The Effects of Tree’s Shape and Electric Aables on People’s Evaluation of Street Trees

Abstract

The purposes of this study are to clarify 1) the people’s evaluation of the shape of street trees and the conflicts with these overhead lines, 2) the problems in terms of the maintenance of street trees, 3) the factors of each types of tree form and the future direction of maintenance pruning, from various aspects. In this study, we focused on maidenhair tree (Gingko biloba L.) as a case study in Kyoto city. Through experiments on evaluation of them by using Semantic Differential method, some questionnaire investigations and interviews targeting residents living along main streets, we typed the existing state of the shape of street trees. Through the experiments, we found the shape of trees that evaluated highly and trees conflicts with overhead lines gave an artificial and negative impression on the people. Through the questionnaire investigations and interviews with landscape architects, gardeners and an officer of department of urban greening, we found the existence of overhead lines is one of the obstacles to proper maintenance and the shape of trees that evaluated highly is created by using a traditional pruning method, which thins the branches.