ASSESSING VISUAL QUALITY CHANGE 25 YEARS AFTER POST-MINING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA

摘要

Reclamation specialists are interested in scientifically based tools to assist in the evaluation of the post-mining surface mining environment. In this investigation, we compared twenty photographic pairs taken 25 years apart (1980 to 2005) to assess the changes in visual quality on a sand and gravel post-mining site developed for housing. To compare the photographs, we employed an equation that explains 67 percent of respondent preference, with an overall p-value for the equation < = 0.0001 and a p-value < 0.05 for each regressor. Difference in scores of about 10 points indicates a perceived and detectable difference in visual quality. Regressors employed in the equation include an environmental quality index (which includes economic, cultural, and ecological predictors), plus other more typical physical landscape regressors. We used the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test to statistically compare differences between the two sets of photographs. Since 2.71 was larger than 1.96, we rejected the null hypothesis and accepted the hypothesis that the two photographic pairs were statistically different, (p<0.05). The photographic set from 2005 was measurably more aesthetically pleasing than the 1980 photographic set. The mean score for the 2005 photographic set was 6 points more pleasing than the set from 1980. This change in mean score meant that although the site was numerically more pleasing after 25 years, visitors to the site may not be able to perceive the difference in aesthetic quality.