CURRENT PROJECTS
Emergent Nature Networks
Emergent Nature Networks in Cities: More people live in cities and interact with urban environments than ever before1, making cities and towns critical to the wellbeing and sustainability of society. To prepare for an increasing number of environmental stressors and extreme events, cities need to incorporate green infrastructure (i.e. vegetation, open space) to cool temperatures and adsorb water. But that is easier said than done. Cities are complex systems and difficult to manipulate toward desired outcomes. Local governments and entities can plant trees, change zoning, and enforce ordinances; however, given the large area
of privately-owned land, those direct efforts have limited effects. If cities are going to keep pace with the changing climate, we need to address the greater complexity of urban vegetation in a more quantitative manner and facilitate self-organization, instead of trying to control change. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of the human and ecological self-organization processes that shape the urban vegetation remains underdeveloped to meet this challenge. Collaborators on this project include Dr. Jason Julian of Texas State University and is funded by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science @ Virginia Tech.
Completed Projects
HETEROGENEITY IN THE LAND COVER COMPOSITION AND CONFIGURATION OF US CITIES
Emergent Nature Networks
Emergent Nature Networks in Cities: More people live in cities and interact with urban environments than ever before1, making cities and towns critical to the wellbeing and sustainability of society. To prepare for an increasing number of environmental stressors and extreme events, cities need to incorporate green infrastructure (i.e. vegetation, open space) to cool temperatures and adsorb water. But that is easier said than done. Cities are complex systems and difficult to manipulate toward desired outcomes. Local governments and entities can plant trees, change zoning, and enforce ordinances; however, given the large area
of privately-owned land, those direct efforts have limited effects. If cities are going to keep pace with the changing climate, we need to address the greater complexity of urban vegetation in a more quantitative manner and facilitate self-organization, instead of trying to control change. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of the human and ecological self-organization processes that shape the urban vegetation remains underdeveloped to meet this challenge. Collaborators on this project include Dr. Jason Julian of Texas State University and is funded by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science @ Virginia Tech.
Completed Projects
HETEROGENEITY IN THE LAND COVER COMPOSITION AND CONFIGURATION OF US CITIES
CONTEXT
Cities are comprised of complex matrices of differing development intensities and interstitial natural and agricultural lands. While changes in development intensity along an urban-to-rural gradient within a city are well established, variation among cities is largely unexplored but has important in understanding heterogeneity of urban ecosystems and their services. Full paper available here. Access the data to find your city here. Use the TABLEAU BELOW to find out your city type! OBJECTIVES The objectives were to: (1) characterize the variation in population density and land cover composition of cities of different population sizes and city ages, (2) determine differences among cities and the relationship with political and physiographic boundaries, and (3) determine if environmental characteristics differed by with composition and the implications for ecosystem services. METHODS We quantified the land cover composition, configuration, population density, and environmental characteristics of all urban areas with populations greater than 1000 people in the conterminous United States. |
RESULTS
Six types of cities emerged with differing dominant developed and interstitial land covers and configurations. Larger cities tend to be more similar and less representative of the typical US city, while urban age had little influence on characteristics. City types were clustered in different regions that were better accounted for by ecoregion than by state boundary. City types accounted for differences in environmental characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
The land cover composition and configuration varies among US cities of different sizes and physiographic regions likely contributing to variability in ecosystem services. Urban ecologists and planners should consider inter-city heterogeneity in developing experimental design and management of ecosystem services.
Six types of cities emerged with differing dominant developed and interstitial land covers and configurations. Larger cities tend to be more similar and less representative of the typical US city, while urban age had little influence on characteristics. City types were clustered in different regions that were better accounted for by ecoregion than by state boundary. City types accounted for differences in environmental characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
The land cover composition and configuration varies among US cities of different sizes and physiographic regions likely contributing to variability in ecosystem services. Urban ecologists and planners should consider inter-city heterogeneity in developing experimental design and management of ecosystem services.