Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The visual landscape is a resource that should be managed sustainably. Sufficient tools for the effective management of visual landscapes are still lacking. Existing visualization software (including 3D Analyst) could be utilized as an aid in visual landscape management, but as such it lacks quantification functionalities. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) could effectively be used in the quantification of visual landscapes. The composition, value and experience of visual landscapes are complex and interrelated. Visual landscapes should be divided into physical and cognitive elements for management purposes. In the quantification of visual landscapes, the physical elements are effectively handled within a GIS. Insufficient research though, hampers the quantification of the visual landscape in terms of cognitive elements. Arc View GIS, including the 3D Analyst Extension, can be extended to quantify visual landscapes. Arc View's integrated development language, Avenue, was used to develop a new technique, namely The Visual Landscape Quantifier (VLQ). The VLQ-technique is an application based on a virtual landscape where a user can select observation and target locations. These locations are used to quantify the visual landscape in a chosen direction. Results are expressed as the percentage (%) of the visible land use in the selected visual landscape. The user can choose whether the results should be displayed as a list or as a graph. Wanted and unwanted elements in the landscape could be identified, aiding the management and planning of landscapes. Keywords: Visual landscape, landscape, Visual Landscape Quantifier, visualization, Arc View GIS, Avenue, Object Oriented Programming, 3D Analyst. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die visuele landskap is 'n hulpbron wat volhoubaar bestuur moet word, maar ongelukkig bestaan daar mm instrumente om dit effektief te bestuur. Bestaande visualiseringsprogrammatuur (insluitend Arc View 3D Analyst) kan as hulpmiddel dien in die bestuur van visuele landskappe, maar dit ontbreek kwantifiseringsfunksionaliteite. Geografiese Inligtingstelsels (GIS) kan effektief aangewend word in die kwantifisering van visuele landskappe. Die samestelling, waarde en hoe visuele landskappe ervaar word, is kompleks en interverwant. Om visuele landskappe meetbaar te maak, moet dit in fisiese en kognitiewe elemente opgebreek word. GIS hanteer die fisiese elemente van visuele landskappe effektief en gevolglik is die kwantifisering daarvan (in GIS) wel moontlik. Onvoldoende navorsing maak die kwantifisering van visuele landskappe, in terme van kognitiewe elemente, egter moeilik. ArcView GIS, insluitend die 3D Analyst-uitbreiding, kan aangepas word om visuele landskappe te kwantifiseer. 'n Nuwe tegniek, die Visual Landscape Quantifier (VLQ), is met ArcView se geïntegreerde programmeertaal, Avenue, ontwikkel. Die VLQ-tegniek berus op 'n virtuele landskap waarbinne die gebruiker toegelaat word om waarnemers- en teikenliggings te selekteer. As toepassing word die visuele landskap in die gekose rigting in terme van die persentasie (%) van sigbare grondgebruik in die geselekteerde landskap gekwantifiseer. Die gebruiker kan kies of die resultaat as 'n lys of as 'n grafiek voorgestel moet word. Moontlike gewenste of ongewenste elemente in die visuele landskap kan gevolglik geïdentifiseer word en so die bestuurs- en beplanningstaak ondersteun. Sleutelwoorde: Visuele landskap, landskap, Visual Landscape Quantifier, visualisering, ArcView GIS, Avenue, 3D Analyst, Object Oriented Programmering.