Applications of Information Technology to Land Use Issues: Assessing The Highlands of New York and New Jersey

Instructors: Profs. Richard Lathrop
and David Tulloch

Contact: lathrop@crssa.rutgers.edu
dtulloch@crssa.rutgers.edu

New Links:

Final Student Project Reports:

  • Buildout Analysis of Development of the NJ Highlands -- Projecting significant population growth for the Highlands.
  • Water Resources of the NJ Highlands
  • Wildlife Resources of the NJ Highlands
  • Recreational Activities and Facilities of the NJ Highlands

    • Student-prepared Papers and Maps

    Special Field Trip Page

    New class discussion page

    Class format: this class will be taught in a practicum format with an emphasis on student-driven learning through practical hands-on individual and group projects. The goal of this course is to explore the issues relating to and assess the conditions of the NY/NJ Highlands. A more concrete objective is to develop an develop a assessment of the environmental conditions of the Highlands  To meet this objective, student teams (composed of geomatics and non-geomatics students) will identify the issues to be studied, break into teams by issue, and produce inventory and analysis of each issue. The class will use various forms of information technology (e.g., geomatics and web technology) to develop and communicate the resulting study. The class will culminate in a web-based product and a public presentation of the results, potentially to an audience of public, private and academic officials.

    Course Schedule

    Course Work/Grading:

    Individual: 1 several page topic review/synthesis paper (3-5 pages)

    Individual/group: short assignments/presentations

    Group:  Highlands Regional Assessment in both hard-copy and  web-based format

    Public Presentation

    Self-critique of your contributions to group project

     

    Course Expectations: We expect that the class will undertake a rigorous investigation of the issues surrounding the NY/NJ Highlands and produce a professional quality report and public presentation. It is our hope that the class’s effort will have a real and tangible impact on land use planning in New Jersey.

    We also expect that the students in the class will contribute not only to the course work, but also to the course itself. Specifically, students should participate actively in class discussions and decisions and provide guidance throughout the semester for the selection of speakers and topics.

     

    Readings: The following is an initial list of readings with due dates.

    1/23      Daily Record Series of newspaper articles;

    NY-NJ Highlands Regional Study Executive Summary

                Pirani and Yaro, NY-NJ Highlands Regional Study - Summary Technical Report

    2/6      Wolfe, The Geology and Landscapes of New Jersey, Chapters 2,3, 8

               Tedrow, Soils of New Jersey, Chapters 1, 5

    Cappucitti et al, NY-NJ Highlands Regional Study – Water Resource assessment

    2/8      Robichaud and Buell, Vegetation of New Jersey, Chapters 8-11

    Wideskog et al, NY-NJ Highlands Regional Study – Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

    2/13    Steiner, The Living Landscape, Chapter 1

                Simonds, Landscape Architecture,  Chapter 2

                Lewis, Tomorrow by Design, Chapter 5

    2/15      assorted Sterling Forest newspaper articles; Fulton, APA 1998 64:4-9;

    Lathrop and Bognar, Landscape and Urban Planning 1998 41:27-41

    2/22      USDA, Maintaining Farm and Forestland in Rapidly Growing Areas

    Tentative  Schedule

    Since the students are asked to help design the process and agenda for the semester, it is expected that THIS SCHEDULE WILL CHANGE. 

    January 16     Class logistics (registration), introduction of project, basic reading assignments, initial resource group assignments

    Jan 18            Computer lab intro looking at imagery and maps to get some feel for the region

    Jan 23            Class discussion on readings - issue scopings

    Jan 25            Tim Dillingham, Highlands Coalition

    Jan 30            Colleen Hatfield, DEENR

    February 1            GIS Training Workshop

    Feb 6              Individual/Group reports on Highlands resources: Geology/Soils;

    & Water Resources

    Feb 8              Individual/Group reports on Highlands resources: Flora/Fauna;

    & Cultural History

    Feb 13            Topical Lecture: Land Use Planning Methods and Issues

    Feb 15            Topical Lecture: Sterling Forest Case Study

    Feb 20            Discussion and Assignment of Assessment Project Topics

    Feb 22            Marc Phelps: U.S. Forest Service

    Feb 27            In-Class Workshop: Basic Technology

    March 2/3      Field Trip to NY-NJ Highlands

    Mar 6              Rob Pirani – Regional Plan Association

    Mar 8              Turn in Individual Papers

    Mar 12-16              Spring Break -- MARCH 14th, HIKE THE HIGHLANDS

    Mar 20            Discuss Individual Papers – Discuss progress and semester goals, consider reevaluating teams and goals

    Mar 22            In-Class Workshop/Team Work Day

    Mar 27            In-Class Workshop/Team Work Day

    Mar 29            In-Class Workshop/Team Work Day

    Apr 3               In-Class Workshop/Team Work Day

    Apr 5               In-Class Workshop/Team Work Day

    Apr 10             In-Class Workshop/Team work day

    Apr 12             In-Class Workshop/Team work day

    Apr 17             In-Class Workshop/Team work day

    Apr 19             Presentation Rehearsal

    Apr 24             Final presentation

    Apr 26             Debrief

     

    Other Web sources of Information on the NY-NJ Highlands

    http://www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/nynj/nynjweb.html

    http://www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/nynj/maps/map.jpg

    http://www.nynjtc.org/partner/highgis/

    http://njconservation.org/html/frame_aboutus.html