Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not...
Transcript of Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not...
![Page 1: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind
![Page 2: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Purpose and Need
The goal of visual impact assessment as it relates to offshore wind, is to determine whether the seascape and coastal landscape can absorb the visual change resulting from the installation of wind turbines and associated infrastructure, without significantly affecting scenic
quality or viewer enjoyment.
![Page 3: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Purpose and Need
Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed to apply val-ues to aesthetic changes.
We will touch on the overall VIA process briefly, but the focus of this presentation will be on visualization techniques used in the overall analysis.
![Page 4: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Purpose and Need
Visual Impact Assessment Process:
• Establish the Area of Potential Effect (APE) through the use of viewshed analysis and distance models.
• Determine the stakeholders, solicit input, and establish ongoing communication (throughout the entire process).
• Research and map visually sensitive resources in partnership with cultural resource experts and stakeholders (Section 106 Considerations).
• Identify Landscape Similarity Zones (LSZ).
• Identify potential Key Observation Points (KOP).
• Field photography, survey, and videography.
• Line of sight cross sections and curvature of the earth models.
• Visual simulations.
• Professional rating panel.
• Reporting, results, and mitigation.
![Page 5: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Traditional Viewshed Analysis
• ViewshedanalysisisthefirststepindeterminingtheAPE.
• Desktop analysis designed to establish potential baseline geographic
visibility.
• Of 125 acres in the study area 97.6 acres may have potential visibility.
• 77.5% percent of the study area requires some level of further
Investigation to determine actual visibility.
![Page 6: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Traditional Viewshed Analysis
• AddingNLCDvegetationreducesthevisiblearea.
• Of 125 acres in the study area 68.3 acres may have visibility.
• 54.3% percent of the study area requires some level of further
Investigation to determine actual visibility.
![Page 7: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Lidarhassignificantlyincreasedtheaccuracyofviewshedanalysis.
• Of 125 acres in the study area 11.5 acres may have visibility.
• 9.1% percent of the study area requires some level of further
investigation to determine actual visibility.
Advanced Viewshed Analysis
![Page 8: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Advanced Viewshed Analysis
![Page 9: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Field Verification - Cultural Significance, Historical Significance, Setting, and Sense of Place
![Page 10: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Field Verification
![Page 11: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Field Verification
![Page 12: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Curvature of the Earth
![Page 13: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Curvature of the Earth
1500 �
500 �
0 �5.0 mi 10 mi 15.0 mi 20.0 mi 25.0 mi 30.0 mi 35.0 mi
1000 �
1500 �
500 �
0 �5.0 mi 10 mi 15.0 mi 20.0 mi 25.0 mi 30.0 mi 35.0 mi
1000 �
• Curvature of the earth becomes a major factor in screening wind turbines beyond 20 miles when viewing from beach level.
• Elevatedviewscanextentthelineofsightsubstantially.
![Page 14: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
• Whenviewingturbineatsuchdistances,evenoncleardays,theyareincrediblydifficulttodecipheronthehorizonundermostconditions.
1200 MM
Viewing Conditions and Earth Curvature
![Page 15: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
1200 MM
• Exceptionsdooccur,buttheseeventslastforacoupleofminutesduringveryspecificatmosphericconditions.
Viewing Conditions and Earth Curvature
![Page 16: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Viewing Conditions and Earth Curvature
1200 MM
• Andatnighttime.
![Page 17: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
50 MM
Viewing Conditions and Earth Curvature
![Page 18: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
500 MM
Viewing Conditions and Earth Curvature
![Page 19: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
50 MM
Viewing Conditions and Earth Curvature
![Page 20: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Lessons Learned
What have we learned from the Block Island Wind Farm
• Verificationoftheoreticalmodelsdealingwithcurvatureandatmosphericrefraction.
• Excellentopportunitytogatherpublicopinion.
• Beyond20miles,theBlockIslandWindFarmbecomesdifficulttodiscerntotheaverageviewer.
• Elevatedviewsarehavethehighestprobabilityofvisibility.
• Turbinemovementisdifficulttodiscernoverlongdistances.
• FAAsignalsarethemostvisiblecomponentfromshore(nighttime).
• Coast Guard signals are of minimal visual concern due to earth curvature and diminishment over distance.
• Long distance viewing is impacted by slight atmospheric changes, waves, and background sky color.
![Page 21: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Next Steps
Now What?
• Formal public surveys.
• Rating panel review.
• Increasing the realism of simulations.
• Atmospheric/visibilitymonitoring.
![Page 22: Visual Impact Assessment - Offshore Wind · 2018-01-03 · Visual Impact Assessment is not subjective (i.e. in the eye of the beholder). It is a detailed scientific process designed](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022013008/5e637e5312c3c2564c2cb19f/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Thank You