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LDI Archived
Projects |
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Projects of the Land Design Institute
(July 1, 2001- June 30, 2002) |
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The Land Design Institute completed its
first full academic year of operation in 2001/02. The Institute was
conceived and adopted by the College (with support and leadership from
the Department of Landscape Architecture) and University in 2001. The
vision of LDI is “leading communities to change” through informed
decision making processes focused on land resources. A primary
function of LDI is to create a ‘home’ for multidisciplinary research
projects that involve land planning, site design, land resource issues
and sustainable community development. The following projects,
initiated under the leadership of former LDI Director Dave Ferguson,
represent the major thrust of the Institute for the academic year from
July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002. This list does not limit future
participation by researchers with other interests but provides a
starting point for supporting the LDI mission. It is anticipated that
other areas of research may occur as new ideas and faculty interests
are identified.
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Therapeutic Landscapes |
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Ball Memorial
Hospital partnership
Directed by LDI Research Associate Martha Hunt; Department of
Landscape Architecture, with Professor Joanne Westphal, Michigan State
University, Professor Rob Benson, BSU Department of Landscape
Architecture and landscape architecture graduate student Cheryl
Chalfant.
Funded (approx. $21,500) for assessment of grounds and master plan.
Placed graduate assistant on staff who subsequently developed a
Masters Thesis on a design for a therapeutic garden in the new BMH
Oncology Center. The Thesis garden concept was subsequently adopted by
the hospital, incorporated into working drawings by the hospital’s
design consultant, and is now entering the construction phase.
Liberty
Village Charette
Directed by LDI Research Associate Martha Hunt, Department of
Landscape Architecture; with Professor Rob Benson, Department of
Landscape Architecture and graduate and undergraduate students
Faculty/student design charette that focused on redesign concepts for
an existing healthcare facility in Muncie.
St. Vincent’s Hospital/Winchester
Directed by LDI Research Associate Martha Hunt, Department of
Landscape Architecture; with Professor Rob Benson, Department of
Landscape Architecture and graduate student Marjorie Heckel
Initial concepts for the grounds around this local hospital which is
part of a much larger network across the state. A faculty/student team
developed preliminary plans which are now under consideration by
hospital staff as a basis for rethinking exterior space at the site. A
graduate assistantship has been awarded for the current academic year.
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Sustainability Education and Research |
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Global Media
Network
Directed by LDI Research Associate George Smith, Department of
Landscape Architecture & LDI Director (at time of project) Dave
Ferguson, Department of Landscape Architecture
iCommunications-funded project (first phase $43,700, with minor funds
from other sources also awarded) to develop a global network for
sustainability education and research. The project includes
development of a partnership with the U.K.-based Earth Centre. Other
centers and institutions may also partner with this initiative in the
future. Activities during the first six months of this project
include:
- Coordination of a Think Tank on
Education for Sustainability at the Earth Centre, and development of
proceedings for the Think Tank (under the direction of G. Smith)
- Development of webcast capability
from the Earth Centre
- Visit by UK partners to BSU
- Conceptual framework for an
interactive website that will be a clearinghouse for sustainable
development activities and information. A preliminary version of a
home website for this effort will be ready for demonstration in Fall
2002
Ecological Restoration Workshop Program
Directed by LDI Director (at time of project) Dave Ferguson,
Department of Landscape Architecture
Ongoing program (funded for $10,000 through Ball Grant in 2000 but
since 2001, LDI has been its home). The mission of the project is to
develop educational modules in a workshop (1-2 day) format on a
variety of sustainable technology topics including constructed
wetlands, bioengineering and native plant restoration. Target
audiences have been primarily on-campus students and to a limited
extent practicing design professionals. LDI sponsored the first
CAP/Indy-based ecological restoration workshop in June. The topic was
Constructed Wetlands and the attendees included both practicing Civil
Engineers and Landscape Architects from the Indianapolis region.
Shanghai Ecological Planning Partnership and
Exchange
Directed by LDI Director (at time of project) Dave Ferguson,
Department of Landscape Architecture, with Scott Olson, Dean CCIM,
approximately $20,000 – internal funding
Progress on this project centered on two exchanges. In August 2001, a
team of faculty and consultants from Ball State traveled to Shanghai
for two weeks at request of the Shanghai Social Sciences Association
to present seminars on pollution control, smart city growth and
communications approaches in a new market economy. After successful
conclusion of the seminars, a team from Shanghai agreed to come to
Ball State to explore expanded relationships with the university. In
February, the SSSA team spent a week on campus and at its conclusion,
agreements in five areas of collaboration were agreed upon. The areas
included business administration courses for Chinese entrepreneurs,
English courses for teachers, and collaboration on city planning
projects and student exchanges.
