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.

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

Vapor plume: Air, super-saturated with water vapor and often containing solid, liquid, or gaseous contaminants, that is vented from industrial processes and is visible because it contains water droplets. (NPS)
Variable: Factor influencing visual perception, including distance, angle of observation, time of day, size or scale, season of the year, light, and atmospheric conditions. (BLM)
Variety: An intermixture, diversity, or succession of different things, forms, or qualities in the landscape. (USFS, BLM)
Variety Class: Term from the USFS Visual Management System. See scenic attractiveness. (USFS)
Vegetation: Plant life or total plant cover in an area. (NPS)
View: Something that is looked toward or kept in sight, especially a broad landscape or panorama. Act of looking toward this object or scene. (USFS)
View Description: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, a systematic, objective, and comprehensive process for describing the viewed landscape. (NPS)
View Description and Scenic Quality Form: In the NPS visual Resource Inventory, the form on which the landscape description data and final scenic quality ratings are recorded. (NPS)
View duration: The estimated time a visitor typically experiences the view. In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, View Duration is one of three components used to evaluate the Viewer Concern factor. (NPS)
View Importance Evaluation: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, an assessment of the relative importance of the view to NPS and to NPS visitors, apart from its scenic quality. The View Importance Evaluation has three factors, Viewpoint Importance, Viewed Landscape Importance, and Viewer Concern. (NPS)
View Importance Form: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the form onto which data collected during the View Importance Evaluation is recorded. (NPS)
View Type: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, a description of the general spatial characteristics of the view. View types include: panoramic, enclosed, feature, framed, focal, and canopied. (NPS)
Viewed Landscape: The geographic area that can be seen from a given viewpoint. In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, Viewed Landscape is one of the three factors evaluated in the View Importance process. (NPS)
Viewed Landscape Importance: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the extent to which the elements in the viewed landscape are publicized; have been recognized for their outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, or other values; and are used for interpretation. Viewed Landscape Importance is one of three factors in the View Importance Rating. (NPS)
Viewed Landscape Publicity: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the extent to which the viewed landscape is publicized, especially for its scenic views, within NPS visitor communications (e.g. brochures, park websites, ads) or receives external recognition outside NPS in media (e.g. hiking guides, web sites, movies). Viewed Landscape Publicity is one of three component used to evaluate Viewed Landscape Importance. (NPS)
Viewer attention: Unusual level of visual focus on a particular object or landscape element. (BLM)
Viewer characteristics: Traits of the individual viewer, such as visual acuity, visual engagement, and experience, and viewer motion that affect the viewer’s perception of contrast and the ability to discern objects in the landscape. (NPS)
Viewer concern: A measure of the extent and intensity of visitor use of the view, and concern viewers may have for preserving its landscape character integrity. In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, Viewer Concern is one of three factors in the View Importance Rating. (NPS)
Viewer motion: Change in position of the viewer within the landscape. The visual experience changes as the viewer moves through the landscape. (NPS)
Viewer platform: Position in the landscape where the viewer is located. (See observer position.) (USFS)
Viewer Sensitivity: The degree to which viewers are sensitive to changes in the visual character of visual resources. In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, Viewer Sensitivity is one of three components used to evaluate the Viewer Concern factor in the View Importance Rating. (FHWA, NPS)
Viewers: Neighbors who can see the proposed project and travelers who would use it. (FHWA)
Viewing geometry: The spatial relationship of viewer to the viewed object (e.g., a renewable energy facility), including the viewer position and aspect. (NPS)
Viewing platform: A location where the public commonly views the landscape. The location is used when determining the distance zones of a visual resource inventory and may include segments of roads, trails, floatable rivers, overlooks, and population centers. The data depicting these elements may be points, lines, or polygons. (BLM)
Viewpoint: A point from which a landscape is viewed. Also a point from which a landscape view is analyzed and/or evaluated. In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the viewpoint is one of the three components of a view. (NPS, BLM)
