Empowering public participation in assessing the indicators of aesthetic value for historical landscape: a case study on Melaka, Malaysia

Abstract

Engaging public participation is critical for visual assessment, aligning with SDG 17’s emphasis on multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development. Incorporating public partnerships in assessing the aesthetic values of historical landscapes is vital for successful preservation. A sound and scientifically tested visual assessment with indicators measuring emotional and psychological attachment to surroundings is needed to achieve this. This study aims to identify reliable indicators by testing public perception, thus resulting in nine indicators derived from aesthetic-based theories: mystery, coherence, legibility, openness, disturbance, complexity, naturalness, and diversity. We conducted an online closed-ended questionnaire survey with 126 respondents using five refined images from the historical city of Melaka, Malaysia that showcase unique urban landscape features. Participants rated the significance of the nine indicators based on their preferences and perceptions. Different Item Functioning (DIF) analysis was used to determine valid indicators. The results showed that stewardship emerged as the most preferable indicator among the public, indicating high preference. Despite demographic differences, the study identified stewardship and complexity as the most prominent indicators representing public perception and preference for historical landscapes. This could be reflected in their cultural expectations of the value of heritage. Consequently, stewardship is suggested as an effective and appropriate indicator for future visual assessments of historical landscapes.

Keywords

• Public participation
• indicators
• visual assessment
• historical landscape
• aesthetic - based theories 
• Timothy Clack, University of Lincoln - Brayford Campus: University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK