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

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:

• Landscaping improvement
• The creation of a campus wide arboretum
• Increase of native trees
• Planned areas with pre-placed sitting areas and vegetation

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

• DEM

• -slope

• -aspect

• Reclassification

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

Soils

• Graded on:

• Drainage

• Plant sustainability

• Permeability

• Water capacity

• Soil Reaction

• Organic content

Tree Population Density

• Density was derived from:

• Total tree population
• Native tree population
• Non-native tree population

Statisitics

• Statistical analyses for:

• Total tree population
• Individual areas

• Frequencies included:

• Species
• Nativity

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.

• New tree locations

• Picnic tables

• New paths

Tree List

• Juglandaceae

• Black Hickory

• Hippocastancaea

• Texas Buckeye, Red Buckeye

• Aceeraceae

• Box Elder, Bigtooth Maple

• Ulmaceae

• Sugarberry, Netleaf Hackberry, American Elm

• Sapindaceae

• Chittamwood, Western Soapberry

• Rhamnaceae

• Carolina Buckthorn

• Fagaceae

• Escarpment Live Oak, Bur Oak, Chinkapin Oak, Bigelow Oak, Post Oak, Texas Red Oak

• Platanaceae

• Sycamore

• Salicaceae

• Eastern Cottonwood, Plains Cottonwood, Black Willow

• Rosaceae

• Reverchon Hawthorn, Littlehip Hawthorn, Green Hawthorn, Mexican Plum, Munson Plum

• Leguminosae

• Huisache, Texas Redbud, Honey Locust

• Anacardiaceae

• Texas Pistache, Praire Flameleaf Sumac

• Oleaceae

• Green Ash, Texas Ash

• Aquifoliaceae

• Possum Haw

• Moraceae

• Bois d'Arc, Texas Mulberry, Red Mulberry

• Caprifoliaceae

• Rusty Blackhaw

• Endangered

• 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:

• Analysis of underground water, sewage, communications and cooling systems
• 3-D visualization
• Higher levels of accuracy

Website

Conclusion

• With this study we were:

• able 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 area
• compliment the Campus Master Plan