APPENDIX B ANALYSIS OF INVENTORY DATA DURING PILOT PROJECT
B.1 Landscape Analysis Methods [Back to TOC]
In order to provide useful information regarding scenic quality in a form which would be widely understandable by non-specialists, a straightforward and uncomplicated approach to modelling scenic quality was followed. This approach, which has its foundations in the 1:250,000 scale regional tourism resource inventories, was developed by government staff in consultation with landscape management experts and with the people of the area. The approach relied on a computer-based geographic information system [GIS] to provide impartial, unbiased evaluations of scenic quality, building on information gathered from the widest possible range of government and non-government information sources, including the specially-commissioned Clayoquot Sound Landscape Inventory. Scenic quality modelling results were subsequently combined with use data to produce landscape management zones [see diagram of mapping and analysis process.] As well, the GIS was used to prioritize areas for rehabilitation, and to refine the boundaries of the scenic corridors.
Modelling scenic quality involved working through a model,
a computer-based representation of reality, which built step-by-step to develop its
conclusions. The underlying assumptions about which factors create or detract from scenic
value are derived from landscape preference literature
In simple terms, the model first determined the contribution the land’s form makes to scenic quality. Then a factor was added corresponding to specific features identified in the landscape inventory as providing scenic highlights. The result was the model’s measure of inherent scenic quality. Next, by subtracting from inherent scenic quality according to the amount of alteration human activity has had on the landscape, the model suggested the current scenic quality.
This modelling can be summarized by the following equations:
Slope + Terrain Height + Topographic Variety
Landform + Scenic Features
Inherent Scenic Quality - Alteration
B.1.1 Landform Prominence and Variety
This variable suggests how the form of the land contributes to scenic quality. It is generated by ranking each of the three indicators of prominence—slope, terrain height and topographic variety—into High, Medium and Low classes. We then put the values for those three factors together (each has equal value) to get a High, Medium or Low value for Landform Prominence/Variety.
Slope– the angle of the land; how steep is the surface, and therefore how strongly is it presented to the viewer?
Terrain Height– the increase in elevation from the bottom to the top of the landscape unit; how much does the unit ‘stick up’ into the observer’s view?
Topographic Variety– the ‘roughness’ or ‘smoothness’ of the land surface, in both the vertical and horizontal planes (up-down and side-to-side); how complicated is the land surface presented to the observer?
B.1.2 Scenic Features
For each landscape unit, points are added corresponding to each type of scenic feature or distinctive shoreline feature recorded during the Clayoquot Sound Landscape Inventory. The emphasis is unabashedly biased toward coastal areas—the land/water interface where visual excitement is broadly agreed to be at its highest, and which is the focus of the Scenic Corridors.
Features are broken into classes by the following criteria:
By this measure, any feature important enough to rate 3 feature points is enough to put the landscape unit into the ‘high’ features class.
B.1.3 Inherent Scenic Quality
This layer seeks to map what the quality of the scenery would be if there had been no human interference/activity. ‘Old-growth’ forest is assumed to be ubiquitous—covering the entire landscape—and is therefore not specifically added as a feature (in the next step, human modification of the forest cover will ‘take away’ from this inherent quality).
Inherent quality is compiled by the relationship between the Landform Prominence/Variety data and the Scenic Features data [see matrix]. In English, this means if either form or features is high, inherent is High. If both are low, inherent is low. In between, values are moderate.
Inherent Scenic Quality Matrix
B.1.4 Degree of Alteration
Human activity causes obvious changes in landscape quality, and this layer shows how much our activities have impacted the landscape. All types of human activity are included here, from forestry and aquaculture to tourism developments, park developments and settlement areas. No judgments are made as to the relative merits of the various types of alteration.
B.1.5 Current Scenic Quality
This map indicates what the actual quality of the scenery is based on the landform prominence/ variety, the scenic features and the level of alteration.
The model uses Inherent Quality as the ‘base case’ and then subtracts from those standards according to the level of alteration. The more alteration, the greater the ‘knock’ on the current scenic quality. Low, however, can’t go ‘below’ low [see matrix]. Where the alteration value is natural appearing/unaltered, the original inherent quality value will hold true.
Current Scenic Quality Matrix
B.2 Sectoral Scenic Use Mapping
Once the current and inherent scenic quality had been determined, the process required information on where human activities were taking place in the landscape, what kinds of activities were occurring, and some indication of the level of use which is taking place.
Guided by the advisory group and drawing upon community sources, staff collected information concerning which areas of the landscape were important to each sector. Each sector’s input was collected on 1:20,000 base maps, then transferred to digital files. Maps were produced to indicate which areas each sector currently uses, which areas are considered to have potential for future activity by that sector, and which areas serve as travel corridors.
With no comprehensive traffic surveys available, it was not possible to map the actual levels of use of the landscape. Parks Canada and BC Parks data suggest a huge number of visitors to Long Beach (estimates range up to 900,000 annually) and a steady procession of visitors to Hot Springs Cove, but no other reliable level of use information could be obtained. As a result, the planners decided to focus on attempting to map those use areas where scenic quality was a factor.
Each sector contributed to the creation of a generalized composite map of primary and secondary use areas. Prepared by the manual overlaying of the sectoral use maps, this composite indicated, in broad-brush terms, the areas where scenic quality is most important to the user groups.
B.3 Generating Landscape Management Zones
The Landscape Management Zones were developed using a combination of composite use and scenic quality. Following a simple matrix, initial zoning designations were suggested. These were reviewed by SCAG and SCIPT, and modified to ensure consistency as required.
The accompanying decision matrix was used to generate the initial Landscape Management Zones.
HTML Created: May 97
Copyright © 1997 Province of British Columbia
Published by the Resources Inventory Committee