The overall objective of this study was to determine if remotely sensed data could be used to model scenic beauty. Terrestrial digital images from within forest stands located in Prince Edward Gallion State Forest near Farmville, Virginia were rated for their scenic beauty by a group of students to obtain scenic beauty estimates (SBEs). Since the inter-rater reliability was low for the SBEs, they were not used in the modeling efforts. Instead, stand parameters (collected on tenth acre plots) that have been used in scenic beauty prediction models, like mean diameter at breast height (dbh), were the dependent variables in regression analyses. A color-infrared aerial photograph from the National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) was scanned to achieve a pixel ground resolution of one meter. The digital aerial photograph was rectified and used as the remotely sensed data. Since the aerial photograph was taken in April, only conifer stands were used in the analyses. Summary statistics were obtained from a 23 by 23 window around plot locations in three images: the original image, a texture image created with the variance algorithm and a 7x7 window, and the first principal component image. The summary statistics were used as the independent variables in regression analyses. The mean texture digital number for the green band predicted the mean dbh of a plot with an R2 of 0.623. A maximum of 44.3 and 27.4 percent of the variability in trees per acre and basal area per acre, respectively, was explained by the models developed in this study. It seems unlikely that the remotely sensed forest stand variables would perform well as surrogates for field measurements used in scenic quality models. / Master of Science

The thesis deals with the influence of telecommunication transmitters on the aesthetic value of landscape. It uses both environmental and sociological approach. Subject of investigation is the relationship between the aesthetic stimulus (landscape) and the recipient (man). For the analysis, Scenic Beauty Estimation Method is used as a psychological procedure which measures aesthetic preferences and allows adequately assess how society perceives the presence of various types of telecommunication transmitters in the landscape, including the so-called camouflage. Analysis also includes a comparison of affected and unaffected groups. The aim of the thesis is to assess whether the perception of the presence of telecommunication transmitters in the landscape is negative. The thesis deals with hypothesis that "camouflages" reduce the negative perception of telecommunication transmitters in the landscape.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) is developing software systems to evaluate forest resources with respect to qualities such as scenic beauty and vegetation structure. Such evaluations usually involve a large amount of human labor. In this thesis, I will discuss the design and implementation of a digital image segmentation system, and how to apply it to analyze forest images so that automated forest resource evaluation can be achieved. The first major contribution of the thesis is the evaluation of various feature design schemes for segmenting forest images. The other major contribution of this thesis is the development of a pattern recognition-based image segmentation algorithm. The best system performance was a 61.4% block classification error rate, achieved by combining color histograms with entropy. This performance is better than that obtained by an ?intelligent? guess based on prior knowledge about the categories under study, which is 68.0%.

Cette thèse analyse les significations et l'importance de la beauté des paysages, identifie et analyse les critères de la qualité scénique des paysages, de l'enquête à l'origine de la protection des paysages dans les lois nationales et internationales et construit un outil méthodologique et une carte pour identifier la beauté des paysages du biome Pampa dans l'état de Rio Grande do Sul (Brésil). La base théorique et méthodologique a été élaboré à partir de la littérature (dans les livres, articles de revues, des monographies et des thèses) et législation national et international). Cette recherche a été mis en oeuvre au Brésil et en France, au cours de doctorat sandwich. Les procédures méthodologiques et opérationnels constituaient une orientation perceptive qualitative, exploratoire, descriptive et analytique, tenue par des entretiens semi-structurés. L'enquête a été menée avec une approche de spécialistes qui étudient et travaillent dans la zone d'étude, le biome Pampa, et exposent leurs connaissances scientifiques et également leur subjectivité. Les résultats ont montré que la qualité scénique du paysage peut être analysé à la fois objectivement et subjectivement. Environ 200 transporteurs paysages d'une beauté pittoresque et il est donc nécessaire de leur protection pour son esthétique et son importance écologique, contribuant ainsi à l'héritage naturel