Geographers are stepping into the virtual world of computer games to develop exciting new ways of assessing landscapes.
Ruth Swetnam, Professor of Applied Geography at Staffordshire University, has spent years analysing geographical landscapes and determining what features people from different countries find most appealing.
This has included work on a major project for the Welsh Government to evaluate the impact of their agri-environmental scheme Glastir on rural landscapes. In this collaborative £6 million programme coordinated by UKCEH Ruth led the landscape team and their findings have helped to shape government policy in Wales.
The project involved digitally mapping 300 sites across Wales and sought feedback from the public on the visual quality of the landscapes. More than two thousand responses were collected using a photographic survey. However, participants aged 25 and under were significantly underrepresented in the self-selecting sample.
In a bid to engage younger audiences, Ruth teamed up with Jan Korenko, Senior Lecturer in Visual Effects at Staffordshire University, to create a series of videos depicting dynamic fly-throughs of virtual landscapes inspired by the Welsh countryside.
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Image via Staffordshire University
