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. 2023 Jan 24:11:1089423.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1089423. eCollection 2023.

An eye-tracking study on visual perception of vegetation permeability in virtual reality forest exposure

Chang Li  1 , Chunlan Du  2   3 , Shutong Ge  1 , Tong Tong  1
Affiliations

An eye-tracking study on visual perception of vegetation permeability in virtual reality forest exposure

Chang Li et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Previous studies have confirmed the significant effects of single forest stand attributes, such as forest type (FT), understory vegetation cover (UVC), and understory vegetation height (UVH) on visitors' visual perception. However, rarely study has yet clearly determined the relationship between vegetation permeability and visual perception, while the former is formed by the interaction of multiple forest stand attributes (i.e., FT, UVC, UVH). Based on a mixed factor matrix of FT (i.e., coniferous forests and broadleaf), UVC level (i.e., 10, 60, and 100%), and UVH level (0.1, 1, and 3 m), the study creates 18 immersive virtual forest videos with different stand attributes. Virtual reality eye-tracking technology and questionnaires are used to collect visual perception data from viewing virtual forest videos. The study finds that vegetation permeability which is formed by the interaction effect of canopy density (i.e., FT) and understory density (i.e., UVC, UVH), significantly affects participant's visual perception: in terms of visual physiology characteristics, pupil size is significantly negatively correlated with vegetation permeability when participants are viewing virtual reality forest; in terms of visual psychological characteristics, the understory density formed by the interaction of UVC and UVH has a significant impact on visual attractiveness and perceived safety and the impact in which understory density is significantly negatively correlated with perceived safety. Apart from these, the study finds a significant negative correlation between average pupil diameter and perceived safety when participants are viewing virtual reality forests. The findings may be beneficial for the maintenance and management of forest parks, as well as provide insights into similar studies to explore urban public green spaces.

Keywords: eye-tracking; interaction effect; vegetation permeability; virtual reality; visual preference.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Research stimulus of coniferous forest in the virtual reality video display. VP, vegetation permeability.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Research stimulus of broadleaved forest in virtual reality video display. VP, vegetation permeability.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The experimental flow chart in vegetation permeability analysis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic screenshots of VR video used as stimuli.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Flow diagram of the experimental procedure.
Figure 6
Figure 6
View schematic of the virtual reality eye-tracking experiment.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Research framework. FT, forest type; UVC, understory vegetation cover; UVH, understory vegetation height; BF, broadleaved forest; CF, coniferous forest.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The interaction of UVC and UVH on average pupil diameter. UVC, understory vegetation cover; UVH, understory vegetation height. **p < 0.01.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The interaction difference of UVC and UVH on average pupil diameter in two forest types. UVC, understory vegetation cover; UVH, understory vegetation height. **p < 0.01.
Figure 10
Figure 10
The interaction of UVC and UVH on visual attraction. UVC, understory vegetation cover; UVH, understory vegetation height. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.
Figure 11
Figure 11
The interaction of UVC and UVH on perceived safety. UVC, understory vegetation cover; UVH, understory vegetation height. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.
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