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A Visual Survey of Green Space Condition On Campus

Brought to you by:Eric Decker

AndPeter Dotson-Westphalen

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Purpose of Study

• To visually survey and assess the condition of green space in study area.

• To categorize types of green space in study area according to infiltration rates.

• To identify degraded green spaces

• To provide a detailed map for management and planning purposes.

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0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Meters

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Campus Surface Condition and Infiltration Study AreaLegend

Study Area

Surface ConditionGood (greenspace)Moderate (compacted)Poor (degraded)Impervious (paved/bldgs)

c Infiltration Test Points

Source Information:Vermont Ortho Photographs

1999, NAD83 ProjectionUVM Map Room.

Map Compilation by: Eric Decker, UVM SNR

November, 2003.

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Methods

• Downloaded Ortho Photos of UVM campus at University map room.

• Used Photos to do a walk thru assessment to record types of green spaces from the field.

• Imported Ortho-Photos into ArcView 3.2 for digitizing of field survey results.

• Calculated green space areas from digitized polygons.• Conducted field measurements of infiltration rates

using the coffee can infiltrometer method for all green space types.

• Developed map displaying digitized green space polygons with infiltration test sites included

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Table 1: Infiltration Rates, % Coverand Green Space Categories

Table 1

Infiltration Rates and Green Space Categorization

Test Site # Test Site

Infiltration Rate (cm/hr)

Vegetation Cover (%)

Green Space Category

1Aiken path

(new) 0.04 0 poor

2Aiken path

(old) 0.06 70 moderate

3 Green (bench) 6.16 100 good

4 Green (tree) 1.2 30 moderate

5 Cook (path) 0.03 0 poor

6 Cook (green) 4.31 100 good

Results of Coffee Can Infiltrometer Experiments

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Table 2

Area Totals and Percentages of Green Space Categories

Study AreaSurface Condition Area Acres

Percent of Total

1 Good 63640 15.7 44

2 Moderate 7410 1.8 5

3 Poor 2040 0.5 1

4 Impervious 69920 17.2 50

  Total 143010 35.2 100

Results continued

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Discussion

• Poor green space makes up only 1% of the study area, but due to its close proximity to impervious surfaces, its effects in channeling runoff are magnified

• Moderate green space makes up 5% of the study area, but can cause runoff problems during heavy rainfall due to its relatively low infiltration rates as compared to good green spaces

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Recommendations

• Barriers to divert traffic to formal paths through either planting shrubs or fencing off green space areas

• Aerate and reseed moderate green space areas

• Till and reseed poor areas and construct barriers to impede foot traffic

• Accept natural formation of these paths, and making them permanent walkways to reduce hazards and increase aesthetics

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Air Photo Showing Historic Green Space of Main Campus

Note: No date available for photo, but notice the change in green space prior to Cook and Aiken

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Old Mill

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No dates available for either picture

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Perkins Geology Museum

Contemporary Perkins photo from6/14/2000

No date available

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Old Mill and Statue

No date available

Picture from 2/22/2000

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Ira Allen Chapel

Picture from 6/14/2000No date available