Utilisation of computer visualisation in the study of public preference and urban greenspace

We report results from a project that combined the visualisation of open public greenspace with environmental economics. As part of a methodology using contingent rating which aimed to establish the values placed on specific greenspace sites, three dimensional computer models were used to produce visualisations of particular environmental conditions. Of particular importance to the study was the influence of variables including lighting, season, time of day and weather on the perception of respondents. This study followed previous work which established a suitable approach to the modelling and testing of entirely moveable physical variables within the built environment. As such, the study has further established that visualisation is appropriate within environmental economic surveys, and that there is potential for a holistic range of attributes to be included in such studies.