Visual characteristics of environments influence human perception and behavior, including choices for living, recreation and modes of transportation. Although geospatial visualizations hold great potential to better inform urban planning and design, computational methods are lacking to realistically measure and model urban and parkland viewscapes at sufficiently fine-scale resolution. In this study, we develop and evaluate an integrative approach to measuring and modeling fine-scale viewscape characteristics of a mixed-use urban environment, a city park.

Our viewscape approach improves the integration of geospatial and perception elicitation techniques by combining high-resolution lidar-based digital surface models, visual obstruction, and photorealistic immersive virtual environments (IVEs). We assessed the realism of our viewscape models by comparing metrics of viewscape composition and configuration to human subject evaluations of IVEs across multiple landscape settings.

We found significant correlations between viewscape metrics and participants’ perceptions of viewscape openness and naturalness, and moderately strong correlations with landscape complexity. These results suggest that lidar-enhanced viewscape models can adequately represent visual characteristics of fine-scale urban environments. Findings also indicate the existence of relationships between human perception and landscape pattern.

This book provides an overview of the latest developments in the fast-growing field of tangible user interfaces. It presents a new type of modeling environment where users interact with geospatial data and simulations using a 3D physical landscape model coupled with a 3D rendering engine. Multiple users can modify the physical model while it is being scanned, providing input for geospatial analysis and simulations. The results are then visualized by projecting images or animations back on the physical model while photorealistic renderings of human views are displayed on a computer screen or in a virtual reality headset.

This second edition introduces a new, more powerful version of the tangible modeling environment with multiple types of interaction, including polymeric sand molding, placement of markers, and delineation of areas using colored felt patches. Chapters on coupling tangible interaction with a 3D rendering engine and immersive virtual environment, and a case study integrating the tools presented throughout this book, demonstrate the second generation of the system - Immersive Tangible Landscape - that enhances the modeling and design process through interactive rendering of modeled landscape

Landscapes offer more than just beautiful views—they provide mental and physical benefits like relaxation and inspiration. With mobile technology and the web, people share experiences about these special places, like photos and comments, creating a rich source of information.

We developed a new way to understand and map what people value in landscapes. By analyzing social media data linked to specific locations, using advanced technology like LiDAR, we can learn about what outdoor enthusiasts like to see.

Our findings reveal that people appreciate not only natural features but also historical sites and attractions. Photos shared over time show how people enjoy different sensory aspects, like wildlife and weather. This method helps evaluate the cultural and emotional value of landscapes beyond just their appearance.

We've developed Tangible Landscape—a blend of virtual reality and physical interaction—to enable collaborative design among experts and the public. This innovative tool swiftly creates 3D models, integrating real-world elements with advanced graphics and detailed analysis.By linking physical models to computer systems, professionals and even non-experts can experiment with various designs. For instance, a landscape architect and geoscientist successfully used Tangible Landscape to design landforms and trails for an urban site, exploring different options in real-time.This technology not only facilitates collaboration but also helps balance environmental and experiential factors, shaping how we perceive and create spaces. Tangible Landscape holds the promise of transforming design practices, making them more inclusive and boundary-breaking.

This paper introduces innovative methods for teaching topography and evaluating 3D spatial learning through tangibles. Leveraging Tangible Landscape, a tangible interface for geospatial modeling, we conducted hands-on lessons on grading, geomorphology, and hydrology. Our study involved assessing students’ perceptions of system usability and user experience, as well as evaluating their knowledge acquisition and transfer.Our findings highlight that the tangible nature of the objects facilitated effective interaction among participants, positively influencing both the system's usability ratings and the building of task-specific knowledge. These outcomes hold significant promise for advancing the design and implementation of tangible teaching approaches across domains like geography, design, architecture, and engineering.