Visual Resources Glossary

Select a letter from the list below to view glossary terms and acronyms/abbreviations. The agency abbreviation following the definition indicates the definition source.

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A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

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Key Observation Point (KOP)

A point at a use area or a potential use area, or a series of points or a segment on a travel route, where there may be views of a management activity. KOPs are typically used as viewpoints for assessing potential visual impacts resulting from a proposed activity, such as the construction and operation of a facility. (NPS, BLM)

Key view

A location from which a viewer (traveler or neighbor) can see either iconic or representative landscapes, with or without the highway, of the project corridor. Usually there is at least one key view for each landscape unit. Used for visual simulations. (FHWA)