景觀是人類生活中不可或缺的一部分，不論在實質功能或視覺觀感上，都扮演著重要的角色。景觀的科學性研究起源於將其視為一個完整的「生態系」，作為各種生物及非生物因子交互作用下的產物，並以整體論的觀點，研究景觀資源合理的空間配置。因此本研究參考英格蘭鄉村署所發展之「地景特質評估」，分析景觀中「明顯可辨且恆存的形態，能展現出地方特質」的組成。並盡可能顧及景觀各面性質，進行平溪、雙溪地區區域景觀規劃之先期評估及分析，以作為未來該區景觀規劃、或景觀保護的基礎。研究中將景觀以土地特質類型一視覺完整性的階層，依次劃分為十個景觀單元；經實地調查並加入意象元素後，逐五完成各區的地景特質描述。最後以「景觀對道路開發的敏感度」為例整合評估結果，期望能供日後景觀法中「重點景觀地區」計畫擬定及規劃之參考。

Landscape plays an important role both in tangible function and visual perception. Landscape ca be seen as an ecosystem, made of biotic and abiotic elements. Earlier “landscape ecology” mostly adopt a holistic point of view. “Landscape character Assessment” prepared by The Countryside Agency, UK is adopted as a pre-evaluation of regional landscape planning. Here “landscape character” is defined as a distinct, recognizable and constituent pattern of landscape that makes one landscape different from another. The process considered as many aspects as possible to form a base for future landscape planning. In this study, by top-down approach and a hierarchical “land character unit-visual unit” framework, the study area was classified into 10 landscape units with different character. Then, followed by description and assessment for each unit, and the result was integrated as an example to judge the sensibility of landscape; to be a suggested process for planning future protected landscapes.