Computer-based visualization of forest management: A primer for resource managers, communities, and educators

Landscape visualizations are pictures of real places seen in perspective that show visible or non-visible features or recognizable landscapes in the future, the present, or the past. This paper is intended to provide an introduction to landscape visualization technology for rural communities, planning professionals, and educators who are interested in, but are generally unfamiliar with, the use of visualization in environmental planning and management. In non-technical terms, we describe what landscape visualization is and how visualization datasets are assembled. We also provide examples of how landscape visualizations can be used in resource management, predictive ecosystem modeling and community consultation.