The thesis intends to introduce tactical urbanism as a way to expand the toolkit for designers to communicate with theirs audiences from the public. Lessons from the post-Katrina planning processes urges for better communication tool that invites broader conversation while providing more direct physical outcome from the process. Tactical urbanism is introduced to the city and the discipline of landscape architecture in order to provide a fresh solution to the communication by changing the speech between the authority figure and the residents into a more personal conversation with an invitation through on-site installation. At the same time, it is a powerful tool to achieve instant physical outcome from the process and to provide important feedback for design. The article documented two on-site projects that the team did in order to invite conversations on the issue of New Orleans landscape. Through the process of installation, some interesting interaction with the local residents are recorded which exemplify the potential of this methodology and they provides insights for the future interventions. In the end, the thesis suggested that the design and planning professionals in New Orleans to add tactical urbanism into their toolkit, for a better future of the city.

Since nineteen century, Chinese immigrants in the United States had a great contribution to the economy and transformation of landscape by gold mining, transcontinental railroad construction and agriculture cultivation, applying techniques that were learned from ancestors thousands years ago in China. And Chinatown as the first destination of continuing Chinese immigrants transformed from a ghetto to the top tourist attraction of the city in San Francisco with commercial-oriented development in more than a hundred years. This paper will explore the transformation of the image and representation of Chinatown by analyzing Chinese culture influences, American confinement, and pop culture impact, to have a better understanding of culture identity, how places are planned and designed in a complex global economical and racial context, and immigrants influences on urban design. Combined with historic background and current urban problems, this study provides a great opportunity to rethink open space in Chinatown and recognize Chinese culture influences in the overall transformation of the city, with growing culture diversity and desire for a more sustainable and equitable environment. To make Chinatown more than a tourist destination, the paper comes out specific design strategies to celebrate Chinese community in Chinatown, San Francisco, by designing sustainable open space, reinforcing Chinese culture and culture influenced architecture design, and reaching community congregation.

The issue of Shikumen is the confliction between urban development and historical value preservation. And the historical value can be better understood with Chinese modern history behind, especially the concession part (an area ruled by foreign countries and don't have the independent rights on economy, politics and military (18, Li)). Because of the historic reason, the residents were made of three main streams, which were international stream, national stream and local movement. Those residences brought their culture into the concession and created a melting pot. This melting pot cultural phenomenon was shown in building design of Shikumen. However, with the intensive urban development, the current state of Shikumen is becoming affordable residential area and gradually demolished due to low economical value. With the disappearance of Shikumen, some people start realizing the historical value of the Shikumen. Many solutions were proposed to save the trace of historical path. Two representative solutions were Xintiandi and Tianzifang. Xintiandi is a government-­‐driven mix-­‐use project, which re-­‐modified the buildings with similar architecture style. Tianzifang residents-­‐driven project and was developed into a commercial tourism site. Both solution share similarity by redefining the function of Shikumen in historical perspective to enhance the economical value and follow urban development. However, in the process of commercialization, Xintiandi lost its authenticity because of removing Shikumnes original residential life. Tianzifang initially remained its identities of original residential life, which attracted lots of tourists. However, the high dense tourist activities interruption causes the loss of residences, which used to be the most attractive part of this place. In the other word, it lost its sustainability. In order to maintain authenticity and sustainability, a new model about Shikumens preservation and development is proposed.

Since 1992, Tucson, Arizona has installed seventy-eight traffic circles in residential areas as part of a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and sixty-seven of these circles contain plants. Plants are included in traffic calming installations because they generally improve visibility and visual quality of these installations. Species selection may directly influence effectiveness of plants in these functions. The intent of this study was to evaluate plant selection in established traffic circles, in Tucson, Arizona to determine their success relating to safety, visual quality and maintenance criteria. The total population was inventoried and each circle was ranked according to how well criteria were met. The results of this study indicate that plant selection met maintenance criteria in most cases but often did not meet criteria for safety and visual quality.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 178-180)

Signs are prominent elements of the urban landscape; they display messages to the public, orient people in complex environments, act as social landmarks, and serve as a means of cultural expression. Despite the omnipresence of signs, designers have yet to capitalize on their potential urban spaces as creative design tools for enhancing a sense of place. Using literature and urban case studies, this thesis explores several quantitative methods to learn about effects produced by signs in the urban landscape. Case studies in New Orleans, Louisiana locate every sign in defined areas on Bourbon, Royal, and Canal Street to compare and contrast multiple views through four processes: site, linear, volumetric, and sequential. These processes use statistics, drawings, and photographs to analyze the data by combining traditional means of sign discussion with an exploration of designers methods for site analysis. Comparing the results of the three sites exposes differences in sign distribution due to street character and street width. Signs are integral in creating place identity and defining spatial relationships. While this study reveals several interesting results about effects of signs in the urban landscape, it primarily discusses new methods for analyzing signs in existing urban landscapes. The literature review exposes six topics concerning signs in the landscape. While most writings focus only on one topic, this thesis includes elements from each. The ultimate goal is for designers to produce individual identities for places through creative design recommendations.

