Expert Opinion Dimensions of Rural Landscape Quality in Xiangxi, Hunan, China: Principal Component Analysis and Factor Analysis

Abstract

Scholars and planning/design professionals are interested in the quantitative, metric properties influencing the quality and assessment of rural landscape space. These metrics are important for guiding rural planning, design, and construction of cultural rural environments. Respondents and metrics from four sampled villages (Qixin, Hangsha, Yanpai Xi, and Lvdong) in the Xiangxi District of Hunan Province in China were examined, employing statistical principal component analysis and factor analysis methods to understand the identifying properties concerning planning and design features of these rural mountain village landscape spaces. The two approaches reveal different aspects from the same variables. Through factor analysis and rotation, four general dimensions were revealed explaining approximately 62% of the variance: a settlement and environmental axis, an intangible culture axis, a productive landscape axis, and a transportation and public space axis, supporting the standing notion that the variables were ordinated across four dimensions in these mountain villages and occupied an elliptical plane that was different than the predicted space occupied by nearby cites. In contrast, principal component analysis revealed that the variables could be grouped into one latent dimension explaining 48% of the variance and revealing an alternative interpretation and spatial plot of the sites.

The American Landscape Architecture Research Universe and a Higher Education Ordination: Descriptive Insights into the Discipline and Profession of Landscape Architecture

“…The intent is not to show which is better, but rather to identify similarities and differences. The plots can depict an educational univers in a manner similar to other types of plots [29][30][31][32][33][34].…”

“…stated Dr. Burley. With this basic analytic tool (PCA), other kinds of studies related to garden design, cemeteries, cultural heritage landscapes, and paintings have been examined by those working with Dr. Burley [29][30][31][32][33][34].…”

Identifying Key Criteria for Quality Assessment of Landscape Architecture Projects

“…Economic benefits are assessed by the evidence-based design anchored in quantitative performance assessment of landscape design [9]. The results obtained by the principal component analysis and factor analysis methods revealed that the specific character and unique landform of landscape can be quantitatively described to underline its specific differences from other nearby settlements [10]. As stated by the international group of researchers, analysis of key factors for environmental sustainability reflecting on the traditional architecture reveal that the priority factor is creating engagement between buildings and other urban and natural systems as landscape [11].…”

“…While analysing landscape quality components researchers emphasise such intangible cultural factors as folk customs, inheritance of folk art, etc. [10] Sustainable performance and operation of a project is one of its key aspects. Analysing sustainability of an urban district requires more data processing than that for a single building taken in isolation from the processes in its surroundings.…”

Thermal-comfort evaluation of and plan for public space of Maling Village, Henan, China

“…Approximately half the world’s population lives in rural areas [ 1 ], the outdoor spaces of which have great functional importance in the residents’ lives. Rapid urbanisation has disturbed the rural outdoor environment [ 2 ]. In the past, rural planning has primarily considered spatial layout, culture, ecology, and other village functions [ 3 , 4 ].…”