Analysis of Potential Scenic Sites for the Hill Analysis of Potential Scenic Sites for the Hill Country Conservancy and Hill Country AllianceCountry Conservancy and Hill Country Alliance

Nancy A. Heger, ManagerNancy A. Heger, Manager Gene Sipes, Assistant ManagerGene Sipes, Assistant ManagerMatt Broadaway, GIS AnalystMatt Broadaway, GIS Analyst Matt Gray, Web MasterMatt Gray, Web MasterImage source: http://www.philadelphianstours.com/Image source: http://www.philadelphianstours.com/

Final ReportFinal Report

•Introduction & PurposeIntroduction & Purpose

•DataData

•MethodsMethods

•ResultsResults

•DiscussionDiscussion

•Final DeliverablesFinal Deliverables

•ConclusionsConclusions

PurposePurpose• Identify potential sites for future preservation by the Hill Identify potential sites for future preservation by the Hill

Country Conservancy (HCC)Country Conservancy (HCC)• Identify areas that are “scenic” as defined by factors such as Identify areas that are “scenic” as defined by factors such as

topographical relief, proximity to water bodies, and vegetation.topographical relief, proximity to water bodies, and vegetation.• Provide a map of potential scenic sites that HCC can use to Provide a map of potential scenic sites that HCC can use to

identify areas for future preservationidentify areas for future preservation

SCOPESCOPE• Study region - 22 county area inStudy region - 22 county area in

Hill Country Hill Country

Defining ScenicDefining Scenic Topographic Variation i.e. slopeTopographic Variation i.e. slope

Areas with more relief preferredAreas with more relief preferred Distance from streamsDistance from streams

Areas closest to streams preferredAreas closest to streams preferred Land UseLand Use

Non-urban preferred over urbanNon-urban preferred over urban

VisibilityVisibility If areas are scenic, are they also If areas are scenic, are they also

visible from roads and/or visible from roads and/or waterwayswaterways

DataData Study RegionStudy Region CountiesCounties RoadsRoads Urban AreasUrban Areas

DataData 30 m DEM (Digital elevation Model30 m DEM (Digital elevation Model

Calculated slope (degree of slope)Calculated slope (degree of slope)

Streams LayerStreams Layer Selected out only perennial streamsSelected out only perennial streams

DEM

DataData Texas ecological system vegetation map Texas ecological system vegetation map

Recoded to Urban/Non-urbanRecoded to Urban/Non-urban NLDC 2001 map recoded Urban/Non-NLDC 2001 map recoded Urban/Non-

urbanurban Combined to create Urban/Non-urban layerCombined to create Urban/Non-urban layer

TXVegetationMap

VAL VERDE

EDWARDS

UVALDEKINNEY MEDINA

BELL

KERR

BEXAR

KIMBLE

LLANO

TRAVIS

REAL

HAYS

MASON

BURNET

SAN SABA

GILLESPIE

WILLIAMSON

BLANCO

BANDERA

COMAL

KENDALL

LAMPASAS

NLCD 2001

Urban/Non-Urban

Results - Hays County Pilot StudyResults - Hays County Pilot Study

Model RefinedModel Refined Scoring systemScoring system WeightingWeighting

Results – Scenic SuitabilityResults – Scenic Suitability

STUDY REGION Scenic Value

COUNT Pixel

Area (mi²) Percent

Urban 3470428 1206 5%

Barley scenic 4848138 1685 7%

Mildly scenic 18356402 6379 27%

Scenic 36399511 12649 53%

Highly scenic 4528752 1574 7%

Extremely scenic 1017894 354 1%

TOTAL 68621125 23845 100%

Results – Scenic SuitabilityResults – Scenic Suitability

REAL Scenic ValueCELL COUNT

Area (mi²) Percent

Urban 28372 10 1%

Barley scenic 0 0 0%

Mildly scenic 402332 140 19%

Scenic 976502 339 45%

Highly scenic 508697 177 24%

Extremely scenic 241857 84 11%

  Total 2157760 750 100%

         

Results – Scenic SuitabilityResults – Scenic Suitability

TRAVIS Scenic ValueCELL COUNT

Area (mi²) Percent

Urban 737625 256 23%

Barley scenic 799 0 0%

Mildly scenic 913620 317 29%

Scenic 1299582 452 41%

Highly scenic 179017 62 6%

Extremely scenic 15158 5 0%

Total 3145801 1093 100%

Results – Scenic SuitabilityResults – Scenic Suitability

LLANO Scenic ValueCELL COUNT

Area (mi²) Percent

Urban 46117 16 2%

Barley scenic 0 0 0%

Mildly scenic 676517 235 23%

Scenic 2115475 735 71%

Highly scenic 121836 42 4%

Extremely scenic 17705 6 1%

Total 2977650 1035 100%

         

