Article: Visualising micro-renewal in rural landscapes: design and application of co-creation tool Journal: International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP) 2025 Vol.75 No.5 pp.1 - 22 Abstract: The growing urban-rural disparity in China has exacerbated rural depopulation and weakened vitality. This study integrates image entropy calculations and visual analysis to innovate rural landscape renewal, offering a technology-driven and community-centred approach to revitalisation. Central to this research is a co-creation tool enabling residents to actively participate in enhancing rural landscapes and improving perceptual experiences and satisfaction. By applying entropy image analysis, the study assesses key visual elements - clarity, openness, density, complexity\, and expressiveness - revealing their influence on residents' perceptions of beauty, comfort, and pleasure. The entropy-based visual analysis framework underpins the development of a co-creation tool that fosters greater resident engagement, as surveys confirm enhanced satisfaction and involvement in renovation projects. This tool facilitates collaboration among developers, locals, and visitors, ensuring alignment with community needs and preferences. Ultimately, the study advances rural development by leveraging technology to empower residents and create more engaging, appealing landscapes. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Visualising micro-renewal in rural landscapes: design and application of co-creation tool

Authors: Weijia Wang; Donghong Zhou; Lu Yan; Qianfei Sun; Youping Teng

Addresses: School of Art and Archaeology, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China; College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310063, China ' School of Industrial Design, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, 310009, China ' Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan ' School of Art and Archaeology, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, China ' School of Art and Archaeology, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, China

Abstract: The growing urban-rural disparity in China has exacerbated rural depopulation and weakened vitality. This study integrates image entropy calculations and visual analysis to innovate rural landscape renewal, offering a technology-driven and community-centred approach to revitalisation. Central to this research is a co-creation tool enabling residents to actively participate in enhancing rural landscapes and improving perceptual experiences and satisfaction. By applying entropy image analysis, the study assesses key visual elements - clarity, openness, density, complexity\, and expressiveness - revealing their influence on residents' perceptions of beauty, comfort, and pleasure. The entropy-based visual analysis framework underpins the development of a co-creation tool that fosters greater resident engagement, as surveys confirm enhanced satisfaction and involvement in renovation projects. This tool facilitates collaboration among developers, locals, and visitors, ensuring alignment with community needs and preferences. Ultimately, the study advances rural development by leveraging technology to empower residents and create more engaging, appealing landscapes.

Keywords: micro-renewal; visualisation; co-creation tool; rural landscape; rural scene optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2025.146551

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2025 Vol.75 No.5, pp.1 - 22

Received: 09 Jan 2025
Accepted: 16 Apr 2025
Published online: 02 Jun 2025 *

Title: Visualising micro-renewal in rural landscapes: design and application of co-creation tool

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