Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
• ASH Consulting Group, (1999), Central Region landscape character assessment,
Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 123;
• David Tyldesley and Associates, (1999), Stirling to Grangemouth landscape
character assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 124;
• David Tyldesley and Associates, (1999), Fife landscape character assessment,
Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 113;
• ASH Consulting Group, (1998), The Lothians landscape character assessment,
Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 91; and
• Land Use Consultants, (1999), Glasgow and the Clyde Valley landscape
assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 116.
Graphics and Visualisations
Visibility Maps
9.2.10 Computer generated Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) maps have been generated using
WindFarm computer software to demonstrate the number of turbines that may theoretically
be seen from any point in the study area.
9.2.11 There are two ZTVs; the first, shown in Figure 9.7, indicates the number of turbines with hubs
that are theoretically visible across the 35km radius while the second, shown in Figure 9.8
indicates the number of turbines with blade tips that are theoretically visible across a 35km
radius.
9.2.12 These maps are based on a ‘bare ground’ model (Ordnance Survey (OS) Landform Panorama
data based on a 50m grid terrain model derived from 1:50,000 scale mapping). This
information is limited by the detail of the digital terrain model data used and this should be
borne in mind in the consideration and use of the ZTVs.
9.2.13 The ZTV maps do not take into account that areas within the ZTV zone can compromise
woodland, hedgerows and built urban form or other local features that may prevent or reduce
visibility. The ZTV maps do not take account of the orientation of a viewer, such as the
direction of travel and while they do allow for factors such as earth curvature and atmospheric
refraction there is no allowance for attenuation of visibility with distance, weather or light.
Localised subtleties of the landform may not be picked up by this dataset and as such the
resulting ZTV calculation does not include the subtle effects of localised landform variations.
9.2.14 The ZTV maps do not indicate the amount of each wind turbine that can be seen, simply that
part of it which is potentially visible.
9.2.15 These limitations mean that the ZTV maps tend to overestimate the extent of the influence on
the landscape and visibility of the proposal. It should be considered as a tool to assist in
assessing the theoretical visibility of the proposal and not a measure of the visual impact.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 6
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