Journal of Scientific Research and Development 3 (4): 133-137, 2016 Available online at www.jsrad.org ISSN 1115-7569 © 2016 JSRAD 133 Application of ecological attributes in the contemporary landscape assessment research Jamilah Othman * , Muhammad Faris Abdullah, Azila Ahmad Sarkawi, Fadzidah Abdullah, NurEmira Ahmad Kamaruddin Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia Abstract: Ecological attributes are most commonly associated to nature-based landscape assessment. But their applications are less discussed in the non-nature based landscape assessment. This paper reviews a collection of 31 journal articles, which were published between 1974 and 2015. The results show that ecological attributes such as water, vegetation and landform, have increasingly featured in various studies on non-nature based landscape assessment studies. This suggests that ecological attributes can support and enhance the assessment of both nature- and non-nature-based landscapes significantly. To this end, this paper also proposes a preliminary ecological model for landscape assessment research. Key words: Ecological attributes; Scenic beauty; Landscape assessment 1. Introduction * Ecological attributes are more commonly applied to nature-based landscape assessment but less on non-nature-based landscape assessment. Previous work by scholars such as Daniel (2001); Palmer (2008); Jamilah, (2011) and etc., which have focused heavily on the application of ecological attributes in the nature-based landscape may have, in part, give credence to this prevalent misconception. Ecology is always closely linked to landscape quality and landscape assessment. High concern and interest in scenic landscapes with ecological issues can be found in the studies of Jogensen (2011); Kovacs, LeRoy, Fischer, Lubarsky and Burke (2006); Parsons and Daniel (2002) and Daniel (2001). This suggests that application of ecological attributes in landscape assessment should be more widespread and, should not limited to nature-based landscape assessment only. This paper reviews a collection of journal articles to identify the common ecological attributes that have been used in both nature- and non-nature- based landscape assessment studies. The aim is to show that ecological attributes are importantly relevant in both types of landscape assessment. It is hoped that the findings from this study would provide the impetus for further researches and developments on landscape assessment methods, especially where ecological attributes play a greater role in the non-nature- based landscape assessment. 2. Landscape assessment * Corresponding Author. Scenic beauty is among the landscape values, which is assessed using expert, public experiential, cognitive and psychophysical methods (Zube et al., 1982). Sometimes researcher uses Scenic Beauty Assessment (SBA) to determine healthy environment that would be the basis to landscape integrity, which involves visual interpretation of the landscapes perceived. This involves scenic preferences for different types of landscape (Unwin, 1975). The method describes the manner, where peoples of various backgrounds interpret and judge a landscape. The results of the assessment should be easily understood and applied for better landscape management practices, landscape design and planning decisions. The method was clearly stated in the work of Zube et al. (1982). In the design-based research, quantifying scenic quality should be the consequence of a management action (Buhyoff et al., 1994). Importantly, many ecological attributes of a landscape are important indicators of the health of an environment. Scenic value might be the primary indicator to an intrinsic landscape, since it triggers positive responses in people (Anderson and Schroeder, 1983). The value would also be the indicator to guide and plan for better management of public landscapes with ecological value (Jamilah et al., 2011). 3. Ecological attributes Some ecological values should be restored or screened as early as the planning stage for balance ecosystems and sustainable environment (Beer and Higgins, 1990). Scenic landscapes can be associated with valuable ecology and healthy environment. There are some ecological attributes that have strongly influenced the scenic beauty of a natural