Assessment of the visual impact of wind turbines on the landscape

Author, institution: Jonas Abromas, Kaunas University of Technology

Science area, field: Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering

The Doctoral Dissertation is available at the libraries of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio St. 20, Kaunas) and Lithuanian Energy Institute (Breslaujos St. 3, Kaunas).

Scientific Supervisor:

Prof. Dr. Jūratė KAMIČAITYTĖ-VIRBAŠIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T).

Board of Environmental Engineering Science Field:

Prof. Dr. Habil. Jurgis Kazimieras STANIŠKIS (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T) – chairman;

Prof. Dr. Olga ANNE (Klaipėda University, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T);

Prof. Dr. Petras GRECEVIČIUS (Klaipėda University, Humanities, History and Theory of Arts – 03H);

Prof. Dr. Arvydas POVILAITIS (Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T);

Prof. Dr. Žaneta STASIŠKIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T).

Official Opponents:

Prof. Dr. Marija BURINSKIENĖ (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T);

Prof. Dr. Habil. Saulius VAIKASAS (Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T).

Annotation:

The first chapter analyses the trends in wind turbine development across the globe as well as in Lithuania, and discusses the types of wind turbines, their technical and visual parameters, and visibility factors.
Once the theoretical background of the assessment of visual quality and impact on the landscape is discussed in Chapter 2, practical experience of the assessment in Lithuania and foreign countries is examined. The end of the chapter determines methodological aspects of the assessment of visual impact relevant for assessing the impact of wind turbines on the landscape of Lithuania.
Chapter 3 presents the structure of the assessment methodology, and the most important phases in detail: visual impact zoning, and selecting the monitoring points; assessment of the nature of impact, visibility and significance; calculation of the size of vertical viewing angle. Principles for evaluating the ecological and emotional potential of the landscape, and environmental impact modelling are discussed.
Methods developed in Chapter 4 have been applied during the assessment of the visual impact of wind turbines on the landscape: the observation sites have been established; the nature of impact and its significance and degree of contrast have been evaluated. The second part of the Chapter presents the research on the search for potential zones for building wind farms, taking into account their visual impact on the landscape (assessment of the ecological and emotional potential of the landscape; public opinion research; the environmental impact modelling tools). Prepare proposals for modelling (optimization) of wind turbines’ visual impact on the landscape.