There is a small movement for change in development practices Landscape Architect Ian McHargleads with new ideas for land planning Understanding about the environment Integration with environmental sciences Addressing human adaptations to the environment

1. GIS as a Land Planning Resource
Michelle M. Landis, RLA
Great Ecology
November 30, 2016

2. Overview
Land Planning (R)evolution
Case Study – Habitat
Restoration

3. 1960s (R)evolution
There is a small movement for change in development practices
Landscape Architect Ian McHarg leads with new ideas for land
planning

4. 1960s (R)evolution
He notices a lack of:
Understanding about the environment
Integration with environmental sciences
Addressing human adaptations to the environment

5. 1960s (R)evolution
1969 Mr. McHarg
publishes the landmark
book Design with Nature

6. 1960s (R)evolution
Design With Nature
 Foundation for modern ecological planning
 Concepts for Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

7. 1960s (R)evolution

8. 1960s (R)evolution
1969 Landscape Architect Jack
Dangermond founds Environmental
Systems Research Institute (ESRI)
1982 launches the ARC/INFO GIS
software based system to bring
science to the design process

9. Modern
Evolution
 ERSI Models
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall04articles/arcgis-raster-data-model.html

10. Case Study: Habitat Planning for Natural
Resource Mitigation Areas
Located in Denver, CO
Remote analysis to identify potential
parcels
Field verification to verify and refine
findings
Conceptual restoration plans
Feasibility analysis is performed
Future habitat restoration
Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse

11. http://chatfieldreallocation.org/wp-
content/uploads/Chatfield_Reservoir_Compensatory_Mitigation_Plan.pdf
Habitat Planning: Natural Resource
Mitigation Areas
On-site mitigation areas explored first
Additional off-site areas explored to
add to mitigation

12. Habitat Planning: GIS Layers + Remote Analysis
Aerial (high resolution)
Topo – 1’ contour interval
Parcel boundary
River Conservation Zone
(RCZ)
Stream course
Remote verification of
historic habitat polygons

13. Habitat Planning: Field Verification
Significant Erosion

14. Habitat Planning: Field Verification
Significant Erosion

15. Habitat Planning: Field Verification
Juvenile Willows

16. Habitat Planning: Field Verification
Lack of Willows and Likely the Hydrology Needed to Support Riparian Species

17. Habitat Planning: Field Verification
Southern Portion of the Property Includes High Functioning Ecosystems

18. Habitat Planning: Revised Habitat Polygons
Habitat polygons are
revised to match field data

19. Habitat Planning: Preliminary Concept
Used for coordination
between design team and
scientific staff

20. Habitat Planning: Final Concept Plan
Used for review by
agencies and stakeholders

21. Habitat Planning: Feasibility Study
Habitat improvement tiers
are used to evaluate project
costs related to Ecological
Functional Units (EFUs)

22. Habitat Planning: Planned Restoration
After approval by agencies
and stakeholders, habitat
areas will be enhanced or
restored as identified in
planning documents

23. Questions?
Michelle M. Landis, RLA
Great Ecology
mlandis@greatecology.com
858.750.3201