et culturel de l'État et la protection sociale ont été identifiés. / Esta tese analisa os significados e a importância da beleza cênica, identifica e analisa os critérios da qualidade cênica das paisagens, investiga a origem da proteção das paisagens nas legislações nacional e internacionais e constrói um instrumento metodológico e um mapa para identificar as belezas cênicas do bioma Pampa, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). O embasamento teórico e metodológico foi desenvolvido a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica (livros, artigos científicos, monografias, dissertações e teses) e legislação nacional e internacional. Essa busca foi concretizada no Brasil e na França, durante a realização do doutorado-sanduíche. Os procedimentos metodológicos e operacionais constituíram-se numa pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, com orientação analítico-descritiva e perceptiva, realizada mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas. A pesquisa foi feita com uma abordagem a especialistas que estudam e trabalham na área de estudo, o bioma Pampa, e que expusessem seu conhecimento científico e também a sua subjetividade. Os resultados evidenciam que a qualidade cênica da paisagem pode ser analisada tanto de maneira objetiva quanto subjetiva. Foram identificadas cerca de 200 paisagens portadoras de beleza cênica e, portanto, se faz necessário a sua proteção pela sua estética e pelo seu significado ecológico, contribuindo assim para o patrimônio natural e cultural do Estado e o bem-estar social. / This thesis analyzes the meanings and importance of the scenic beauty, identifies and analyzes the criteria of the scenic quality of landscapes, investigates the origin of the protection of landscapes in national and international legislations and develops a methodological tool and a map to identify the scenic beauty of the Pampa biome in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The theoretical and methodological basis was developed from bibliographical (research in books, journal articles, monographs, dissertations and theses) and national and international legislation. This search was completed in Brazil and France, during the conduct of a sandwich doctorate. The methodological and operational procedures were constituted by a qualitative research with an exploratory character and descriptive-analytic and perceptive orientation, made by semi structured interviews. The survey was conducted with an approach to specialists who study and work in the study area, the Pampa biome, and that would expose their scientific knowledge and also their subjectivity. The results evidence that the scenic quality of the landscape can be analyzed both objectively as well as subjectively. About 200 landscapes that possessed scenic beauty were identified and, therefore, their protection is necessary for their aesthetic and ecological significance, thus contributing to the natural and cultural heritage of the state and, also, social welfare.

The importance of Brazilian landscapes and the destruction problem are already known. Despite, the worry expressed by the population with the landscapes destination is normally emotional and subjective. The manifestations over the gardening beauty don t help to elaborate and to choose management alternatives. More objective concepts are necessary. But, the world worry about valuable landscapes disappearance resulted in new techniques for the gardening resources development. In these techniques, principles well worked before are used in gardening and gardening architecture. For the first time, we are trying to quantify and compare the landscape variables. The National Forest of São Francisco de Paula (FLONA), belonging to Brazilian Government and under responsibility of Environment Brazilian Institute (IBAMA), is located in Rincão dos Kröeff district, São Francisco de Paula county, RS. It takes part from the micro-region Campos de Cima da Serra, in the border of Planalto, transition zone between Floresta Ombrófila Densa and Floresta Ombrófila Mista (Forest with Araucaria), one of the 11 (eleven) physiographic micro-region from Rio Grande do Sul state. FLONA is located between the geographic coordinates 29° 23 and 29° 28 of south latitude and 50° 23 and 50° 25 of west longitude, in Serra Gaúcha, north-east region from the state, at an average altitude of 930 m. The study had as objective to identify and quantify the physical environment and human activities characteristics that compose each visual unit; to interpret and value the vivacity measure from each visual element in its unit; to analyze the visual sequence of these dynamic effect of these units and plan the landscapes dynamic to ecotourism at FLONA. As sample unit, it was used a hexagon, with 200 m of ray, distributed in a hexagonal mesh, elaborated through Campeiro 1.0. Program. This mesh with 158 hexagons was overlapped over the land use card, building maps and land marks, insulation map and altimetric