Results – Scenic SuitabilityResults – Scenic Suitability CLASS CELL COUNT AREA(mi²) PERCENTNot Visible 64246060 22324.99 93.68%Not Scenic/Urban 3598 77.70 0.33%Barely Scenic 314 0.11 0.00%Mildly Scenic 203448 70.70 0.30%Scenic 2980315 1035.64 4.35%Very Scenic 710461 246.88 1.04%Extremely Scenic 215868 75.01 0.31%Total 68580064 23831.02 100.00%

Results – Scenic Results – Scenic SuitabilitySuitability

Percent of Each Scenic Class Visible from Roads  Class Cell Count Percent Area(mi²)Not Visible 33,888,499 49.43% 11776Not Scenic/Urban 2,438,038 3.56% 847Barely Scenic 1,595,116 2.33% 554Mildly Scenic 9,131,366 13.32% 3173Scenic 19,814,717 28.90% 6885Very Scenic 1,397,480 2.04% 486Extremely Scenic 294,985 0.43% 103Total 68,560,201 100.00% 23824

Results – Scenic Results – Scenic SuitabilitySuitability

Percent of Each Scenic Class Visible from Roads/ Streams

Class Cell Count Percent Area(mi²)

Not Visible 32,845,424 47.91% 11414Not Scenic/Urban 2,472,174 3.61% 859Barely Scenic 1,595,045 2.33% 554Mildly Scenic 9,138,884 13.33% 3176Scenic 20,496,153 29.90% 7122Very Scenic 1,647,041 2.40% 572Extremely Scenic 359,440 0.52% 125Total 68,554,161 100.00% 23822

Results – Scenic SuitabilityResults – Scenic Suitability

Natural Breaks X ScenicNatural Breaks X Scenic

Result of the Natural Breaks Viewshed x Scenic LayerResult of the Natural Breaks Viewshed x Scenic Layer

Many Areas Around Leakey With a High ScoreMany Areas Around Leakey With a High Score

Results – Scenic SuitabilityResults – Scenic Suitability

DiscussionDiscussion The Texas Hill Country overall is scenic.The Texas Hill Country overall is scenic.

Our model confirms what we know on a broad scaleOur model confirms what we know on a broad scale The model is more specificThe model is more specific 82% of the Texas Hill Country has some scenic value82% of the Texas Hill Country has some scenic value 28% is highly or extremely scenic28% is highly or extremely scenic

Much of the Hill Country is visible from streams and roads Much of the Hill Country is visible from streams and roads with many cells visible from more than 1 point.with many cells visible from more than 1 point. 52% visible cells 52% visible cells 27% of the cells are viewable from 5 or less points27% of the cells are viewable from 5 or less points

We were also able to estimate potentially scenic sites from We were also able to estimate potentially scenic sites from roads and waterways.roads and waterways.

Assumptions & LimitationsAssumptions & Limitations ScenicScenic

Selection of factors- three for the whole modelSelection of factors- three for the whole model Weighting of factors- assumption Weighting of factors- assumption Scope of the projectScope of the project

Detail for a county basisDetail for a county basis The human factor- limitation in every studyThe human factor- limitation in every study

ViewshedViewshed Scenic areas can be viewed from anywhere, not just roads Scenic areas can be viewed from anywhere, not just roads

and streams.and streams. Not enough computing power to processes the area as first Not enough computing power to processes the area as first

desireddesired

FINAL DELIVERABLESFINAL DELIVERABLES   Final deliverables will include:Final deliverables will include: A Detailed Final Report (2 copies)A Detailed Final Report (2 copies) Professional Poster for display in the Geography Professional Poster for display in the Geography

Department Department WebsiteWebsite CD (2 copies) containingCD (2 copies) containing

All dataAll data MetadataMetadata Proposal, Progress, and Final reportsProposal, Progress, and Final reports PosterPoster Power Point presentationPower Point presentation Instructions on how to use CD (readme file)Instructions on how to use CD (readme file)

ConclusionsConclusions described the techniques that were used to determine the scenic described the techniques that were used to determine the scenic

beautybeauty study is an extensive literature review, much of which study is an extensive literature review, much of which

describes techniques describes techniques scenic suitability model was built that indicates potentially scenic suitability model was built that indicates potentially

scenic areasscenic areas maps indicating which scenic locations are visible from roads maps indicating which scenic locations are visible from roads

and streamsand streams we have indicated some limitations of the projectwe have indicated some limitations of the project