Viewpoint Importance: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the extent to which the viewpoint is publicized and managed for visitors. Viewpoint Importance is one of three factors in the View Importance Rating and is comprised of three components: Viewpoint Publicity, Viewpoint Management, and Viewpoint Interpretive Services. (NPS)
Viewpoint Importance Rating: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the total score derived from the View Importance Evaluation. The rating constitutes one half of the view's Scenic Inventory Value. (NPS)
Viewpoint Interpretive Services: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the level of interpretive services offered or planned at the viewpoint, and the extent to which they contribute to the visitors’ enjoyment of scenic, historic, cultural, scientific or other NPS unit values. In the NPS VRI, it is One of three components used to evaluate the Viewpoint Importance. (NPS)
Viewpoint Management: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the extent to which facilities have been added or are planned and that there is management of the facilities or viewpoint area to enhance the visitor experience. Viewpoint Management is one of three components used to evaluated the Viewpoint Importance factor in the View Importance Evaluation.. (NPS)
Viewpoint Publicity: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the extent to which the viewpoint is publicized, especially for its scenic views, within NPS visitor communications (e.g. brochures, park websites, ads) or receives external recognition outside NPS in media (e.g. hiking guides, web sites, movies). Viewpoint Publicity is one of three components used to evaluate Viewpoint Importance. (NPS)
Viewpoint Spatial Type: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the space occupied by the viewpoint. A viewpoint may be a point, such as an overlook; a series of points in a linear succession, such a scenic road; or occupy an area with no easily identifiable or distinct viewpoint, such as a wilderness area. (NPS)
Viewpoint Value Type: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the important attribute(s) of the viewpoint. A viewpoint value type can be scenic, historic/cultural, recreational, residential, use area, etc. (NPS)
Viewshed: The total landscape seen or potentially seen from a point, or from all or a logical part of a travel route, use area, or water body. (BLM, FHWA, NPS, USFS)
Viewshed analysis: A spatial analysis that uses elevation data, such as a Digital Elevation Model or Surface Elevation Model, to determine which parts of the surrounding landscape are likely to be visible from a designated point or points. (BLM, NPS)
Viewshed limiting factors: Variables that determine the nature and size of the viewshed from a given viewpoint, within the maximum distance of analysis set by the user, so called because they define the spatial limits of the viewshed. Viewshed limiting factors include the following: topography, vegetation, structures, viewer height, target height, earth curvature, and atmospheric refraction. (NPS)
Viewshed management: Managing the sequence of visual experiences along a viewshed corridor. (BLM)
Viewshed map: The outcome of a viewshed analysis that shows which areas of the surrounding landscape would theoretically be visible from the viewshed origin (the viewpoint). (NPS, BLM)
Visibility: The ability to visually discern an object in the landscape; also, the distance an individual can see as determined by light, atmospheric, and weather conditions. (BLM, NPS)
Visibility factors: Variables that determine and affect the visibility and apparent visual characteristics of an object in a landscape setting. Visibility factors include viewshed-limiting factors that define the potentially visible area, viewer characteristics, distance, viewing geometry, background/backdrop, lighting, atmospheric conditions, and the object’s visual characteristics. (NPS)
Visitation: In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, the estimated relative annual visitation for the viewpoint relative to others within this NPS unit. Visitation is one of three components used to evaluate the Viewer Concern factor. (NPS)
Vista: A confined view, especially one seen through a long passage, as between rows of trees or down a canyon. A vista often focuses upon a specific feature in the landscape. Unlike a view, the vista is sometime human created and, if it is, thereby subject to design. (USFS)
Visual absorption capability: A classification system used to denote relative ability of a landscape to accept human alterations without loss of character of scenic quality. (USFS)
Visual acuity: The acuteness or clarity of vision. (NPS)
Visual attention: Noticing and focusing of vision on a particular object or landscape element. (NPS)
Visual character: The description of the visible attributes of a scene or object typically using artistic terms such as form, line, color, and texture. (FHWA)
Visual clutter: The complex visual interplay of numerous disharmonious landscape characteristics and features resulting in a displeasing view. (NPS)
Visual contrast: Opposition or unlikeness of different forms, lines, colors, or textures in a landscape. (NPS, BLM)
