This paper demonstrates the possibilities of a Geographical Information System (GIS) for investigating and explicating the spatial variation of the short-range viewshed aesthetic appeal in a World Heritage coastal dune and forest area. The study pursues the following objectives: (1) develop and trial a GIS-based algorithm for computing the Aesthetic Appeal Index for a Short-Range Viewshed (ǣ); (2) deliver an output map showing the spatial variation of the computed ǣ values in the target territory and distribution of the zones with high scenic quality and potential aesthetic ecosystem services (PAES); and (3) assess management alternatives in zones with high PAES and high conservation value. This study combines two key innovative aspects. First, it integrates an objective digital map of habitats with subjective scenic preferences of coastal forest and dune landscapes based on psychophysical and cognitive perceptions of scenic beauty. Second, it applies a GIS-based algorithm to translate subjective scenic preferences to an output map of ǣ. The study’s main conclusion is that the combined aesthetic appraisal of the immediate and foreground viewshed of coastal forests and dunes, by applying a specially created GIS algorithm, allows an assessment of the scenic quality of this landscape reliably in statistical terms.

In the coastal zone, two types of habitats—linear and areal—are distinguished. The main differences between both types are their shape and structure and the hydro- and litho-dynamic, salinity, and ecological gradients. Studying linear littoral habitats is essential for interpreting the ’coastal squeeze’ effect. The study’s main objective was to assess short-term behavior of soft cliffs as littoral linear habitats during calm season storm events in the example of the Olandų Kepurė cliff, located on a peri-urban protected seashore (Baltic Sea, Lithuania). The approach combined the surveillance of the cliff using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with the data analysis using an ArcGIS algorithm specially adjusted for linear habitats. The authors discerned two short-term behavior forms—cliff base cavities and scarp slumps. The scarp slumps are more widely spread. It is particularly noticeable at the beginning of the spring–summer period when the difference between the occurrence of both forms is 3.5 times. In contrast, cliff base cavities proliferate in spring. This phenomenon might be related to a seasonal Baltic Sea level rise. The main conclusion is that 55 m long cliff cells are optimal for analyzing short-term cliff behavior using UAV and GIS.