Wirelines superimposed on photographs
221 One difficulty of comparing separate wirelines and photographs, is that it is often difficult to interpret the exact spatial relationship between elements in the two images. One alternative is to present the wireline superimposed upon the photograph as shown in figure 30. This is almost a hybrid between a wireline and a photomontage. It has the advantage that the time consuming rendering stage of photomontage construction is avoided; however, in order to achieve a satisfactory superimposition of wireline on
photograph, it is still necessary to achieve a quality of perspective match equal to that required for
photomontage.
Coloured 3D rendering
222 Wireline diagrams are not suitable for depicting all the works that may be associated with a windfarm, both individually and collectively, for example forestry works, access tracks and borrow pits. One solution, short of a full photomontage, is to use a coloured computer rendering of the scene. This can represent the additional features required, whilst retaining much of the abstract simplicity of a wireline diagram. These techniques are not widely used and different rendering packages offer different facilities, so it is difficult to make firm recommendations on this practice at this stage.
Figure31: Coloured rendering showing proposed forestry works associated with a windfarm
Hand drawn illustrations
223 Drawings and paintings have been used for centuries to illustrate proposed landscape or architectural change. However, it is the production of these using computers that has resulted in radical changes to the way images are conventionally presented, with an associated demand for these to be based on technical data for which accuracy can be measured.
224 There are instances, however, when hand drawn illustrations remain an invaluable tool to the process of visual analysis and the illustration of impacts within an ES. This is mainly because they can offer the
following:
• a clarity of image, by omitting some of the
distracting details that might be prominent within a photograph but which are actually overlooked on site;
• they can incorporate an element of interpretation by highlighting prominent focal features; and, finally,
• their limitations are obvious – they are clearly not trying to replicate an exact view as it would be seen by the human eye.
225 However, for these same reasons, hand drawn illustrations also have disadvantages, chiefly that their quality is closely linked to the nature and abilities of the illustrator and they may be distrusted for
incorporating 'artistic licence'. Hand drawn sketches are commonly included within ESs in two different formats as discussed below.
Diagrammatic sketches and annotated visualisations 226 Diagrammatic sketches allow the key visual elements
of the visual composition to be drawn out and
highlighted. This may be in relation to the landscape or the windfarm development, highlighting the main visual characteristics and principles of design. The
Figure32: Diagrammatic sketch of a landscape
advantage of using this medium is that important points can be stressed without these being clouded by insignificant details. In addition, these diagrams are clearly not attempting to replicate an actual view. 227 It is useful to include within an ES visualisations that
are annotated to show the position of key elements of the windfarm proposal, such as access tracks and borrow pits, in addition to the turbines. It is also useful to include turbine numbering on some of the
visualisations so that individual machines can be easily identified and cross referenced.
Free-hand sketches
228 Free-hand sketches may be based on just observation, or made in combination with a computer generated image. They can highlight the key visual elements or components of a view, similar to other hand drawn illustrations but, even better, they can also convey some of the elements of landscape experience, such as exposure, landform shape and colour. These can be used in combination with photographs within an ES, but should not be used as a substitute for these. Animation
229 Wind turbines are intrinsically dynamic objects, with large moving parts and variable orientation, so static images are in many ways an unsatisfying medium of illustration. Computer animation, videomontage and virtual reality techniques are being used to some extent to address this issue.
230 To date, most animation and videomontage has been used principally as a means of conveying a general impression of a development to the determining authority and the public, rather than as a tool for carrying out VIA or as part of an ES. However
considerable scope exists for their use in the future as various techniques are developed and presented, and then tested against windfarms once these have been Figure33: Free-hand
sketch of a landscape
built (similar to the scrutiny applied in the past to wirelines and photomontages). At present, the application of these techniques require specialist contractors.
231 Guidance on the various methods of animation is not within the scope of this study. However, it is hoped that supplementary information on this subject may be provided at a later date as the practice develops further.