Visual Assesment & Scenic Amenity
Cardno Chenoweth is one of Queensland's leading consultancy practices specialising in the assessment and mapping of landscape values. Scenic quality, character, views and sensitivity, and their integration in land use planning and development assessment. Landscape quality is highly valued by residents and visitors, and plays a significant role in amenity, local identity ('sense of place') and tourism image. Through several major collaborative research and field trial studies, Cardno Chenoweth has developed methodologies to meet the needs of regional and local government planning, and also for project-specific visual impact assessment. We adapt and combine various landscape evaluation and GIS mapping techniques, separately or combined in database layers, for various purposes and scales. Our approaches can either be based on published data regarding public scenic preferences, or can incorporate community consultation and participation if required. With expertise also in evironmental and outdoor recreation assessment, we have the capabilities and experience to integrate scenic amenity evaluation with a range of other values associated with open space. Similarly, in relation to individual development projects, community concerns regarding impacts on landscape quality are often part of wider issues regarding nature conservation and open space values, view obstruction and building height. Cardno Chenoweth has expert capabilities to evaluate and integrate these 'green' issues, as well as viewshed analysis, urban design, heritage and streetscape issues, to focus on relevant impacts. Our expertise is frequently called upon in Planning & Environment Court Appeals, because visual and amenity impacts are increasingly the focus of disputes regarding development. Our expertise in scenic quality and landscape assessment contributes to our strong reputation in visual impact analysis of proposed developments, as part of environmental impact assessment or for expert testimony.
| Regional Assessment and Planning Regional open space 'frame', landscape and character types, viewsheds, scenic routes, lookouts and view corridors, landscape settings, contribution to regional identity, sensitivity and scenic amenity mapping.
Local Government
Landscape units and scenic amenity mapping; distinctive and characteristic features, city and shire image, rural and townscape character, integrated landscape protection/management priorities, overlay maps and codes, cultural associations, community consultation. Visual Impact Assessment
Viewshed and visibility analysis, local character, streetscape and built form impacts, effects on amenity (view obstruction, shadowing and overlooking), screening capacity of topography and vegetation, design of screening, buffers and other impact amelioration measures.
Highway and Powerline Corridors
Landscape classification and character mapping for route selection; viewshed analysis; impact assessment; sequential driver experience (existing and proposed), design of landscaped mounds, buffers and other impact amelioration measures; community consultation. Heritage Studies
Streetscape and character compatibility, visibility and visual impacts, complementing heritage evaluation.
|
