Integrating social media and survey data to map social landscape value in diverse municipal contexts

Understanding public preferences regarding landscapes is vital for effective spatial planning and landscape management. This study investigates the combined use of social media data (specifically Instagram images) and traditional surveys to identify socially valued landscapes in six diverse municipalities in Poland. A total of 48,386 Instagram images published in 2022 tagged with the names of selected localities in Lower Silesia were collected, of which 7,022 landscape-related, geolocated images were selected for content analysis. These data were complemented by a survey conducted among 126 residents. The results indicate a clear and consistent preference for forested and historic urban landscapes. Across the study area, 15,183 landscape elements were identified, with technical infrastructure being the most frequently occurring (3,271 instances, or 22%), followed by vegetation (19%), buildings (16%), and forest (11%). While Instagram users tended to highlight visual and aesthetic qualities, survey participants expressed a broader range of views, including concerns about environmental degradation and infrastructural shortcomings. This dual-method approach offers a more nuanced and comprehensive perspective on how different landscape types meet social, cultural, and recreational needs. By combining crowd-sourced visual data with residents’ qualitative insights, the study provides a robust evaluation of the most socially valued landscape types. The findings demonstrate the potential of integrating digital and conventional methods to support landscape policy development and participatory planning practices.