Affective Qualities of an Urban Environment on a Desktop Computer

For communication of design plans, city councils and other local governments require that 3D models are developed quickly, at minimum expense, and they can be made available online. Users, generally citizens, increasingly expect that the models are a photorealistic and truthful representation of the future situation. Despite the advancements in graphics in recent years, the budget, the platform available, and the requirements of use are restraining factors for the visual quality of a 3D model. The question of the validity of models for assessment of urban development plans is therefore increasingly relevant. In this empirical field study we compared the affective qualities of a 3D model designed for online assessment and communication of urban development, with those of the urban environment in reality. The model was considered more pleasant, more modern and more uniform than the area in reality. This can be explained by specific characteristics of this type of model, such as the lively colours and the clean surfaces.