Psychophysical Models: An Example with Scenic Beauty Perceptions of Roadside Pine Forests

Abstract

Relationships among environmental characteristics and scenic beauty perceptions/judgments can be assessed through application of psychophysical modeling methods. Interpreting psychophysical relationships helps establish model validity, identifies testable hypotheses, and generates information useful to future model development, theory building, and design efforts. The paper discusses the psychophysical modeling approach in detail, and presents scenic beauty models that were developed for roadside views of pine forests in the southeastern United States. The results indicate that great potential for scenic beauty management exists in this region. There is an optimal stand density (number and size of trees) for scenic beauty which is dependent upon tree age. As one would expect, older stands are generally more scenic and can “support” more stand density without harming scenic quality perceptions. Interactions among tree age, number of trees per acre, tree diameter, and variability in tree diameter were also found.