Landscape visual preference research has indicated many potential indicators of preference; however a comprehensive framework concerning the relationship between visual preference and perception has not been solidified. Gestalt psychology, the predecessor to visual perception, proposes certain visual grouping tendencies to explain how humans perceive the world. This study examines if Gestalt grouping principles are reliable indicators of preference, and if they may be used to develop a broad context for visual assessment. Visual preference for 36 landscape scenes testing the proximity and similarity of landscape elements were ranked one through five by 1,749 Mississippi State University undergraduate, graduate, and faculty members in a web-based preference survey. Using a two-way between groups analysis of variance (ANOVA) to analyze responses, the results indicate that the proximal and similar configuration of landscape elements within a scene does significantly affect visual preference.

Local governments in Melbourne are rethinking the design of parks with the aim of increasing water efficiency. In changing park design to achieve this objective, community landscape aesthetic expectations need also to be considered if these changes are to be socially acceptable. Using a psychophysical approach of landscape assessment, this thesis examines the relationship between public perceptions of park environments in Melbourne and water consumption. The thesis first develops a perceptual classification of a sample of landscapes found in Melbourne’s urban park system. Secondly, it investigates the meanings, perceptions and aesthetic and general preferences the public associate with these park landscapes. Thirdly, it estimates the relative water-use of landscape plantings associated with these park landscapes. Finally, it develops a systematic approach to balancing the public aesthetic expectations and water-use in urban parks. (For complete abstract open document)