Visual Impact Assessment Guidebook

Table of Contents

Appendix 2

Visual Impact Assessment Summary Form

(To be completed for each individual cutblock or road proposed)

Licensee Name:_____________________________
Licence Number:_______________________________
CP# or RP#:_______________________________
Block No.:____________________________________
Proposed Year of Harvest:_____________________
Proposed Silviculture System:_____________________
Type of Proposed Operation:___________________
Net Block Size excl. WTPs (ha):__________________
Visual Resource Management LABEL (old) VLU#:
VSR:
VAC:
EVC:
EVQO:











Visual Resource Management LABEL (new) VSU#:
VSC:
VAC:
EVC:
EVQO:
Date Visual Landscape Inventory Completed:__________ DOES EVC EXCEED ESTABLISHED VQO? Yes ___

No ___

VIEWPOINTS & PHOTOGRAPH INFORMATION

Number and name of viewpoints from which the proposal is visible and photos are taken VPT #___

_______

VPT #___

_______

VPT #___

_______

VPT #___

______
Viewpoint importance (Major/Minor/Potential)



Viewpoint coordinates
(Lat./Long. or UTM inc. elevation (m))



Viewing distance (Foreground/Middleground/Background)



Viewing duration (High/Moderate/Low)

This factor is important when deciding the VQO achieved from all selected VPTs. (See Box 1)





Focal length of camera lens (mm)



Direction of view (degrees)



1. ASSESSING BASIC VQO DEFINITION

Describe the level of impact that the proposed alteration, in combination with any existing non-VEG alterations, will have on the landscape from each viewpoint, using one of the following terms:Not visible, Not visually evident, Subordinate, Dominant, Out of scale VPT #___ VPT #___ VPT #___ VPT #___
Which basic VQO definition would the proposed alteration, in combination with any existing non-VEG alterations, meet from all the selected viewpoints and taking into account viewpoint importance, viewing distance and viewing duration?         P ___ R ___ PR ___ M ___ MM ___
If applicable, state reasons why the proposed alteration(s) does not achieve the basic definition of the established VQO from any of the selected viewpoints.

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

2. ASSESSING VISUAL DESIGN

Have major lines of force been identified and used to develop the size and shape of the proposed operation? (If Yes, attach visual force analysis to this form.) Yes ___ No ___
Has the proposed operation borrowed from the natural character of the landscape? Yes ___ No ___
Have edge treatments been incorporated into the design of the proposed operation (feathered edges, irregular cutblock design, etc.)? Yes ___ No ___
Have "islands," or patches of trees, been maintained to mitigate visual impacts and other resource management objectives? Yes ___ No ___
Are there any existing human-made alterations visible in the unit that exhibit poor design?
If Yes, describe design deficiencies below:

___________________________________________________________________________

Yes ___ No ___
If applicable, list any additional design techniques used and/or state reasons why certain design techniques could not be employed.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ASSESSING NUMERICAL DATA

Complete either the clearcut or partial-cutting section below depending on the silviculture system used.

Percent Alteration Worksheet for Clearcutting

Use photograph or computer simulation output from each viewpoint for calculations. See Appendix 8 for example of calculation. VPT #____ VPT #____ VPT #____ VPT #____
1. Total area of landform/VSU in perspective view as seen from each viewpoint (measured in cm2)



2. Visible ground area of proposed alteration(s) in perspective view as seen from each viewpoint (measured in cm2)



3. Visible ground area of all existing alterations in non-VEG state in perspective view as seen from each viewpoint (measured in cm2)



4. Total % alteration of the viewshed in perspective view as seen from each viewpoint [(#2+#3)¸#1]´100=#4



Identify for each viewpoint which VQO will be achieved based on % alteration. See Table 3 in VIA Guidebook for % alteration guidelines.



Which VQO would the proposed alteration, in combination with any existing non-VEG alterations, meet from all the selected viewpoints based on percent alteration only?

P ___ R ___ PR ___ M ___ MM ___ or Other _____________________

Partial-cutting Evaluation

What percent volume or stems retention is proposed? %Volume Remaining % Stems Remaining
Which VQO would the proposed alteration, in combination with any existing non-VEG alterations, meet from all the selected viewpoints based on volume or stems remaining?
See Table 4 in VIA Guidebook for partial-cutting guidelines.

P ___ R ___ PR ___ M ___ MM ___

VIA SUMMARY

Does the proposal, in combination with any existing non-VEG alterations, achieve the basic definition for the established VQO? Yes ___ No ___
Have visual design concepts and principles been incorporated into block/road design? Yes ___ No ___
Does the proposal, in combination with any existing non-VEG alterations, fall within the numerical ranges for the established VQO? Yes ___ No ___
Given the three criteria listed above, does the proposal meet the established VQO from all the selected viewpoint(s)? Yes ___ No ___

Completed By: _______________________ Date Completed: ________________

NOTES:

  1. It is strongly recommended that the district office be consulted before carrying out an assessment to confirm viewpoint locations and content recommendations.
  2. Proposed alterations are assessed using three criteria (the first two being the most critical ones): (1) meeting basic definition and intent of VQO, (2) quality of design, and (3) scale of alteration.
  3. Silvicultural systems leaving significant tree cover will be assessed using volume or stems remaining rather than by scale of alteration as outlined in Visual Impacts of Partial Cutting (1997).
  4. Visual quality objectives must be achieved from all selected viewpoints.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Has this visual impact assessment incorporated all known alterations proposed in the scenic area for the next 5 years (i.e., all operations proposed by the same or different licensees)? [ In scenic areas where operating areas are shared among licensees, there should be co-ordination between licensees in preparing VIAs (i.e., existing and proposed cutblocks/roads, if visible from the same viewpoints, must be shown for all licensees). Potential benefits are that one VIA may satisfy the requirements of several licensees, and/or digital data may be shared between licensees when preparing the VIAs.]
Yes ___  No ___

Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

Previous Page Page Top Next Page