Visual Quality Analysis

Visual Quality

Visual quality analysis is an integral part of a project like this one. Places of high visual quality are often viewed by society to be more desirable than locations of low visual quality. We want the proposed "Park Corridor" to be a place of high visual quality. A park that is aesthetically pleasing is necessary for the park to be successfully implemented.

Below are pictures that represent East St. Louis before and after construction of the "Park Corridor", as well as the expert evaluations and survey results regarding them.

Before viewing the pictures, please refer to the chart used to score the pictures for the expert evaluations, and the survey used for the survey scores.

For each picture a preference score (1 to 5) and a quality score (-1 to -5) was developed using the evaluation chart. These two scores were then added together to get the final expert evaluation visual quality score that is shown. The scores that show the survey values are based off a 1 (high) to 5 (low) scale.

Larger numbers indicate higher visual quality scores than smaller numbers for the expert evaluations. Small numbers indicate higher visual quality scores than larger numbers for the survey values.

Summary of Evaluation Results

After evaluation of the visual quality pictures, we found that there were certain aspects of the pictures that caused a negative or positive response. Pictures that contained any green space (vegetation) automatically had an advantage over those with no green. Amenities such as sidewalks and ponds played an important part in gaining points by showing a human-friendly environment. Places with high imageability or uniqueness such as the playground, tires, concession stand, or volleyball net also gave the pictures a higher score. Finally, a sense of safety also contributed to a comparatively higher rating.

Factors that contributed to a lower score included evidence of a lack of maintenance, disorder, pollution, and a sense of an unsafe environment. The first picture shown was a picture of a large lawn with surrounding trees. However, a bent street sign in front illustrates a lack of maintenance, lowering the score significantly. Similarly, a "For Sale" sign on a tree, an unkempt patch of vegetation, and litter all contributed to a lower rating. Flooding and poor, deteriorated buildings gave some of the pictures a sense of hazard, also lowering the score.

Overall, pictures that illustrated nature or a more environment-friendly surrounding fared much better than those which showed negative human intervention. Expert evaluation ratings ranged from -19 up to 15.

Expert Evaluation: 3

Survey Value: 3.7

Comments: This picture has a lot of green, which is good, but the bent street sign, scrubby vegetation, and cluttered background take away from it.

Expert Evaluation: 11

Survey Value: 3.3

Comments: This picture has pedestrian friendly amenities, but the vegetation is slightly overgrown, and adjoining land uses are slightly incompatible.

Expert Evaluation: -13

Survey Value: 3.0

Comments: Although this picture has a variety of vegetation, the vegetative quality is rather low, there are no amenities, and the "For Sale" sign all contribute to lowering this picture's visual quality.

Expert Evaluation: 13

Survey Value: 3.3

Comments: This picture has rather high visual quality. The vegetation is well maintained, there are a variety of shapes and forms in the picture, it looks distinctive, and is attractive.

Expert Evaluation: -11

Survey Value: 3.3

Comments: This picture is pretty bland. There is not much to grasp the attention. The vegetation is overgrown and weedy, and the adjoining land use of the trailer home in the background does not go well with the visual image.

Expert Evaluation: -2

Survey Value: 3.8

Comments: This picture is fairly boring. The empty lot lowers the visual quality, but the presence of trees and the fact that the lot is not horribly littered does not make the picture as bad as it could be.

Expert Evaluation: 10

Survey Value: 3.8

Comments: This is a nice scene. There are many amenities, it is very distinctive, there are a variety of shapes, and it is colorful and friendly looking. The only thing that distracts from this picture is the houses in the background.

Expert Evaluation: 15

Survey Value: 2.0

Comments: This is a nice picture. The vegetation is well maintained, and delineates the landscape. It's imageability is high as well as amenities.

Expert Evaluation: -19

Survey Value: 3.7

Comments: The visual quality for this picture is low. Many people would not want to visit this scene. The delapitated house and overgrown vegetation are not very visually pleasing.

Expert Evaluation: -7

Survey Value: 4.0

Comments: This scene is pretty boring. The street is all broken up and the picture seems to be taken from a depressed neighborhood resulting in the picure being less aesthetically pleasing.

Expert Evaluation: 0

Survey Value: 3.2

Comments: In this picture the street is flooded and the yard of the house is overgrown resulting in an image that is not very visually stimulating.

Expert Evaluation: -1

Survey Value: 4.0

Comments: The street in this picture is partially flooded and the house is not very attractive. The yard is also overgrown. This is a good example of what might be found in East St. Louis right now.

Expert Evaluation: 6

Survey Value: 2.8

Comments: This image has a nice open space that is bordered by tall, lush trees. The path in the front of the picture further breaks it apart, making it pleasing to the eye.

Expert Evaluation: 12

Survey Value: 2.7

Comments: A picture like this has high visual quality. Open areas of forested land will be an important part of the "Park Corridor".

Expert Evaluation: 10

Survey Value: 2.7

Comments: It is hard to tell, but that is a volleyball court in the center of the image. A picture like this appeals to people's sense of being outdoors and active, and can raise visual quality preferences as a result.

Expert Evaluation: 12

Survey Value: 3.3

Comments: The visitor's center in this picture is distinctive, and provides many pedestrian friendly amenities. That and the variety of shapes presented in the picture make for higher visual quality scores.

Expert Evaluation: 13

Survey Value: 3.2

Comments: A picnic area is displayed in this picture. This is a nice image and people can imagine themselves having a good time at a place like this which makes visual quality preferences higher.

Expert Evaluation: 15

Survey Value: 2.5

Comments: Visual quality is high in this picture. This is a nice area and appeals to people's sense of recreation and fun.

Expert Evaluation: 11

Survey Value: 2.0

Comments: Water plays an important role in visual quality preferences. People are drawn to water and enjoy being around it. This lake satisfies that want and gives this picture high visual quality levels.

Expert Evaluation: 3

Survey Value: 2.3

Comments: This picture appeals to a person's sense of nature and wanting to be around nature. The quiet path and wooded area makes this picture have higher visual quality levels.

Expert Evaluation: 12

Survey Value: 3.2

Comments: This picture has high imageability, and pedestrian friendly amenities. It's not wonderful to look at, and is a bit cluttered, but that is not enough to make it a unaesthetic image.

Expert Evaluation: 9

Survey Value: 2.2

Comments: The tall trees and empty space between them delineate this picture very nicely. You get a feeling of solomness and calm when looking at this image.

Expert Evaluation: 12

Survey Value: 1.8

Comments: The path is the focal point of this image. It seems to take you tight through it, and is nicely highlighted by the tall, well-maintained trees on either side.

Expert Evaluation: 8

Survey Value: 1.7

Comments: This picture also gives a feeling of calm. The straight tree trunks devide the space nicely. There is little to reduce visual quality in this image.

Expert Evaluation: 13

Survey Value: 1.7

Comments: This picture has many different colors and textures. The path winding down the middle of it also adds a unique quality and the white snow accentuates the other colors.