Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approach

Quantifying factors influencing landscape visual quality (LVQ) in urban near-natural plant communities (NNPCs) is essential for promoting the mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and revealing connections between human perception and natural environments. However, existing research often re...

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Main Authors: Dong Dong, Mingxin Chen, Xin Wen, Qing Li, Tieqiao Xiao, Fengquan Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25006132
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author Dong Dong
Mingxin Chen
Xin Wen
Qing Li
Tieqiao Xiao
Fengquan Ji
author_facet Dong Dong
Mingxin Chen
Xin Wen
Qing Li
Tieqiao Xiao
Fengquan Ji
author_sort Dong Dong
collection DOAJ
description Quantifying factors influencing landscape visual quality (LVQ) in urban near-natural plant communities (NNPCs) is essential for promoting the mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and revealing connections between human perception and natural environments. However, existing research often relies on complex formulations that hinder practical application of the models constructed. This study systematically evaluated the LVQ of plant communities across spatiotemporal scales by surveying 65 NNPCs in Hefei city, capturing landscape photographs covering four seasons from two viewpoints (interior and exterior landscapes), and employing the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method. The research identified 25 landscape characteristic indicators across four dimensions: structural, phenological, environmental, and morphological. Logistic regression was used for indicator analysis, while nomograms were employed to illustrate relationships between key factors and LVQ. Unlike other models, the nomogram visualization model intuitively displays the contribution weight of each indicator to LVQ, making complex statistical relationships easier to understand and apply. The study found that background clarity (OR interior “clear” = 5.53, OR exterior “clear” = 3.63), green view ratio (OR interior = 1.62, OR exterior = 2.23), and permeability (OR interior = 1.84, OR exterior = 1.70) had significant impacts across different seasons and spatial scales, while other factors exhibited obvious seasonal or spatial specificity. Some qualitative indicators showed higher influence levels when at “medium” states, indicating that maintaining reasonable indicator levels plays an important role in enhancing LVQ. The research results provide intuitive, quantifiable scientific evidence for urban designers and planners, helping to optimize plant configuration in urban green spaces and improve overall landscape quality. Meanwhile, this study has significant implications for promoting the application and evaluation of NNPC as NbS in human-dominated landscapes.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series Ecological Indicators
spelling doaj-art-c26fa9b1f6ae4bd49fde9b3079d6b3532025-08-20T03:21:38ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-07-0117611368310.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113683Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approachDong Dong0Mingxin Chen1Xin Wen2Qing Li3Tieqiao Xiao4Fengquan Ji5School of Architecture and Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Institute of Territory Spatial Planning and Ecology, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Institute of Territory Spatial Planning and Ecology, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Smart Countryside and Collaborative Governance, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Institute of Territory Spatial Planning and Ecology, Hefei 230601, China; Corresponding author at: No. 292 Ziyun Road, Shushan district, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, China.Quantifying factors influencing landscape visual quality (LVQ) in urban near-natural plant communities (NNPCs) is essential for promoting the mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and revealing connections between human perception and natural environments. However, existing research often relies on complex formulations that hinder practical application of the models constructed. This study systematically evaluated the LVQ of plant communities across spatiotemporal scales by surveying 65 NNPCs in Hefei city, capturing landscape photographs covering four seasons from two viewpoints (interior and exterior landscapes), and employing the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method. The research identified 25 landscape characteristic indicators across four dimensions: structural, phenological, environmental, and morphological. Logistic regression was used for indicator analysis, while nomograms were employed to illustrate relationships between key factors and LVQ. Unlike other models, the nomogram visualization model intuitively displays the contribution weight of each indicator to LVQ, making complex statistical relationships easier to understand and apply. The study found that background clarity (OR interior “clear” = 5.53, OR exterior “clear” = 3.63), green view ratio (OR interior = 1.62, OR exterior = 2.23), and permeability (OR interior = 1.84, OR exterior = 1.70) had significant impacts across different seasons and spatial scales, while other factors exhibited obvious seasonal or spatial specificity. Some qualitative indicators showed higher influence levels when at “medium” states, indicating that maintaining reasonable indicator levels plays an important role in enhancing LVQ. The research results provide intuitive, quantifiable scientific evidence for urban designers and planners, helping to optimize plant configuration in urban green spaces and improve overall landscape quality. Meanwhile, this study has significant implications for promoting the application and evaluation of NNPC as NbS in human-dominated landscapes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25006132Near-natural plant communityNomogramLandscape visual quality (LVQ)Urban green space arrangementNature-based solutions (NbS)
spellingShingle Dong Dong
Mingxin Chen
Xin Wen
Qing Li
Tieqiao Xiao
Fengquan Ji
Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approach
Ecological Indicators
Near-natural plant community
Nomogram
Landscape visual quality (LVQ)
Urban green space arrangement
Nature-based solutions (NbS)
title Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approach
title_full Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approach
title_fullStr Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approach
title_full_unstemmed Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approach
title_short Spatio-temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near-natural plant communities: A nomogram visualization approach
title_sort spatio temporal scale evaluation of landscape visual quality in urban near natural plant communities a nomogram visualization approach
topic Near-natural plant community
Nomogram
Landscape visual quality (LVQ)
Urban green space arrangement
Nature-based solutions (NbS)
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25006132
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AT mingxinchen spatiotemporalscaleevaluationoflandscapevisualqualityinurbannearnaturalplantcommunitiesanomogramvisualizationapproach
AT xinwen spatiotemporalscaleevaluationoflandscapevisualqualityinurbannearnaturalplantcommunitiesanomogramvisualizationapproach
AT qingli spatiotemporalscaleevaluationoflandscapevisualqualityinurbannearnaturalplantcommunitiesanomogramvisualizationapproach
AT tieqiaoxiao spatiotemporalscaleevaluationoflandscapevisualqualityinurbannearnaturalplantcommunitiesanomogramvisualizationapproach
AT fengquanji spatiotemporalscaleevaluationoflandscapevisualqualityinurbannearnaturalplantcommunitiesanomogramvisualizationapproach