Visual Impact Assessments

Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) often forms a fundamental part of a wider Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This is required by local planning authorities for proposals that have been identified as having a potentially significant impact on the local environment.

Visual Impact is frequently the most contentious issue in such development proposals. It is widely recognised in academic research that developments stand a much greater chance of being accepted by the local population if accurate and easily interpreted visual impact information is made available at an early stage in the planning process.

Geo-Bureau has expertise in combining the latest generation digital elevation data, remotely sensed imagery, GIS mapping and landscape visualisation software to produce effective visual impact surveys. Basing our work on best practice principles, Geo-Bureau is well placed to deliver a high quality visual impact survey, from small-scale local developments to regional schemes such as large wind farms. As a measure of our knowledge in this area, we are actively involved in academic research focussing specifically on the use of GIS technologies in visual impact analysis.