Using expert and spectral methods to assess visually attractive urban informal green spaces in Lublin, Poland.

Abstract The objectives of the study is to develop the criteria for expert assesment of visual attractiveness of informal urban green spaces and compare results with indicators derived from spectral indexes and GIS data. The study area is Lublin in Poland, a medium-sized European city. Expert assessment includes: general assessment - defining overall attractiveness, naturalness, landscape contrast and uniqueness. We juxtaposed the results with spectral indexes and GIS data. The analyses were performed for the target areas and a 300 m buffers around them. The spectral indexes largely confirm the results of the expert assessment. Clear relationship exists between overall attractiveness and temperature and between landscape contrast and temperature. Areas with greater landscape contrast also have a larger difference in index values between the area and the buffer. There is a positive correlation between overall attractiveness and land slope. Spectral indexes also indicated the value of some sites that received a lower expert assessment. We suggest that the most visually attractive areas be called “enchanted natural places" (ENPs) as a tool for formalising the protection of these areas. Spectral indexes confirm the values of ENPs, but also shown the value of sites with lower expert assessment, more common “bushes and shrubs”.