Visual assessment of historic landmarks based on GIS and survey: a study of view and viewing of Tiger Hill in Suzhou, China

Abstract

The protection and balance of visibility and the visual interface of urban historic landmarks has been widely regarded in urban development and expansion. Taking Tiger Hill in Suzhou, China as an example, this study evaluates its visual characteristic from two perspectives: view and viewing. From the “view” perspective, changes in visibility as a viewing object are compared by cumulative viewshed analysis in ArcGIS. Additionally, a visual preference questionnaire is applied to determine the threshold (1.2 km) at which Tiger Hill becomes an object of attention. Based on the urban green space system planning map of Suzhou, the study selects green spaces that offer suitable viewing conditions. From the “viewing” perspective, Tiger Hill is considered a viewpoint for climbing and viewing, and a 3D city model is used to compare the changes in the visual interface of the mountains in the south and west of Suzhou from the top of Tiger Hill. Lastly, based on the “Two-thirds Rule”, the study calculates the maximum allowable building height within the field of vision and compares it with the existing building heights. The research provides a reference for the evaluation and improvement of the visual quality of urban historic landmarks.

Keywords

• historic landmark
• visual assessment
• cumulative viewshed analysis
• building height control
• visual characteristic