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Enhancing Landscape Performance Measurement Using Smart Devices, Data Visualization, and Longitudinal Tracking

This dissertation explores the use of smart devices to measure the environmental landscape performance (LP) of landscape projects. It proposes and evaluates an alternative landscape performance measurement framework (ALPMF) with smart device assistance. By providing new measurement methods and tools, it aims to fill some existing and potential gaps in LP and promote its development.
LP has been proposed in landscape architecture to measure landscape projects' sustainable benefits. Due to LP research's short development history, some gaps exist, including one-time measurements, a lack of standard evaluation methods, and insufficient measurement tools. Given the advantages of smart devices in data collection and the successful application of smart devices in other design-related fields, this dissertation explores their feasibility as assessment tools in environmental LP studies.
It begins by analyzing each LP research case's report listed on the Landscape Performance Series (LPS) website to explore the limitations of traditional measurement methods and tools. Following a survey of professionals' perspectives on LP metrics. Based on the survey results, the researcher selects certain air quality and water quality LP metrics as variables (air temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, total dissolved solids, and electronic conductivity) for subsequent experiments. Two experiments explore smart devices' strengths and limitations in collecting LP data and measuring landscape projects' LP in terms of accuracy, real-time, spatial resolution, and longitudinal analysis. The researcher proposes the ALPMF and conducts a comparative study with the traditional landscape performance measurement framework (TLPMF) to measure a project's LP. By comparing methods, tools, and results, the study examines the advantages and effectiveness of the ALPMF to a certain extent and explores its limitations.
The research results show that smart devices and the ALPMF can provide more accurate, real-time, spatial resolution, and longitudinal LP data. The results also demonstrate the effectiveness of the ALPMP. Furthermore, this dissertation offers several insights and suggestions for further developing smart devices and the ALPMF in LP and landscape architecture.
This dissertation fills some research gaps and provides new tools and methods for future LP measurement. It contributes to improving landscape projects' sustainable values and refining the landscape architectural design guidelines. As an interdisciplinary study, it also provides an example of the intersection of landscape architecture with other disciplines, such as mechanical engineering and computer science. It helps to broaden the knowledge boundary of landscape architecture. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation aims to evaluate the contribution of landscape architecture projects to sustainable development using smart devices. It proposes and preliminarily tests an alternative landscape performance measurement framework (ALPMF). This new framework aims to improve the traditional landscape performance measurement framework (TLPMF) and enhance future projects' landscape performance (LP). This research is important, especially in the current context of climate change. It explores how landscape architecture can enhance public quality of life and contribute to environmental improvements such as carbon sequestration and water quality. The researcher conducted a literature review, surveyed professionals to gather opinions, and performed experiments to provide empirical data. The results reveal: 1) gaps in traditional LP research, 2) advantages and disadvantages of using smart devices, 3) effectiveness of the ALPMF, and 4) contributions to sustainable development through improved design guidelines. In summary, this study provides methods and tools to 1) fill some gaps in the LP, 2) help improve the sustainable values of future landscape projects, 3) impact related urban planning or environmental protection policy formulation, 4) raise public awareness of the importance of landscape architecture in promoting sustainability, 5) and help to expand the boundaries of the landscape architecture discipline to better contribute to improving public's life quality. The researcher hopes this dissertation study can stimulate more research and discussion and provide positive changes to the LP and landscape architecture.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119147
Date28 May 2024
CreatorsShen, Zhongzhe
ContributorsArchitecture, Kim, Mintai, Zuo, Lei, Clements, Terry Lynn, Westort, Caroline, Bohannon, Cermetrius Lynell
PublisherVirginia Tech
Source SetsVirginia Tech Theses and Dissertation
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDissertation
FormatETD, application/pdf, application/pdf
RightsIn Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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