During the initial phases of a project, such as site selection and design concept, the landscape architect begins to identify areas of opportunity or setbacks that may provide constraints.
The architect prepares alternative options in order to compare their assessments and identifies the proposals which allow for the least adverse effects on the landscape or views.
This would look at how changes in the landscape could alter the nature and extent of visual effects and qualities relating to locations and proposals and how they affect specific individuals or groups of people.
The landscape assessment, as part of LVIA, is the formal examination of how this character may be affected, typically in order to inform development management decisions.
The first step in completing an area-based assessment is to compile data in order to identify components of the landscape within a project area.
Components of a landscape range from landform, geology, soil, vegetation cover, drainage patterns, built development, land uses, infrastructure, and heritage sites to cultural meaning.
This step in the assessment refers to the process of identification, mapping, and description of landscape character areas and/or types.
This approach to complete an assessment serves to identify the potential effects on landscape values brought forth by a certain proposal.