The degree of realism of GIS-based virtual landscapes: Implications for spatial planning

Communicating planning results within expert groups or to local citizens is crucial for the planning process to be efficient. Although 2-dimensional representations are still predominantly used in spatial planning, recently digital 3D-visualizations have become more common. However, the validation of simulations of virtual landscapes regarding their degree of realism has so far been neglected in research. By modelling a GIS-based virtual landscape encompassing the region of Schwyz and Ingenbohl-Brunnen in Central Switzerland, it is investigated to which degree the real visually perceived landscape can be validly represented by a digital virtual landscape.