| Poster: |
As more and more citizens realize the problems inherent in relying on traditional energy production methods, a shift towards alternative energy sources becomes inevitable. Wind power, as an alternative energy source, is no less controversial than its peers. One of the biggest complaints with wind power is that it represents a significant eyesore in otherwise pristine natural landscapes where wind farms may be planted. It is no wonder, then, that both those that want to stop wind farms from being built, and those that want to build them, are interested in the results of visual impact assessments. This poster will demonstrate, with real world projects in New York and Maine, what sorts of simulations to support a visual impact assessment can be created using ESRI's ArcINFO Desktop software. In doing so, the poster will show how ArcINFO can be used to help landscape architects, developers, and protesters come to a middle ground on where to place the wind farms that will power our future. |