A visual preference survey is a technique for obtaining public feedback on physical design alternatives. It is often used when designing zoning codes, planning redevelopment, and conducting urban planning research.
The survey consists of a series of images that participants must score according to their preference. The images may be actual photographs or computer-simulated images depicting potential urban environments. The participants' input is then used to make decisions about the future built environment.
This technique was developed by urban planner Anton Tony Nelessen in the late 1970s, and it grew in popularity during the 1990s. The method has been criticized on the basis that lighting, weather, and background activities might influence preferences. In part this is corrected by using simulated imagery, but simulations themselves may be misleading when compared with actual photographs. Recent plans utilizing visual preference surveys include Denver, Topeka, New Castle, and Orlando.