of aspects such as geology, hydrology, soils, ecology, settlement patterns, cultural history, scenic characteristics, land use etc., has previously been set out in a Landscape Character Assessment. The landscape assessment, as part of LVIA, is the formal examination of how this character may be affected, typically in order to inform development management decisions. This is because landscape character can be affected without a noticeable visual effect. Area-based assessment This assessment can be completed at the regional scale as well as district, city, or catchment scale. This process is used to determine a baseline and also guide landscape management. The process consists of three stages: landscape description, landscape characterization, and landscape evaluation. Landscape description The first step in completing an area-based assessment is to compile data in order to identify components of the landscape within a project area. Components of a landscape range from landform, geology, soil, vegetation cover, drainage patterns, built development, land uses, infrastructure, and heritage sites to cultural meaning. This step in the assessment of a landscape is not site specific, but instead, a general description of the landscape. Landscape Character Assessment (or Landscape characterisation) This step in the assessment refers to the process of identification, mapping, and description of landscape character areas and/or types. Landscape character areas are unique named geographical areas made up by a combination of individual landscape components (and possibly types) that make one area different from another area and which are recognised by the community. Landscape character types are more generic in nature and represent areas of shared characteristics. The characterisation of a landscape should begin to define the boundaries of the area being assessed. For more information see Landscape Character Assessment Landscape evaluation The last step in an area-based assessment is the evaluation process. This is a critical phase in the assessment process because landscape evaluations are the driving force behind landscape design, planning and management and development management. Here, the assessment should identify important landscapes or natural features and assign rankings and priorities to features that require management. Drawback The evaluation process in the assessment is subjective and dependent on the person completing the assessment and the extent of community involvement or reference to suitable evaluation criteria. Evaluations can therefore sometimes be controversial, particularly when they may limit development ambitions. Therefore, the assessment should always be completed by professionals who are trained to make accurate judgments of a landscape. Proposal-driven assessment