Evaluation of visual landscape quality in Global Geopark based on an SBE-GIS coupled model

Global Geoparks possess both scientific significance and tourism appeal; however, their landscape types are highly diverse and the dimensions of visual quality are multifaceted, making it difficult for any single assessment approach to simultaneously capture subjective aesthetic preferences and objective visibility.This study takes Longyan Global Geopark as the research object, aiming to construct a Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE)-GIS coupled model to overcome the limitations of single methods. It quantifies the visual quality and spatial differences of core scenic spots, thereby providing quantitative support for the park's landscape protection and tourism route optimization, as well as a promotable technical pathway for the evaluation of similar composite landscapes.

A visual-quality assessment of representative geosites in the Longyan Global Geopark was conducted using the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method, GIS-based visual-sensitivity analysis, and a coupled SBE-GIS model.

(1) SBE effectively captured observers' subjective aesthetic preferences and highlighted individual perceptual differences, yet consistently undervalued landscapes that are small in scale, distant from viewpoints, cognitively demanding, or dominated by purely geological phenomena.(2) GIS quantified landscape visibility at the macro-scale, successfully identifying large, steep areas adjacent to visitor routes as highly sensitive, but remained incapable of resolving micro-textures or cultural elements.(3) By integrating subjective aesthetics with objective spatial metrics, the SBE-GIS coupled model significantly reduced the biases inherent in either method alone, producing visual-quality scores that more faithfully represent the heterogeneous landscapes of global geoparks.

Given the complexity of heterogeneous landscape types, the coupled model should be the preferred option. We recommend (1) raising the GIS weight when protection is the primary management objective, thereby reinforcing spatial-sensitivity constraints, and (2) increasing the SBE weight when the focus is on visitor experience, so that subjective aesthetic preferences are emphasized; both adjustments advance scientifically informed decision-making for geopark landscape conservation and tourism management.