Visual Contrast Rating: In the BLM Visual Resource Management System, an assessment of the visual contrast between a project and the surrounding landscape. See contrast rating. (NPS, BLM)
Visual engagement/experience: How closely the viewer looks at an object or objects in the landscape. (NPS)
Visual environment: The perceptual surroundings of observers that can be sampled and defined through their sense of sight. (BLM)
Visual experience: The degree of familiarity with the visual characteristics of a particular object in the landscape based on having seen it previously. (NPS)
Visual Harmony: A measure of the degree to which the landscape elements in the exhibit a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts. In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, Visual Harmony is one of three factors used in the Scenic Quality Evaluation. (NPS)
Visual impact: Any modification in landforms, water bodies, or vegetation, or any introduction of structures or other human-made visual elements, that negatively or positively affect the visual character or quality of a landscape and the visual experience of persons viewing the landscape through the introduction of visual contrasts in the basic elements of form, line, color, and texture. (NPS, BLM, FHWA)
Visual impact assessment (VIA): Analysis of the visual impacts of a proposed project, usually presented as a stand-alone technical report or contained within an Environmental Impact Statement. (NPS)
Visual Magnitude: In the USFS Scenery Management System, a detailed classification system used to denote relative visibility of a landscape, including distance, slope and aspect relative to observer, and number of times seen. (USFS)
Visual mitigation: Actions taken to avoid, eliminate, or reduce potential adverse impacts on scenic resources. See mitigation. (NPS, BLM)
Visual perception: The ability to interpret the surrounding environment by processing information that is contained in visible light. (BLM, USFS)
Visual quality: What viewers like and dislike about visual resources that compose the visual character of a particular scene. See also scenic quality. (FHWA, BLM)
Visual resource: Any object (natural and built, moving and stationary) or feature, such as a landform or water body, that is visible on a landscape. (BLM, FHWA, NPS)
Visual Resource Inventory (VRI): A systematic assessment of the visual resources present within a specified landscape that provides BLM managers with a means for determining relative baseline visual values. The BLM VRI consists of a scenic quality evaluation, sensitivity level analysis, and delineation of distance zones. Based on these three factors, BLM-administered lands are placed into one of four VRI classes. (BLM); A systematic assessment of the visual resources present within one or more views that presents NPS managers with the means for determining baseline visual values for the views. The NPS VRI consists of a Scenic Quality Evaluation and a View Importance Evaluation, which are combined to give the final Scenic Inventory Value. (NPS)
Visual resource management: The planning, design, and implementation of management objectives for maintaining scenic values and visual quality. (NPS)
Visual Resource Management (VRM) classes:: A land use planning decision for the management of visual values. VRM classes are spatially delineated management categories designated to BLM-administered public lands during the land use planning process. These classes prescribe management objectives for the amount of physical and visible change allowed in the characteristic landscape. There are four VRM classes, each with a management objective: I (most protected); II, III, and IV (least protected); and R (substantial visual resource impairment present). VRM class designations are made on all BLM-administered public lands and are based on scenic quality, sensitivity level, and distance zones and in consideration of land use allocations, other resource protections, desired outcomes, and desired future conditions. (BLM)
Visual Resource Management (VRM) System: BLM’s system for minimizing the visual impacts of surface-disturbing activities and maintaining scenic values for the future; specifically, the inventory and planning actions taken to identify visual values and to establish objectives for managing those values; also the management actions taken to achieve the visual management objectives. (BLM)
Visual sensitivity: Public concern for the maintenance of scenic quality in a particular landscape setting. (NPS)
Visual simulation: A pictorial representation of a proposed project in its landscape setting, as it would be seen from a specified viewpoint, and used to visualize the project before it is built, typically in order to determine its potential visual contrasts and associated visual impacts. (NPS)
Visual value: See scenic quality or scenic value. (BLM, NPS)
Visual vulnerability: See visual absorption capability. (USFS)
Visualization: Development of pictorial representation (usually using computer hardware and software) of a proposed facility. (NPS)
Vividness: A measure of the relative memorability of a view or landscape. In the NPS Visual Resource Inventory, Vividness is one of three factors in the Scenic Quality Evaluation. (NPS)