Perspectives/Visions/Actions in Landscape Decision-Making

Sheehan, Michele

Brief Description: A Dissertation on a study analyzing a process of communication concerning landscapes. This study was done to better understand how the participants view changes in the landscape as well as how they communicate their often conflicting interests. Full Description: The Perspectives/Visions/Actions framework is designed to facilitate deeper understanding of issues and broader inclusion of publics in landscape decision-making conversations. A parallel analysis of landscape and policy theory was used to construct the framework. Common terminology and visual expression of spatial/temporal aspects of landscape are viewed through the interactive segments of Perspectives, Visions, and Actions. Perspectives described through landscape/human relationships and intuitive images of landscape provide insight into various viewpoints. Visions, visual landscape features described in landscape ecology terminology, provide a base for development of potential scenarios. Actions, Tools and Rules, relate viewpoints and scenarios to a range of choices for implementing change. Document content analysis, open-ended interviews, and systematic establishment of a transect baseline from aerial photographs were used to historically analyze three shoreline landscapes (Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Cape Cod and Point Reyes National Seashores) through framework language and schematic. Landscape information, viewpoints, and choices within the case study landscapes were uniquely illustrated. Perspectives groupings of intuitive images indicated overlapping viewpoints and set an inclusive base for landscape information types. Visions landscape ecology language used both to construct the schematic and to translate information into common expressions provided a base for issue discussion. Actions tools and rules data provided a examples of implementation choices which related to the Perspectives and Visions.