Second Chance Game
Directed by LDI Research Associate (at time of project) John
Motloch, Department of Landscape Architecture; Pedro Pecheco,
phd.candidate; Beth Gonser, 6th grade teacher; and staff of the
Minnetrista Cultural Center & Oakhurst Garden – internally (iCommunications)
and externally (IHETS) funded (approx.$30,000)
Development of a game that demonstrates principles of sustainability
to middle school students through classroom lessons, pre- and
post-game activities, outdoor investigation, and the outdoor game as a
decision-making process focused on building a shelter using local
earth-based and fiber-based resources. This hands-on game has been
developed and being played on the grounds of the Nature Area at
Minnetrista Cultural Center. A digital teacher development module is
presently funded. Future funding will be sought for development of the
digital/video game.
US-Brazil Sustainability Consortium (a FIPSE/CAPES
partnership)
Directed by LDI Research Associate (at time reported) John Motloch,
Department of Landscape Architecture (U.S.) and Rodolpho Ramina
(Brazil). – internally funded for initial travel (approx.$5,000), and
proposal development for FIPSE/CAPES international student exchange
grant and a series of education, research, and outreach projects
International partnership centered on student exchange under a FIPSE
proposal currently under development. Consortium partners in the U.S.
include Ball State University; the Center for Innovation, Creativity,
and Capital (IC2) at the University of Texas, and the Center for
Maximum Building Systems in Austin, Texas. Brazilian consortium
partners include the Parana Center for Technology and universities in
the States of Parana and Rio Grande do Sul. Preliminary discussions
with Brazilian partners in Curitiba and Puerto Allegre indicate
interest in development of a course derived from the Ball State
Clustered Minors in Sustainable Practices program. The Ball State
Clustered Minors curriculum group will assist in developing an
introductory sustainability course based on the existing sustainable
minors core courses. Additional interest areas, to be developed if the
FIPSE grant is successful, include student exchanges at the graduate
level for environmental design and architecture students possibly
leading to a certificate or degree program.
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Other applied research projects: |
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Biofuels
Statewide Energy Strategy for Indiana
Directed by Hugh Brown, Chair, Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Management; James Eflin, Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Management; and Dave Ferguson, Department of
Landscape Architecture- $59,000 (including internal match), 2 ˝ year
project (2000-2002)- external funding
GIS mapping and modeling of energy production of the native grass
Switchgrass as a substitute to coal use in statewide electrical energy
production. A strategy has been developed to predict which power
plants could best be served by local agricultural production of
Switchgrass based on quantity of yield and transport distance to
plants.
Community Connections Greenway Strategy for
Delaware County
Directed by LDI Director (at time of project) Dave Ferguson,
Department of Landscape Architecture –$5,200 - external funding
Funding for a graduate student to assist the Delaware County Plan
Commission in the planning and coordination of a county wide
alternative transportation plan (biking/hiking) for Delaware County.
Landlab/Field Station-Environmental Education
Center Program: Site Selection and Preliminary Site Programming
Directed by LDI Research Associate (at time reported) John Motloch,
Department of Landscape Architecture– internally funded through a
CERES Fellowship
Coordinative effort to bring the agendas of the LDI LandLab concept (a
site-based demonstration facility of sustainable technologies) and the
FS/EEC project (an environmental education project utilizing five Ball
State owned properties that are being used as natural field sites).
The LandLab-FS/EEC concept will lead to a “green building and
built-site” that will demonstrate alternative building technologies,
site based sustainable technologies, and house environmental education
programs.
UniverCity symposium funding for “Sustainable
Cities of the Future”
Directed by LDI Director (at time of project funding) Dave
Ferguson, Department of Landscape Architecture. – Sept. 24, 2002
session, Approximately $15,000 from CIP, CERES, CCIM, & Provost.
A one-day symposium with invited speakers on case studies of cities
from around the world that have successfully demonstrated sustainable
strategies for survival. Cities will be featured from China, Europe
and Brazil (Curitiba) among others. A summary session will provide a
means to generate a checklist for sustainable development that may be
applicable to a wide variety of cities. |
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