and arrangement of buildings were simulated with computer image processing technique. The simulations were presented to the public who were mainly residents in the project area, and visual impact resulted from the alternatives was assessed by them. Their responses were then statistically analyzed. It was found that, in terms of compatibility with the surrounding landscape, alternative 1 was the most favourable because it was more traditional, natural, and diverse than alternatives 2 and 3. At the same time, the alternative was most preferred by the public because it was more plain, natural, and diverse than other alternatives. It was suggested that the visual impact assessment with public participation conducted in this study would help both planners and the public to make more intelligent decisions.