This study covers several areas of long held interest and urgent relevance: the development of lasting and meaningful community identity, the design of dynamic communities well aware of their current and future potential, the preservation of rural lands, and the control of unplanned growth.Working on two tracks, the study researches through focused interviews the conceptual image of the community held by representative members and then seeks to apply principles derived from the work of Randall Arendt, Robert Yaro and others to the articulation of land planning and site design measures that can be implemented in the Northwest sector of Muncie.Based on both the research and the derivation of principles, the study offers a large number of ideas supported with illustrations toward the improvement of the conditions and the creation of a long range strategy for land development and conservation. / Department of Landscape Architecture

The United States population is increasing at a rate that induces the living and working space to expand. This expansion causes humans to put pressure on converting valuable farmlands to urban uses. New residential, industrial, commercial, and socioeconomic factors influence the expansion of a living and working place.Two facets of study are conducted in this research, one of Geography, and Sociology, brought under one research framework. The first purpose is to examine changes in land use in Muncie and Dela are County between 1988 to 1996. Furthermore, it also seeks to study the rate of urban expansion, and direction. The second purpose is to identify the underlying causative factors of urban sprawl.Remotely sensed data is used to determine land use changes, and focused interviews of subjects residing in areas identified as "change" to determine the partial causation of urban sprawl. Research analysis indicated that using remotely sensed data to monitor land use changes is feasible and cost-effective. Further analysis indicates that approximately 1200 acres of agricultural land was converted to urban uses, with the urban expansion moving to the western extremities of the study area. Overall, the analysis indicates the majority of developments were residential and commercial bases.The focused interviews yielded significant information in identifying the partial causation of urban sprawl. The focused interviews of residents living in the areas of change responded Schools as the salient reason for selecting to live in that particular area. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management