Research | Landscape Performance Series
Scholarly Works
The Landscape Performance Series Scholarly Works are a searchable collection of top student theses and dissertations related to landscape performance. Full papers are available for download in pdf format.
The student research presented here includes research on the benefits of landscape, post occupancy evaluations or analyses of monitoring data, and applications of existing research for existing or proposed projects.
Know of original student research that advances our knowledge of landscape performance? Help build the database by sending your suggestions to lps@lafoundation.org.
Showing 4 Results for Carbon, Energy & Air Quality
Displaying results by date
2011
Schoolyard Renovations in the Context of Urban Greening: Insight from the Boston Schoolyard Initiative
Kate Tooke
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning
2011Since 1995, the Boston Schoolyards Initiative (BSI) has worked to transform public schoolyards into vibrant environments of recreation and learning. This study uses design plans and GIS data to compare pre- and post-renovation canopy cover and pervious surfaces at 12 BSI schools to examine how these revived spaces have contributed to citywide urban greening efforts. Data indicates that overall BSI renovations have a slightly positive impact on canopy cover and pervious surfacing, but gains are not uniform and many schools are left not meeting citywide goals. In addition, schoolyard designs emphasized traditional play structures and paved spaces, subordinating opportunities for children to interact with vegetation. Schools are organized into five different typologies based on the proportions of spaces they contain and spatial configurations, and one typology is recommended as a model for future renovations.
0 View/Leave Comments2009
Benefits
Temperature & urban heat islandLand-Use Planning and the Urban Heat Island Effect
Jun-Pill Kim
Ohio State University
City and Regional Planning
2009In urban areas, the urban heat island effect is a critical factor for air quality and public health. Recent research on the UHI has resulted in a better understanding of climate modifications in urban areas. This research further develops statistical models of local temperature changes, using Landsat-5 satellite remote-sensing data. The temperature at any location and for any land use is modeled as a function of the pattern of land uses around this location. These models are estimated with data pertaining to the Columbus, Ohio, metropolitan area (CMA). Their applicability to land-use planning and regulation is illustrated by simulating hypothetical land-use changes in part of the CMA, and computing the resulting temperature effects. The results clearly demonstrate that it is possible to reduce temperatures in residential and urban areas through a judicious siting of green areas.
A Carbon Offset Protocol for Land Use: Valuing Reductions from Vehicle Miles Traveled & The Hercules New Town Center
Joanna Diana Malaczynski
University of California Berkeley
Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning
2009State regulators acknowledge that it will be “necessary” and “essential” for California to address vehicle emissions from land use patterns to achieve its long-term emissions reduction goals. However, there has been little commitment under California’s seminal climate change statute — AB 32 — to address land use. This paper proposes a land use carbon offset protocol under AB 32. It demonstrates how to apply criteria, including (1) how to quantify reductions in vehicle miles traveled from land use, (2) how to evaluate reductions for a carbon offset market, and (3) how to demonstrate significant regional impacts of project implementation. The Hercules New Town Center in Western Contra County, a strong candidate for carbon offsets, is used as a case study.
2005
A First Year Evaluation of the Energy and Water Conservation of Epler Hall: Direct and Societal Savings
Cathy Turner
Portland State University
Department of Environmental Science and Resources
2005Portland State University’s (PSU’s) Stephen Epler Hall is a 6-story mixed-use building erected in 2003. The building has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating. This study addresses three questions regarding the efficiency and conservation features of Epler Hall: (1) Is the building achieving the anticipated energy and water efficiency? (2) What are PSU’s direct savings from these efficiency features? (3) Does the conservation generate additional societal benefits, beyond the direct PSU savings?
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