map, obtained from the visual interpretation and digitalization in screen image from Sensor Ikronos II, with multi-spectral composition and 4m. resolution, using IDRISI 32 Program. The hexagons were evaluated at laboratory and at the field, through 22 variables, with a scale from 1 to 5. The result generated a data matrix, used in SPSS Program, where Cluster and Discriminant analyzes were done to determine the hexagons groups to form landscapes. Through hexagons valuation the vivacity of each one was also determined. As result, 5 landscapes called Araucaria, native, hillside, transition and exotic were obtained. The native landscape showed 100% from its hexagons in a high level of vivacity, characterizing as the most pictorial from FLONA. Five scenic routs or roads were determined to ecotourism, scientific tourism or environment education use. It is possible to conclude that the variables which impacted the subjectivity and perception were the ones that most influenced due to valoration. The vivacity is located (gardening and scenic potential) in the valley of Rolante river region, basically concentrated in Native and hillside landscape and to visualize the pictorial elements, the visitors should visit the area from 11 a.m. to 1 p. m, using Route 5. / A importância das paisagens brasileiras e o problema de sua destruição já são reconhecidos. Apesar disso, a preocupação com o destino das paisagens é normalmente expressa pela população em termos emocionais e subjetivos. As manifestações sobre a beleza paisagística pouco ajudam na elaboração e escolha de alternativas de manejo. São necessários conceitos mais objetivos. Porém, a preocupação mundial com o desaparecimento das paisagens valiosas resultou no desenvolvimento de novas técnicas para o manejo objetivo dos recursos paisagísticos. Nos mesmos, utilizam-se princípios já largamente trabalhados nas áreas do paisagismo e arquitetura paisagística. Mas procura-se, pela primeira vez, quantificar e comparar objetivamente as variáveis de paisagens em grande escala. A Floresta Nacional (FLONA) de São Francisco de Paula, pertencente a União e sob responsabilidade do Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente (IBAMA), está localizada no Distrito de Rincão dos Kröeff, município de São Francisco de Paula, RS. Faz parte da micro-região Campos de Cima da Serra, na borda do Planalto, zona de transição entre Floresta Ombrófila Densa e Floresta Ombrófila Mista (Floresta com Araucária), uma das 11 (onze) micro-regiões fisiográficas do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A FLONA de São Francisco de Paula,RS, está localizada entre as coordenadas geográficas 29° 23 e 29° 28 de latitude sul e 50° 23 e 50° 25 de longitude oeste, na Serra Gaúcha, região Nordeste do Estado, a uma altitude média de 930 m. O trabalho teve como objetivos identificar e quantificar as características do meio físico e atividades humanas que compõem cada unidade visual; interpretar e valorar a medida de vivacidade de cada elemento visual em sua unidade; analisar o efeito dinâmico da seqüência visual destas unidades e planificar a dinâmica das paisagens para fins de ecoturismo na FLONA de São Francisco de Paula, RS. Foi utilizado como unidade amostral o hexágono, com raio de 200m., distribuídos na forma de uma malha hexagonal, elaborada pelo Programa Campeiro 1.0. Esta malha com 158 hexágonos, foi sobreposta sobre a carta de uso da terra, do mapa de construções e land marks, mapa de insolação e mapa altimétrico da FLONA de São Francisco de Paula,RS., obtidos a partir da interpretação visual e digitalização em tela de imagem proveniente do Sensor Ikonos II, com composição multiespectral e resolução de 4 m., empregando o Programa IDRISI 32. Os hexágonos foram avaliados tanto à nível de laboratório como à campo , através de 22 variáveis, com escala de valoração de 1 a 5. O resultado gerou uma matriz de dados, utilizada no Programa SPSS, onde se fez uso da Análise de Cluster e Discriminante para determinar os agrupamentos dos hexágonos para formar as paisagens. Através da valoração dos hexágonos também se determinou a vivacidade de cada um. Como resultado obteve-se cinco paisagens denominadas de Araucária, Nativa, de Encosta, de Transição e Exótica. A Paisagem Nativa apresentou 100% dos seus hexágonos na categoria de vivacidade muito alta, caracterizando-se como a mais pictórica da FLONA de São Francisco de Paula,RS. Determinou-se também cinco rotas ou estradas cênicas para fins de ecoturismo, turismo científico ou para fins de educação ambiental. Conclui-se que as variáveis que mais impactaram a subjetividade e percepção do observador foram aquelas que mais influenciaram em termos de valoração. A vivacidade está localizada em termos de potencial paisagístico e cênico na região do vale do rio Rolante, concentrando-se basicamente na Paisagem Nativa e de Encosta e que para visualização dos elementos pictóricos, os visitantes deverão percorrer a área no horário de 11 hs. até as 13 hs, utilizando a Rota 5.

