Urban Ecosystem Analysis

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2008 Initiatives

• Claremont Colleges Tree Canopy
• Solar Technologies for the Claremont Colleges
• Scripps College Food and Sustainability Community Project

2007 Initiatives

• Greening the Office Supply Stream
• Urban Ecosystem Analysis Using GIS:
  • Introduction
  • Major Findings
  • Tree Inventory
  • Web Maps
  • Recommendations
  • GIS Data
  • Final Report
  • Presentation slides
  • Resources
  • Team Members
• 5-College Environmental Audit

Campus Trees

Project Summary

During summer (2007) a GIS-based Urban Ecosystem Analysis of the Claremont Graduate University campus was conducted.  This research was part of a larger initiative supported by the Council of Presidents to assess the environmental impact of the Claremont Colleges Campuses and to implement new ideas and approaches for advancing environmental sustainability.  The analysis conducted for this project enumerates the benefits of the existing urban ecosystem and outlines the expected benefits of augmenting this system.  Specifically, this project investigated the benefits of increasing the urban tree canopy through the planting and preservation of appropriate tree species, which can provide measurable benefits in economic, environmental, energy saving, and social terms.

Materials available on this website

• Introduction
  What is an Urban Ecosystem Analysis and why do one?
  
• Major Findings & Lessons Learned
  Benefits of increasing the urban tree canopy at CGU and lessons for further UEA at the Claremont Colleges
  
• Tree Inventory
  Common and scientific names and number of individuals for all tree species on the CGU campus.
• Web Maps
  GIS map, Google map, and Google earth map of the CGU trees.
• Recommendations
  Recommendations for future UEA at the Claremont Colleges.
• GIS Data
  Links to GIS datasets and satellite imagery with metadata.
• Final Report
  Hilton, B.N. 2007. “Urban Ecosystem Analysis Using GIS: The Claremont Colleges Sustainability Initiative”. The complete final report in pdf format.
• Presentation
  “Urban Ecosystem Analysis Using GIS: The Claremont Colleges Sustainability Initiative” presented by Brian Hilton at ‘Sustainability Presentations Day’, 26 July 2007, Harvey Mudd College.
  • Presentation slides
  • Video of the presentation (Claremont Colleges Digital Library)
• Resources
  Useful articles for urban ecosystem analysis and links to organizations and government agencies with useful information.
• Team Members
  Faculty, students, and staff who worked on this project.