Vegetation Assessment and Arboretum Plan, Texas State University- San Marcos

Team Members Project Manager Kyle Beesley Assistant Project Manager Jeremy Soules Analysts Sean Brugo, Nick Pantuso, Katie Snipes, and Matt Noble

Introduction Our study has identified areas that are ideal for: Our study has identified areas that are ideal for: Landscaping improvement Landscaping improvement The creation of a campus wide arboretum The creation of a campus wide arboretum Increase of native trees Increase of native trees Planned areas with pre-placed sitting areas and vegetation Planned areas with pre-placed sitting areas and vegetation

Data Sidewalk Sidewalk DOQ’s [(Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles)/(air photos)] DOQ’s [(Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles)/(air photos)] Buildings Buildings streets streets DEM, Digital Elevation Model DEM, Digital Elevation Model Trees Trees Soils Soils Green space Green space -both primary and secondary

Data  Data collection included the acquisition of datasets from secondary sources and the creation of new map layers through primary data collection and digitization.  Data processing consisted of the standardization of all layer projections.

DEM -slope -aspect Reclassification Methods

Reclassified Slope

Aspect

Reclassified Aspect

Calculation All three raster layers evaluated Output represents all cells with ratings of two or above New layer was intersected with existing green space layer

Calculated Selection

Digitized Green Space

Intersection Results

Soils Graded on:  Drainage  Plant sustainability  Permeability  Water capacity  Soil Reaction  Organic content

Soils

Reclassified Soil

Tree Population Density Density was derived from: Density was derived from: Total tree populationTotal tree population Native tree populationNative tree population Non-native tree populationNon-native tree population

Total Tree Density

Native Tree Density

Non-native Tree Density

Statisitics Statistical analyses for: Statistical analyses for: Total tree populationTotal tree population Individual areasIndividual areas Frequencies included: Frequencies included: SpeciesSpecies NativityNativity

Results Found nine suitable sites Planned out three sites with trees, paths, and picnic tables

Trees Over 3500 trees cataloged Over 63 species 78.6 % of the trees on campus are of native origin 21.4 % are introduced

Planned Areas Based on our analyses we were able to chose the best of these sites. Based on our analyses we were able to chose the best of these sites. New tree locations New tree locations Picnic tables Picnic tables New paths New paths

Key to Selected Areas

Area 3 Plan

Key to Selected Areas

Area 7 Plan

Key to Selected Areas

Area 9 Plan

Tree List Juglandaceae Juglandaceae Black Hickory Black Hickory Hippocastancaea Hippocastancaea Texas Buckeye, Red Buckeye Texas Buckeye, Red Buckeye Aceeraceae Aceeraceae Box Elder, Bigtooth Maple Box Elder, Bigtooth Maple Ulmaceae Ulmaceae Sugarberry, Netleaf Hackberry, American Elm Sugarberry, Netleaf Hackberry, American Elm Sapindaceae Sapindaceae Chittamwood, Western Soapberry Chittamwood, Western Soapberry Rhamnaceae Rhamnaceae Carolina Buckthorn Carolina Buckthorn Fagaceae Fagaceae Escarpment Live Oak, Bur Oak, Chinkapin Oak, Bigelow Oak, Post Oak, Texas Red Oak Escarpment Live Oak, Bur Oak, Chinkapin Oak, Bigelow Oak, Post Oak, Texas Red Oak Platanaceae Platanaceae Sycamore Sycamore Salicaceae Salicaceae Eastern Cottonwood, Plains Cottonwood, Black Willow Eastern Cottonwood, Plains Cottonwood, Black Willow Rosaceae Rosaceae Reverchon Hawthorn, Littlehip Hawthorn, Green Hawthorn, Mexican Plum, Munson Plum Reverchon Hawthorn, Littlehip Hawthorn, Green Hawthorn, Mexican Plum, Munson Plum Leguminosae Leguminosae Huisache, Texas Redbud, Honey Locust Huisache, Texas Redbud, Honey Locust Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae Texas Pistache, Praire Flameleaf Sumac Texas Pistache, Praire Flameleaf Sumac Oleaceae Oleaceae Green Ash, Texas Ash Green Ash, Texas Ash Aquifoliaceae Aquifoliaceae Possum Haw Possum Haw Moraceae Moraceae Bois d'Arc, Texas Mulberry, Red Mulberry Bois d'Arc, Texas Mulberry, Red Mulberry Caprifoliaceae Caprifoliaceae Rusty Blackhaw Rusty Blackhaw Endangered Endangered Hinckley's Oak, Black Walnut, Texas Snowbells, Walker's Manioc Hinckley's Oak, Black Walnut, Texas Snowbells, Walker's Manioc

Discussion  GIS applications make this kind of planning more efficient and accurate.  This project is complimentary to the Campus Master Plan.

Discussion Future research might include: Future research might include: Analysis of underground water, sewage, communications and cooling systemsAnalysis of underground water, sewage, communications and cooling systems 3-D visualization3-D visualization Higher levels of accuracyHigher levels of accuracy

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Conclusion With this study we were: With this study we were: able to conduct a study of this area that discovered suitable sites for a campus-wide arboretumable to conduct a study of this area that discovered suitable sites for a campus-wide arboretum able to give a comprehensive view of the growing conditions in our study areaable to give a comprehensive view of the growing conditions in our study area compliment the Campus Master Plancompliment the Campus Master Plan