Wind Turbines and recreational landscapes: Visual preference of energy generation within tourism among emerging green energy demands

Olivia Andersen, BS

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Through expanding urbanization, emissions from the burning of fossil fuel in power plants and mineral extraction, this has led to global climate change. As a result, countries are investing more into renewable and sustainable (green) energy. Wind turbines are by far the most used alternative technology in practice today. However, a major drawback for viewers is their visual impact. Previous research has focused on the visual impact of wind turbines, specifically related to their overall height, blade length, distance between each wind turbine, and overall spatial layout and organization both onshore and offshore. This research examines the visual preference of wind turbines and how their presence might impact a viewer’s attitude towards the landscape and overall experience. A variety of recreational and scenic landscapes were captured on the island of Guam, a popular tourist destination. Photographs were manipulated using Adobe Photoshop 2020 to digitally add wind turbines into each image. A total of 16 images were used as part of an online survey questionnaire that asked respondents to rank each image on a scale of -5 to +5, based on the negative, neutral or positive attitudes towards each image. The survey was distributed to universities across the European Union and the United States of America. Of the 116 completed surveys, some respondents expressed a strong negative attitude towards wind turbines, both onshore and offshore, due to their perceived visual disturbance upon a landscape. However, most of the respondents had positive attitudes towards each image, stating how they support wind turbines as they represent the effort to combat climate change and air pollution. These results are similar to previous research findings. This survey will undergo further revision and be distributed to locals and tourists in Guam, to further examine how wind turbines impact tourism, the island’s main economic source.

Keywords

Wind turbines, Visual impact, Recreational landscapes

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Peter Kumble, Ph.D.
• Reader: Spyridoula Karavida, Dipl.-Ing.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Master programme / field:
Geology / Environmental Geosciences