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ABSTRACT |
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TITLE: |
Roadside Vegetation Management on |
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AUTHOR(S): |
Philippe Poullaouec-Gonidec
- philippe.poullaouec-gonidec@umontreal.ca Gérald Domon Sylvain Paquette Christiane Montpetit |
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Inspired by ecological, economical,
landscape, and security concerns, the ministère
des Transports du Québec
recently initiated an alternative method to manage highway roadside
vegetation. This method uses differential mowing to allow natural
regeneration along three experimental corridors. As a part of an overall
monitoring program, this landscape monitoring research attempts: (1)
to characterize the landscapes generated by this new management in
order to assess the changing visual experience and the users’ perceptions;
(2) to evaluate the achievement of the project’s objectives (visual
diversity, integration, etc.), and, finally, (3) to provide recommendations
for improvement. This paper presents the original methodology developed
to attain these goals. First, key viewpoints are selected using a
two-step visual inventory. Using GIS, potential observation areas
are identified based on typical situations derived from the highway
layout, slope, viewshed and land use characteristics. These key viewpoints
are then precisely located from a systematic visual analysis. Second,
diverse mediums (panoramic photographs, videotapes) monitor the roadside
vegetation changes (2000-2002) affecting visual experience. In addition
to expert analysis, open-ended questions and in visu semantic scale tests produce a
qualitative evaluation of highway users’ attitudes. This evaluation
explores overall landscape experiences, how roadside vegetation characteristics
improve driving enjoyment and affect users’ preferences. Keywords:
Aesthetic, landscape monitoring,
Québec, roadside vegetation, user’s perception |
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