Software for Sustainable Landscapes

Transcription

1 Software for Sustainable Landscapes Society of American Foresters National Convention 2005 Shelley Gardner Forester Center for Urban Forest Research Center for Urban Forest Research USDA Forest Service PSW Research Station Davis, CA Areas of Research Ecosystem Services Benefits and Costs Energy Conservation Air Quality Conserving Runoff Fire-safe Landscapes Technical Transfer 1

2 ēcosmart Design Software Guiding Principles Residents Have Multiple Objectives for Landscapes Change Occurs When it Enhances What People Value 2

3 Goal To reduce energy and water use, stormwater runoff, and fire danger through more sustainable landscape design Actions Change Building Energy Use for Heating and Cooling Tree Selection and Location Shade Effects Air Temperature Reduction Wind Speed Reduction 3

4 Simulations 3 building vintages ~20 tree species 8 tree dbh classes 24 tree locations 11,520 simulation runs Hourly time step, 1 year period Actions change landscape water use and stormwater runoff Retention-detention basins Drywells Cisterns Trees Irrigation scheduling A: Cistern B: Swales C: De/Retention basin D: Drywell 4

5 Los Angeles Example 150 x 50 lot Landscape retrofits Show how BMPs change the existing condition Actions change likelihood of building ignition by wildfire Tree selection and location Heat flux seen by wall Ignition threshold 5

6 Buildings and trees are discrete elements at parcel scale Approach Foliar biomass equations Heat release rates from lab tests Qualitative/relative rating tool only Incomplete understanding of trees as discrete fuel Assumes all foliage is burning simultaneously No fire spread (brands) Doesn t account for structural details Assumes threshold value for ignition of exterior of home Model Limitations 6

7 Applying Operation Quickly display buildings and landscape features on graphical user interface. Configure the building lot, building footprint, orientation, construction materials, windows, hardscape, trees (size and species), and shrubs. Simulate different scenarios for up to 40 years into the future. Simulate individual rainfall or fire events. 7

8 1. Create lot Runoff Landscape Water Use Cooling Heating Fire

9 1. Create lot 2. Add buildings and pavement Runoff Landscape Water Use Cooling Heating Fire Dry well Runoff Landscape Water Use Create lot 2. Add buildings and pavement 3. Convert front yard: -driveway interceptor - gutters - infiltration basins Cooling Heating Fire

10 Runoff Landscape Water Use 200 Cooling Create lot 2. Add buildings and pavement 3. Convert front yard: - driveway interceptor -gutters - infiltration basins 4. Add magnolia, and change irrigation Heating Fire Runoff Landscape Water Use 200 Cooling 150 Heating 1. Create lot 2. Add buildings and pavement 3. Convert front yard: - driveway interceptor -gutters - infiltration basins 4. Add magnolia, and change irrigation 5. Convert turf to mulch and magnolia to live oak Fire

11 Runoff Landscape Water Use Cooling Heating Fire Create lot 2. Add buildings and pavement 3. Convert front yard: - driveway interceptor -gutters - infiltration basins 4. Add magnolia, and change irrigation 5. Convert turf to mulch and magnolia to live oak 6. Convert back yard: - infiltration basin - cistern and gutters - efficient irrigation Cistern Runoff Landscape Water Use Cooling Heating Fire Create lot 2. Add buildings and pavement 3. Convert front yard: - driveway interceptor -gutters - infiltration basins 4. Add magnolia, and change irrigation 5. Convert turf to mulch and magnolia to live oak 6. Convert back yard: - infiltration basin - cistern and gutters - efficient irrigation 7. Reposition oak 11

12 Runoff Landscape Water Use Cooling Heating Fire Create lot 2. Add buildings and pavement 3. Convert front yard: - driveway interceptor -gutters - infiltration basins 4. Add magnolia, and change irrigation 5. Convert turf to mulch and magnolia to live oak 6. Convert back yard: - infiltration basin - cistern and gutters - efficient irrigation 7. Reposition oak 8. Add oak in back 12

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15 Future Incorporate other criteria and indicators of sustainable urban landscapes removal of air pollutants carbon credits recycling green waste 15

16 Touch Screen Timetable - Released Summer Spring Summer

17 Partners California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Building & Fire Research Lab National Institute for Standards and Technology Earthview Computing TreePeople Forest Products Laboratory Pacific Southwest Research Station State and Private Forestry USDA Forest Service 17

18 i-tree: Suite of Software Products Inventory, Analysis and Forecasting Components UFORE - Urban Forest Effects Model STRATUM - Street Tree Resource Analysis Tool for Urban Forest Managers Utilities MCTI -Mobile Community Tree Inventory Storm Damage Assessment Protocol Tree Inventory PDA Sample Inventory Generators Report writers What is i-tree? USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Analysis and Benefits Assessment Software A Public-Private Partnership USDA Forest Service Research and Development State and Private Forestry Davey Resource Group National Arbor Day Foundation Goal: Provide tools to promote cost-effective urban forest management and sound arboricultural practices. 18

19 STRATUM Street Tree Resource Analysis Tool for Urban Forest Managers Assessing Street Tree Populations Structure Species composition, condition, age diversity Function Energy Air pollution Stormwater Carbon Property Value Value Costs and benefit-cost ratios Management Needs Pruning, removal, planting needs, conflicts Total ($) $/capita $/tree Benefit 501, Cost 94, Net Benefits 407, Benefit-Cost Ratio Starting a Project STRATUM: Inputs 19

20 STRATUM: Inputs Define Inventory Fields Sample street tree inventory OR Full inventory STRATUM: Inputs Define City 20

21 STRATUM: Inputs Define Costs Reporting STRATUM: Outputs Output Graphs, charts, tables 700, ,000 Benefit: Baseline data to more effectively manage the street tree resource Annual Total Benefits($) 500, , , , , >42 Willow oak Common crapemyrtle Pear Red maple Flowering dogwood Willow oak Common crapemyrtle Pear Red maple Flowering dogwood Sugar maple Plum Eastern red cedar Silver maple Sweetgum Other species DBH Class

22 Relative Age Distribution STRATUM: Outputs Structure Ideal Zone Tree Numbers DBH Class >30 Zone 3 Zone 2 Zone 1 Zone 10 Zone 9 Zone 8 Zone 7 Zone 6 Zone 5 Zone 4 STRATUM: Outputs Function Average Annual Benefits 350 Avg. Annual Total Benefit($) Aesthetic Air Quality CO2 Water Energy >42 DBH Class 22

23 STRATUM: Outputs Value STRATUM: Outputs Management 23

24 STRATUM: Results Advocacy Campaign State of the Urban Forest Report Increase Budget i-tree: Suite of Software Products How Do I Use STRATUM? Toll-free Technical Support Technical and Field Manuals Technical Assistance and Training 24

25 i-tree: Suite of Software Products Where Can I Get STRATUM? Limited Test Release Fall 2005 Complete Version 2006 Updated Versions on Annual Basis Accessible fromweb Access Our Publications 25

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