Visual landscape analysis in planning process: The case of Amasra

Abstract

Intensifying of particularly the physical and social infrastructure services in large cities today increases the demand for such cities. As a result, new settlement areas are needed and new master plans and revised master plans come to the agenda. The natural and cultural inheritance is destructed and cannot be protected with speed gradually increasing. Therefore, policies are required to protect the existing natural and cultural assets during the preparation of master plans. The Visual Landscape Analysis (VLA) is among the tools to be used in the frame of this protection. VLA ensures the protection of the landscape in the urban areas or in close surroundings and determining the landscape protection areas with priority. Amasra District in Bartin Province was selected as the survey area. The answer to the question ‘What the contents of the visual landscape analysis in relation with the master plans must be in the Amasra example?’ was searched for in the frame of the study, and the relation between VLA and master plans was defined for Amasra example. The study consists of two stages. Stage I was completed in 2008 and the second stage – in 2014. This way, it was questioned whether or not the areas with high value as regards the visual quality determined with VLA in the study area have changed in our times and where or not there are any new/prioritised landscape areas and maps of these areas were created. © 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.