In recent years, the published objectives of international aid organizations have called for the expertise of landscape architects. Projects with attention to sustainability, environment, and land use have become a major emphasis for many organizations. Landscape architecture, a profession which involves physical science, social science, humanities, art and land, is an appropriate profession to participate in aid projects. As a result of their unique training and experience, landscape architects have an unusual opportunity to make a substantial contribution in the planning, design and development of places for people in developing countries. This case study documents the activities and explains a process of involvement by which the author, through the School of Landscape Architecture at Louisiana State University, became involved in the Cerro Verde National Park, El Salvador. Sponsored by the Louisiana Partners of the Americas, the author uses his research and observations as a participant in the project to examine the potential role of the profession of landscape architecture in the improvement of land stewardship developing countries. In order to understand our process of involvement, the author gives background in the following areas: aid organizations, Latin America, El Salvador, traditional park planning, and the Cerro Verde National Park, El Salvador.

The city of Lafayette, Louisiana is on the threshold of developing a major transportation artery (the I-49 corridor) that will allow non-stop traffic flow through the city. The southern boundary of Lafayette, which is currently inhabited by industrial based business (oil service companies, storage yards, restaurants, and truck lines), will be intersected by this interstate. The area is not visually pleasing and needs direction to create a setting that reflects the unique personality of Lafayette. In recent years, landscape architects and planners have begun to employ a method of zoning called overlay district landscape ordinances and overlay zoning districts to help supplement zoning in already developed areas. The standards found in overlay ordinances work to encourage thoughtful design and land use compatibility. This thesis has two purposes. The first was to develop a model landscape overlay zoning district ordinance for the six-mile area along US Highway 90 between Albertsons Drive, in Broussard, Louisiana and Kaliste Saloom Road, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Through consulting other similar ordinances, site exploration, and study, a model ordinance was formulated. The primary goal of the landscape overlay ordinance was to unify several different land use types found in the project area into a green gateway to welcome visitors to the area. The second objective of this thesis work was to document the process followed in creating the landscape overlay zoning district ordinance. This process will be useful for other cities working to formulate similar overlay ordinances of their own. The resultant material produced by this project includes a model landscape overlay zoning district ordinance and the process of design employed during its creation. The ordinance is a four-part document that includes the purpose, intent, applicability, design standards, and administrative procedures to be followed in the project corridor. Careful documentation of the process of data gathering and ensuing analysis for the project area are included as well. When combined, this information works to create a written design process for others to use in designing their own landscape overlay zoning district ordinances.

Acid bogs, one of the rare plant communities, are on the brink of extinction in the southeastern United States. This study uncovers what issues are at stake in land use, land development, and regulations of two specific areas in south Louisiana that contain this type of wetland. This is an educational project oriented toward development of methods and information related to planning and design for the use of wetland sites while still protecting them. A hypothesis is presented that a combination of education with land use guidelines, helpful resources and regulatory incentives may help slow the eradication of bogs in the southern United States and increase the awareness of the importance of these small isolated wetlands. Although small in size, acid bogs function in important ways to help society and surrounding natural ecosystems. Land use practices and attitudes towards building on sensitive inland wetland sites were investigated to discover what role developers and homeowners play in their destruction. Case studies of several Louisiana home sites found homeowner awareness of the wetland, but not of its value and consequently little effort being put into acid bog preservation. Property rights issues, plus the complete lack of market value recognition for the benefits of small inland wetland sites, were found to be at the root of the conservation problem. Likewise, a survey of developers in south Louisiana uncovered a disinterest in plant community preservation. Results point towards attitudes that seem to be governed by short-term monetary gain from wetland land use. Outdated development practices (draining and filling) in sensitive sites contribute heavily to acid bog destruction. More importantly, wetlands are being destroyed due to a slow and confusing regulatory process as the regulations for them are being followed. Guidelines and helpful resources are presented in order to lower development costs and facilitate acid bog conservation on individual sites. Moreover, findings indicate that an area wide effort is needed due to the unique connections that acid bogs have with underground water systems. Not only can improved design opportunities and higher property values be enjoyed through acid bog conservation, but cleaner and more available water for communities can also be achieved by developing properties in such a way as to protect the unique acid bog habitat.

During January and February of 2002, a group of 15 marinas on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain was surveyed to identify what environmental management practices they employed. The objectives of this study were to find out what was being done by these facilities in Louisiana, what these and other marina owners and operators could do to improve environmental conditions, and what recommendations could be made for future marina designers and operators. An additional objective was to suggest what role government could play in helping present and future marinas in implementing best management practices (BMPs). A questionnaire and evaluation form was developed, and the 15 marinas were visited. In addition, three large marinas in New Orleans were also visited and evaluated. While not included in the study group, it was felt several relevant comparisons could be made from information found at these three marinas. After the marinas were visited, the data was summarized and evaluated based on the 15 management measures covered in the questionnaire. Results ranged widely, generally depending on the size and type of marina. Based on the questions and observations made in the study, the North Shore marinas were generally found to not be as environmentally progressive as the New Orleans marinas, primarily due to differences in management ability and philosophy, and also to financing. As the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain continues to be the fastest growing area of Louisiana, existing and proposed marinas will come under increased public scrutiny and pressure to improve management practices. Marina owners and operators need assistance and guidelines to help them adopt and implement good management practices, and government must find ways to encourage and assist these businesses. Landscape architects and other designers can be an important part of this process and this thesis will help clarify their potential role.