Landscape architecture is presently undergoing a technical revolution; computers are increasingly being Landscape architecture is presently undergoing a used to store, manipulate and display regional information. Computer software used by landscape architects is generally still limited but one program, IMGRID, developed at Harvard University Graduate School of Design by David Sinton, is unusually powerful and adaptable. One major drawback does exist with this program; capability for statistical manipulation of data is very limited. Consequently, this creative project develops additional algorithms which give an enhanced version of IMGRID (IISIS) that statistical capability. Statistical procedures added include a complete range of descriptive statistics and multiple correlation and regression. The IISIS user may invoke these procedures by use of a new key word STAT. A description of the options and new algorithms are given along with an example of their use. / Department of Landscape Architecture

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional Planning / Anne Beamish / Death and loss are natural processes of life, but even so, that does not make them any easier to cope with. For children who may not understand loss, adjusting to life after it can become a nearly impossible feat. Children’s reactions to loss and the grief often include anger, anxiety, confusion, fear, sadness, shock, guilt, and regret (Murthy & Smith, 2005). Nature and art have been used as healing methods in the past, but rarely in schools. Because children spend much of their day at school, outdoor landscapes could be designed to that help alleviate children’s grief and commemorate their memories. This master’s project proposes a set of guidelines and a palette of elements that can be used to create landscapes for grieving in elementary schools. To define these guidelines I combined stages of grieving from two different psychological models with design elements that could help children at each stage of their grief. These guidelines and elements were then tested by applying them at three different elementary schools in Manhattan, Kansas: Marlatt Elementary, Northview Elementary, and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary. The designs at the three elementary schools help illustrate the flexibility of the guidelines and palette of design elements. Not only can the selected elements vary, but the sites can range in size and location. The palette of elements will enable schools to implement landscapes for grieving in a range of places and conditions.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture, Regional and Community Planning / Blake Belanger / Landscape architects are challenged with finding appropriate solutions to adequately address the dynamic nature of urban environments. In the 1970's C.S. Holling began to develop resilience theory, which is intended to provide a holistic understanding of the way socio-ecological systems change and interact across scales. Resilience theory addresses the challenges and complexities of contemporary urban environments and can serve as a theoretical basis for engaging urban design practice. To test the validity of resilience theory as a theoretical basis for urban design, this thesis is an exploration of the addition of resilience theory to current landscape architecture literature and theory through a three-part methodology: a literature review that spans a breadth of research, case study analyses, and an application of resilience theory through a design framework in two projective design experiments. The resilience framework bridges between complex theory and design goals/strategies in a holistic approach. Through the identification of key connections in the reviewed literature that situate the relevance of resilience theory to landscape architecture and the subsequent case study analysis, specific methods for applying resilience theory to urban design practice are defined within the proposed framework. These methods fit within five main categories: identify and respond to thresholds, promote diversity, develop redundancies, create multi-scale networks and connectivity, and implement adaptive planning/management/design practices. The framework is validated by the success of the projective design application in the winning 2013 ULI/Hines Urban Design Competition entry, The Armory. Resilience theory and the proposed design framework have the potential to continue to advance the prominence of landscape architecture as the primary leader in urban design practice.

Over several decades, USU’s Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP) Department and Extension specialists have engaged Utah’s rural communities through several design-based outreach activities. These activities are intended to benefit both community partners interested in learning how design can positively impact the community in tangible ways, and students, who are given the opportunity to engage with real-world projects. This study documents, evaluates, and assesses outcomes of community engagement projects undertaken by LAEP Extension to better understand the program’s impact over time and come up with approaches that will enhance the impact of future community engagement projects. This research develops a framework of indicators for assessing the impact of the selected LAEP Extension projects. Selection criteria ensures representation of an extensive array of project typologies and settings undertaken by LAEP Extension. Selected projects’ impact will be thoroughly assessed through detailed physical site examination of selected projects, administration of surveys/questionnaires/interviews with knowledgeable individuals for each project, evaluation of relevant economic data, and analysis of projects’ relationships to other local factors. Expected results include the assessment of issues related to preserving records of Extension projects, recommendations for establishing a model framework for assessing future projects’ impact, and structuring processes of documentation and evaluation for advancing research in landscape architecture, community engagement, and service-learning. It is also expected that this project will illuminate the way each project connects with Extension design engagement, subsequent project funding, and practitioner involvement. Targeted outcomes include a greater understanding of the impact of design on communities’ physical, economic, and social conditions; an increased capacity among community partners to apply design to issues that they identify in their communities; and greater collaboration between USU LAEP and Extension. Outcomes also include developing a model framework that can be used to assess, evaluate, and document the various impacts of university design engagement activities at both USU and other land grant-based design programs by evaluating past design Extension projects and future design engagement activities.

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Includes special report study entitled: Detail investigation on the sustainable landscape design principles. Also available in printed format.

Studies have shown that the rising rate of adverse physical, social and mental conditions are tightly related to a lack of physical activity, poor eating habits, and the lack of social interaction. Unlike health problems centuries ago which were often caused by lethal diseases, the contemporary health problems in the United States relate to peoples' lifestyles and built environments. Vehicle-oriented community design has caused limited physical activity and unhealthful eating habits that increase obesity and other related health problems. Modern built environments often unintentionally discourage social interactions and present unintended obstacles to physical activities which causes social and mental health problems. This thesis is an attempt to address some of the issues related to improving community design for better community health outcomes via a better design on the built environment. Specifically, this thesis is a case study in the Burlington neighborhood, a low income urban area in Knoxville, Tennessee. I test how design may the issues mentioned above. Following the WHO's definition of health, which is ``a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.'' This thesis therefore addresses the issue of human health by focusing upon two things. The first thing is to improve the physical health. This includes providing access for pedestrians and bicyclists, access to healthy food and places to exercise. The second focus is to improve social and mental health by providing recreation areas for socialization and refreshing mental health. Unlike the traditional public health approach that relies upon medical interventions, this thesis posits the preventive efforts by utilizing spaces close to people's dwelling places.

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes special study report entitled: Landscape lighting and its effects on water. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture