ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a method for assessing the 'value' of seascapes, and the relationship people have with the sea and coastal areas. It draws on psychophysical assessment and how it can be implemented using geographical information systems (GIS) in order to assess perceptions of seascapes. GIS is a form of computer-based mapping that links data sets containing location information to a map graphic and includes a wide range of spatial analysis tools that replicate the manual assessment of maps. To prepare the spatial data for analysis, eight public participatory GIS landscape values were intersected with the six NZ Landscape Character Classification (NZLCC) landscape components and the NZLCC landscape classes, which are combinations of the six landscape components. The chapter shows classifications and assessments of landscape character may be used to provide a framework for understanding seascape. It brings together land- and seascapes, demonstrating how each combination of landform, landcover and infrastructure provides a different seascape.
