The Role of Ecological Factors, Gender, and Age in Shaping Visual Preferences for Urban Wetlands
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Wetlands are crucial for sustainable cities, providing key ecosystem services, including aesthetic quality. Effective management requires understanding residents’ preferences and socio-demographic differences in aesthetic perception. Furthermore, it is essential to understand how the composition and arrangement of landscapes influence their aesthetic perception. In this study, we report on research examining how different age and gender groups of residents perceive the aesthetics of selected urban wetlands and identify visual landscape indicators of aesthetic preferences using ecological metrics of composition and spatial configuration. The study applies analysis of photographs of representative wetlands in the Stockholm region, using an online survey and analysis in GIS. The results demonstrate that there are differences in aesthetic perception across age and gender groups, but the judgement of the most aesthetically preferable and unpreferable landscapes is similar among all age and gender groups. Moreover, the results show that urban wetlands with higher levels of spatial complexity, fragmentation and openness for views are perceived as the most beautiful. The results of the study contribute valuable insights into interdisciplinary research by bridging the gaps between biological and social sciences. They can be used in practice for the analysis and prediction of public opinion in urban planning and management.
Authors: Kseniia Zakharova, Kari Lehtilä, Romina Rodela
Institution: Södertörn University
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,390
Funders: Södertörns högskola, Östersjöstiftelsen
OpenAlex ID: W4411351937