Visual Impact Assessments prepared for VCAT expert evidence are about telling a story as much as they are about assessing development in a spatial context. They help stakeholders take in the many facets of a future development, so that its visual impact can be fully appreciated and considered. Ultimately, it’s about supporting informed planning decisions.

Examples of visual assessment techniques include preparation of accurate photomontages, built form modelling, photographic streetscape analysis, sightline drawings, and more. These tools help planners, designers and stakeholders assess project impacts and consider appropriate mitigation measures.

Why is visualisation important for planning approvals?

Thorough visualisation outputs support evidence-based decision-making, by communicating design intent and visual impact. As a result, this improves stakeholder understanding and reduces uncertainty in the planning process.

We use a range of industry recognised techniques from early stage built form testing to inform development potential and design parameters, to detailed assessments to support planning permit applications, and provide independent expert evidence for VCAT and Panel Hearings.

Delivery of these services assists in evaluating the visual implications of proposed developments and informing decision-making throughout planning and review processes.

Planning approvals

For planning applications, design reviews and stakeholder engagement, the visualisation team at Ratio draws on deep expertise across sectors.  We apply robust, industry-accepted methodology to create high-quality visualisations that clearly demonstrate proposed outcomes, including visibility assessments and visual impact analyses to support planning permit applications and expert evidence packages.

How do we ensure visual assessments are accurate?

We evaluate visual effects using robust, evidence-based methodologies refined through years of planning and urban design experience. By combining technical accuracy with clear visual communication, we ensure that planning authorities, clients and the community can confidently understand the visual implications of a proposal.

Ratio has extensive experience preparing Visual Impact Assessments for planning permit applications, Planning Panels Victoria and VCAT proceedings. Our ongoing involvement in expert evidence reinforces the importance of producing visual material that is objective, transparent and technically defensible, with clear and compelling graphic communication.

Why does in-house visualisation improve project outcomes?

We work closely with Ratio’s planning, transport, urban design, waste, landscape and civil services.  Harnessing a multidisciplinary approach allows us to develop a clear understanding of the relevant issues and provide assessments that are tailored to the needs of the project.

By providing a reliable representation of future outcomes our visual assessments enable clients and project teams to identify potential issues early in the design process, and refine proposals to achieve improved outcomes.

What makes Ratio’s planning visualisations different?

• Integrated urban design expertise: Our visualisation specialists are urban designers, who combine advanced visualisation techniques with deep urban design expertise to produce visual outputs that not only accurately represent built form outcomes, but inform considered design and impact assessments.
• Evidence-based design evaluation: Our verifiable and evidence-based approach helps communicate complex urban design issues, assess design responses within their context, identify potential visual impacts early, and optimise outcomes before formal assessment.
• Stronger planning outcomes: Visual evidence prepared using accepted methodologies supports informed discussions between applicants, consultants, stakeholders and planning authorities, strengthening planning submissions and assisting planning permit, review, expert evidence and VCAT processes.

Examples of visualisation services at Ratio:

• Visual impact assessments
• 3D Built-Form Modelling
• 2D & 3D Topographic Analysis
• Shadow Diagrams and Analysis
• Photographic Streetscape Analysis
• Built Form Analysis
• Development Capacity Assessment
• Plot Ratio / FAR Analysis
• GIS Mapping
• Sightline Assessments
• Shrine Vista Control Assessment

Whether you’re assessing built form impacts, testing signage outcomes, or preparing planning applications, our urban design and visualisation team can help you understand and communicate a project’s visual impact before construction is underway.

Learn more about our visualisation services here.