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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