Last week, the 2023 Visual Resource Stewardship Conference brought together a diverse community of professionals from academia, practice, NGOs, and government agencies. The biennial event focused on the critical aspects of analysis, planning, valuation, design, and management of visual resources in the face of substantial landscape changes.
Key Themes:
- Multisensory Landscape Assessment:
Researchers and practitioners delved into the evolving methodologies for assessing landscapes, considering not only the visual but also the multisensory aspects that define our environments.
- Visual Quality and Context-Sensitive Design:
Discussions revolved around the integration of visual quality considerations into design practices, emphasizing a context-sensitive approach that respects the unique character of each environment.
- Scenic Resource Valuation:
The conference provided a platform to explore the valuation methods crucial in determining the economic and cultural importance of scenic resources.
- Representation Methods in Visual Perceptions:
Participants explored the various methods and systems employed in assessing visual perceptions, highlighting advancements and innovations in the field.
- Visual Effects of Climate Change and Renewable Energy:
A pivotal question addressed was the trade-offs we are willing to make in the face of climate change and the visual impacts associated with renewable energy infrastructure.
Concluding Panel: “Offshore Wind: What Are We Missing?”
The conference’s concluding panel, titled “Offshore Wind: What Are We Missing?”, brought together highly experienced and well-regarded visual assessment experts, discussing important and current regulatory challenges associated with public acceptance of offshore renewable energy infrastructure visible from highly valued oceanfront vantage points. Jessica Kimball, ASLA (Director of Landscape Architecture at Viewshed), John McCarty (Landscape Architect at Bureau of Ocean Energy Management), Jordan Secter (Visual Resource Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory), and Matt Allen, RLA (Principal at Saratoga Associates) served as subject matter experts. Saratoga Associates is honored to have been invited to join this prestigious panel of industry leading experts in a guided discussion addressing the challenges faced by practitioners and agency regulators in assessing the visual impact of utility scale offshore wind energy development on highly valued coastal resources.
As we reflect on the 2023 Visual Resource Stewardship Conference, we look forward to continued collaboration and innovation in the dynamic field of visual resource management.
About Saratoga Associates Offshore Wind Qualifications:
Saratoga Associates was an integral member of the environmental permitting team responsible for the preparation of the Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) for the 800-megawatt Vineyard Wind 1 – the first offshore utility scale wind energy generating facility in the United States. The VIA identifies the potential visibility of the Project and evaluates the difference in character of the landscape and seascape with and without the Project in place. The information and recommendations assisted regulatory agencies, interested stakeholders, and the general public in their review of the Project, in accordance with applicable regulatory standards.
