Rating the Potential Landscape Changes through the Visual Resource Inventory in North Metn Lebanon

Abstract

North Metn is known for its miscellaneous landscapes varying from mountainous, coastal, agricultural, natural, rural, urban and industrial. However its land-cover, land-use and landscape structures are highly affected by manmade and natural means of transformation throughout a short period of time. Since the assessment of these changes is essential for any landscape management in the district, the Visual Resource Inventory (VRI) was selected for that purpose. VRI provides the basic visual resource data for future landscape planning purposes in the evaluation area. The results were analyzed for the district’s visual potential based on several criteria. It is essentially used to rate the landscape for its Scenic Quality and Sensitivity Level within Distance Zones delineated. North Metn is distinguished by its valuable scenic quality and panoramic landscape views taking into account the users Landscape Importance and the particular Viewing Locations threatened by drastic changes, eighty-two Viewpoints (VP) were selected to be assessed using the VRI methods. Each VP was decomposed by its Landscape Elements in the Foreground, Middle and Background Extent taking into consideration its forms, textures, lines and colors. Each VP Scenic Quality (SQ) was rated for its Integrity, Vividness and Harmony while the View Importance (VI) was rated for its VP, Viewed Landscape and Viewer Concern. Later on, the SQ and the VI ratings will provide rankings ranging from Very high Scenic Inventory Value (SIV) rate to a Very Low SIV rate. North Metn’s landscape was classified within three landscape classes depending on each rate.