Visual Environment Assessment and Analysis of the Main Contributing Factors to Visual Pollution in Baiji City "A Study in Environmental Geography"

Abstract

The right bank of Mosul city is facing a severe deterioration in its urban landscape due to the synergy of military repercussions, haphazard reconstruction, and the absence of planning standards, leading to the escalation of "Visual Pollution" and the blurring of architectural identity. Objective: This study aims to geographically and field-evaluate the causes and manifestations of visual pollution, monitoring its spatial variation across different neighborhoods. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and a quantitative statistical method by analyzing a survey distributed to (250) individuals using cluster sampling, alongside GIS techniques to map degradation levels. Findings: Results revealed that advertising chaos tops the pollutants at (92%), followed by solid waste (84%), and architectural color dissonance (80%). Spatial analysis showed that the Old City is the most affected by debris at (86%). The study recommends adopting a mandatory "Color and Architectural Code," governing the advertising sector, and enforcing municipal laws to impose fines on visual violations to restore the spatial identity.