Focusing on the relationship of aesthetics to environmental planning, the document emphasizes human/environmental interaction. The major objective of the report is to increase understanding of aesthetic concepts so that the concepts can be employed in environmental research and planning. Three aspects of aesthetics are stressed: aesthetics as human senses; thinking about the arts; and the science of beauty. The document is presented in seven chapters. Chapter I maintains that aesthetic attitudes are directly related to political, social, cultural, and economic phenomena and concludes that efforts toward developing aesthetic criteria and controls should be coordinated. Chapter II suggests that environmental planners should elevate the status of aesthetics and make concerted efforts to educate the public about aesthetic aspects of the environment. Chapter III identifies major phases of the study--historical development of the western concept of aesthetics, state of the art review, planning and policy implications, and research needs. Chapters IV through VI review concepts related to aesthetics, review methods for measuring and quantifying aesthetics, and summarize planning responsibilities in governmental agencies and in the private sector. The final chapter suggests ways to stress aesthetics in the planning process. Suggestions include creating aesthetic guidelines for federal agencies, defining and developing standards to protect levels of aesthetic freedom, analyzing available aesthetic data, and developing an information system for source material on aesthetic research. (Author/DB)