Cette thèse analyse les significations et l'importance de la beauté des paysages, identifie et analyse les critères de la qualité scénique des paysages, de l'enquête à l'origine de la protection des paysages dans les lois nationales et internationales et construit un outil méthodologique et une carte pour identifier la beauté des paysages du biome Pampa dans l'état de Rio Grande do Sul (Brésil). La base théorique et méthodologique a été élaboré à partir de la littérature (dans les livres, articles de revues, des monographies et des thèses) et législation national et international). Cette recherche a été mis en oeuvre au Brésil et en France, au cours de doctorat sandwich. Les procédures méthodologiques et opérationnels constituaient une orientation perceptive qualitative, exploratoire, descriptive et analytique, tenue par des entretiens semi-structurés. L'enquête a été menée avec une approche de spécialistes qui étudient et travaillent dans la zone d'étude, le biome Pampa, et exposent leurs connaissances scientifiques et également leur subjectivité. Les résultats ont montré que la qualité scénique du paysage peut être analysé à la fois objectivement et subjectivement. Environ 200 transporteurs paysages d'une beauté pittoresque et il est donc nécessaire de leur protection pour son esthétique et son importance écologique, contribuant ainsi à l'héritage naturel et culturel de l'État et la protection sociale ont été identifiés. / Esta tese analisa os significados e a importância da beleza cênica, identifica e analisa os critérios da qualidade cênica das paisagens, investiga a origem da proteção das paisagens nas legislações nacional e internacionais e constrói um instrumento metodológico e um mapa para identificar as belezas cênicas do bioma Pampa, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). O embasamento teórico e metodológico foi desenvolvido a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica (livros, artigos científicos, monografias, dissertações e teses) e legislação nacional e internacional. Essa busca foi concretizada no Brasil e na França, durante a realização do doutorado-sanduíche. Os procedimentos metodológicos e operacionais constituíram-se numa pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, com orientação analítico-descritiva e perceptiva, realizada mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas. A pesquisa foi feita com uma abordagem a especialistas que estudam e trabalham na área de estudo, o bioma Pampa, e que expusessem seu conhecimento científico e também a sua subjetividade. Os resultados evidenciam que a qualidade cênica da paisagem pode ser analisada tanto de maneira objetiva quanto subjetiva. Foram identificadas cerca de 200 paisagens portadoras de beleza cênica e, portanto, se faz necessário a sua proteção pela sua estética e pelo seu significado ecológico, contribuindo assim para o patrimônio natural e cultural do Estado e o bem-estar social. / This thesis analyzes the meanings and importance of the scenic beauty, identifies and analyzes the criteria of the scenic quality of landscapes, investigates the origin of the protection of landscapes in national and international legislations and develops a methodological tool and a map to identify the scenic beauty of the Pampa biome in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The theoretical and methodological basis was developed from bibliographical (research in books, journal articles, monographs, dissertations and theses) and national and international legislation. This search was completed in Brazil and France, during the conduct of a sandwich doctorate. The methodological and operational procedures were constituted by a qualitative research with an exploratory character and descriptive-analytic and perceptive orientation, made by semi structured interviews. The survey was conducted with an approach to specialists who study and work in the study area, the Pampa biome, and that would expose their scientific knowledge and also their subjectivity. The results evidence that the scenic quality of the landscape can be analyzed both objectively as well as subjectively. About 200 landscapes that possessed scenic beauty were identified and, therefore, their protection is necessary for their aesthetic and ecological significance, thus contributing to the natural and cultural heritage of the state and, also, social welfare.

