Assessing the effects of quarry treatment options on the attractiveness of reclaimed limestone quarries using 3D-visualizations

This study investigated the effect of different limestone quarry reclamation treatment options on people’s perception of reclaimed limestone quarries. Ten different combinations of treatment methods and after-care for reclaiming quarries were simulated from which 50 still images were captured along a transect at five different distances from 50 m to 6400 m. The attractiveness and different landscape characteristics were rated at the University of Sheffield by 70 students from different academic backgrounds. Highly visible rock was least preferred whereas landscapes that contained water and trees received the highest preference ratings. The methodology and overall findings would be applicable to landscape quality assessment and reclamation in other settings.