Using virtual reality to examine perceptions of coherence, complexity, and time with vegetation layout

Bibliographic Data

ID11168348
AuthorsMadelaine Kinnebrew Crocker (University of Georgia), Jessica Fernandez (0000-0003-0047-9659, University of Georgia), David Spooner (University of Georgia), David L Spooner (University of Georgia), Ruiqi Yang (0000-0001-6256-5021, University of Georgia), Ryan Fernandez (University of Georgia), Pai Liu (0000-0002-7396-3751, Dalian University of Technology, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume51
Issue1
Pages83-101
Publication date2026-01-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLandscape Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0142-6397 • E-ISSN: 1469-9710
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01426397.2025.2510403
OpenAlexW4411964450
LanguageEN
References cited41

Designers influence people’s perception of time and experience of place through the built environment, yet the consequences of particular design decisions remain mostly elusive. This study explores the use of virtual reality to investigate the relationship between site users’ perceptions of time and landscape aesthetics, specifically the coherence and complexity of an outdoor planting design. An experimental research design included four groups of study participants moving through a modelled campus path with different cases of vegetation layouts. Then, the participants took part in structured focus group interviews (n = 16). Analysis included in-depth thematic qualitative coding of the textual information as well as computational text assessments, and findings were corroborated with existing literature to consider the soundness and potential benefits of this methodological approach. This study suggests how virtual reality can be used to isolate the design variable of vegetation to better understand the outcomes of planting design decisions

Aesthetics · Art · Coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) · Human–computer interaction · Perception · Statistics · Vegetation (pathology) · Virtual reality · Computer Science · Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Mathematics · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health

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