Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Visualisations
9.2.16 The survey of the study area also included the viewpoint photography for the visual
assessment, according to Visual Analysis of Windfarms Good Practice Guidance.
Photographs were taken with a digital SLR camera (Canon EOS 5D) using a 21 million pixel
image taken at 50mm focal length. All photography was taken using a tripod mounted camera
at a viewing height of approximately 1.7m, and location data recorded with a hand-held GPS.
9.2.17 The viewpoint analysis is illustrated with photographs and wireframes, with selective
viewpoints additionally supported with a photomontage. Wireframes have been produced
using the GPS data and WindFarm computer software, based on OS Landform Panorama
data. All of the photographs, wireframes and photomontages have been produced to record a
75 degree angle of view which is considered to represent the maximum angle of view that is
seen at one time by a static viewer.
9.2.18 For this assessment, the visualisations have been presented with a comfortable viewing
distance from the page. Panoramas, wireframe views and photomontages are presented with
a 300mm viewing distance (curved projection) at 395 x 130mm print dimensions.
9.2.19 The photomontages relate to specific viewpoints and they assess the change in views from
those locations. These receptors were chosen either to assess the significance of change
from specific sensitive receptors, or as a representative view from a group of potential
receptors.
Field Survey
9.2.20 The limitations of the ZTV mean that while the ZTVs are used as a starting point in the
assessment, providing an indication of where the development will theoretically be visible, they
do not provide a completely accurate or representative impression of the visibility of the wind
energy development. Site survey is used to gain a more detailed, localised impression of
visibility of the wind energy development.
9.2.21 The field survey informs various parts of the assessment, including landscape effects, visual
effects, sequential effects, and cumulative effects.
9.2.22 An initial field survey was undertaken in April 2010, and further field survey work has been
undertaken for this assessment over a number of months from May 2010 until the finalisation
of the LVIA Report in September 2010. The study area was travelled extensively during the
field study to verify the extent of the ZTV maps. The dates when the study area was explored
and viewpoints taken are as follows: 29 April, 30 April, 3 May, 4 May, 9 May, 13 July, 23 July,
25 July, 1 August, 19 August, 22 August, 27 August, 30 August, and 2 September.
9.2.23 The site visit days were chosen to coincide with good visibility (15km to 25km) forecast,
however it still proved difficult to achieve high quality photography due to the haze on the
horizon and quickly moving clouds and sudden rain showers. Therefore several viewpoints
had to be revisited to gain an acceptable standard of photography.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 7
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