Cette thèse analyse les significations et l'importance de la beauté des paysages, identifie et analyse les critères de la qualité scénique des paysages, de l'enquête à l'origine de la protection des paysages dans les lois nationales et internationales et construit un outil méthodologique et une carte pour identifier la beauté des paysages du biome Pampa dans l'état de Rio Grande do Sul (Brésil). La base théorique et méthodologique a été élaboré à partir de la littérature (dans les livres, articles de revues, des monographies et des thèses) et législation national et international). Cette recherche a été mis en oeuvre au Brésil et en France, au cours de doctorat sandwich. Les procédures méthodologiques et opérationnels constituaient une orientation perceptive qualitative, exploratoire, descriptive et analytique, tenue par des entretiens semi-structurés. L'enquête a été menée avec une approche de spécialistes qui étudient et travaillent dans la zone d'étude, le biome Pampa, et exposent leurs connaissances scientifiques et également leur subjectivité. Les résultats ont montré que la qualité scénique du paysage peut être analysé à la fois objectivement et subjectivement. Environ 200 transporteurs paysages d'une beauté pittoresque et il est donc nécessaire de leur protection pour son esthétique et son importance écologique, contribuant ainsi à l'héritage naturel et culturel de l'État et la protection sociale ont été identifiés. / Esta tese analisa os significados e a importância da beleza cênica, identifica e analisa os critérios da qualidade cênica das paisagens, investiga a origem da proteção das paisagens nas legislações nacional e internacionais e constrói um instrumento metodológico e um mapa para identificar as belezas cênicas do bioma Pampa, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). O embasamento teórico e metodológico foi desenvolvido a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica (livros, artigos científicos, monografias, dissertações e teses) e legislação nacional e internacional. Essa busca foi concretizada no Brasil e na França, durante a realização do doutorado-sanduíche. Os procedimentos metodológicos e operacionais constituíram-se numa pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, com orientação analítico-descritiva e perceptiva, realizada mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas. A pesquisa foi feita com uma abordagem a especialistas que estudam e trabalham na área de estudo, o bioma Pampa, e que expusessem seu conhecimento científico e também a sua subjetividade. Os resultados evidenciam que a qualidade cênica da paisagem pode ser analisada tanto de maneira objetiva quanto subjetiva. Foram identificadas cerca de 200 paisagens portadoras de beleza cênica e, portanto, se faz necessário a sua proteção pela sua estética e pelo seu significado ecológico, contribuindo assim para o patrimônio natural e cultural do Estado e o bem-estar social. / This thesis analyzes the meanings and importance of the scenic beauty, identifies and analyzes the criteria of the scenic quality of landscapes, investigates the origin of the protection of landscapes in national and international legislations and develops a methodological tool and a map to identify the scenic beauty of the Pampa biome in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The theoretical and methodological basis was developed from bibliographical (research in books, journal articles, monographs, dissertations and theses) and national and international legislation. This search was completed in Brazil and France, during the conduct of a sandwich doctorate. The methodological and operational procedures were constituted by a qualitative research with an exploratory character and descriptive-analytic and perceptive orientation, made by semi structured interviews. The survey was conducted with an approach to specialists who study and work in the study area, the Pampa biome, and that would expose their scientific knowledge and also their subjectivity. The results evidence that the scenic quality of the landscape can be analyzed both objectively as well as subjectively. About 200 landscapes that possessed scenic beauty were identified and, therefore, their protection is necessary for their aesthetic and ecological significance, thus contributing to the natural and cultural heritage of the state and, also, social welfare.

This thesis deals with problems of biological and cultural determinants influencing perception of beauty. It attempts to find out if there is a common biological basis of perception of beauty or if beauty represents merely a sociocultural construct - product of a specific culture. With respect to biological determinants it concerns biological processes significantly influencing perception of beauty. In this context, these processes include probably innate evolutionary adaptations, effects of brain cognitive systems and neural correlates processing perceptions of beautiful objects. In connection with cultural determinants it presents studies emphasizing cross-cultural differences in perception of beauty. Further subject of the thesis is an aesthetic conception of subjective and objective beauty and related concept of beauty based on mathematical relations. In this connection, the creation of universally beautiful objects based on fixed mathematical rules as well as the possibility of exact measurement of beauty are discussed.