The Hong Kong government commissioned one of the first national landscape assessments in Asia, after deciding that the entire landscape of Hong Kong should be mapped, characterised and evaluated. Using a transparent process adapted from the Countryside Agency and US academic research criteria, the project was led by Urbis, supported by experts from the UK and New Zealand, as well as heritage experts, ecologists and GIS specialists from Hong Kong.

The team synthesised approaches from across the world to produce a tailored methodology. A GIS database on landscape resources was generated for interactive interrogation, dealing equally with urban landscapes, rural landscapes and coastal landscapes. A new indicator of ‘Significant Landscape Features’ became part of the Government’s routine sustainability assessment.

A ‘decision tree’ provides a clear structure for evaluation, and any departure from this process requires justification.  This exposes how decisions have been arrived at, and provides a base for further deliberations.