Arbor 49er is a local tree project I created on campus to maximize student-ecosystem interaction. As part of the project, 49 select separate tree species were been chose by myself and students in my Ecology Labs. Species selections have been reviewed for accuracy by Paula Gross in the McMillan Greenhouse and Joey Cochran with Facilities Management. Pictures were taken of both characteristic features and an overall shot of each tree. These pictures were inputted into an application used on the iphone termed GPSkit ®. These coordinates were exported as a .kmz file. These points were then used in Google Earth ® to create points linked to the pictures. A description of characteristics and notable historical background were written for each species. This interactive map serves a dual purpose.
First, it serves as an educational purpose. Students in Ecology Laboratory were given species’ cartographic coordinates without identifications. This same format is now available as a scavenger hunt downloadable as a .kmz file to the public. The students were asked to identify these trees. In addition, they were asked to collect information and measurements on the 49 tree species. This information includes common ecological measurements in relation to trees including diameter at breast height (d.b.h), circumference, and estimated height. This aids in the development of a novel skillset as well as collects demographic information of the trees on campus. It also increases involvement of both a class and later the community in a campus wide project.
Secondly, Arbor 49er provides supplementary information to another necessary tree inventory project on campus. An excel file with data collected from the students in Ecology Laboratory was provided to Facilities Management to aid in total tree inventory de novo. Facilities also provided hard metal-stamped signs for the labeling of the select 49 species on campus.
Arbor 49er has many long term goals as well. This includes the creation and publication of an interactive map (a preliminary version is available here published by the Google Earth Community as a scavenger or labeled format-this server is quite busy so you may need to reload the page a few times) as well as placing QR codes on tree signs that bring up their associated descriptions . A brochure outlining a the Arbor 49er tour around campus is already available. During the process, this project has involved multiple department’s collaboration while simultaneously spreading ecological knowledge to both campus and community patrons.
Duplicate thumbnails for QR codes:
