Visualising Urban Tree Ecosystems: New Design Approaches for Cartographic Knowledge Transfer in Biodiversity Conservation
Description
Trees play a key role in urban climate and biodiversity, providing vital ecosystem services such as mitigating heat (Davies, H. et al. 2017). In the face of ecological crises, urban planning is challenged to take greater account of the role of trees in protecting human health and urban biodiversity (Blaser et al. 2016). However, there is a lack of cartographic tools to represent and communicate relevant information on urban tree ecosystems so that they can be considered in urban planning. As my preliminary study has shown, important planning factors such as ecological functions, site conditions and species-specific needs of trees are not visible on the maps used to manage urban trees. Although critical map studies (Harris & Hazen 2006) have shown that cartographic design influences not only the perception of the natural environment but also the resulting concepts of conservation and urban planning, the incorporation of design research into the evaluation and development of ecological maps is lacking. Consequently, this project critically examines the cartographic design of urban tree mapping and proposes practice relevant changes: How can map visualisations be developed to communicate the complex ecological functions of trees? How can they be applied as a knowledge base in the context of urban planning? To address these questions, the production processes and application contexts of tree mapping are systematically investigated. Through a triangulation of observation, interviews and visual analyses, the specific design and functional requirements of cartographic tools will be examined. Based on this, new forms of map visualisation will be empirically explored and evaluated in an applied research process. The use-inspired project will produce elaborate prototypes and adaptable visual tools that contribute to the expressed need for improved information transfer. To ensure relevant expertise, the project operates at the intersection of communication design, digital humanities and human geography. It is supported by supervision from each discipline and close collaboration with urban ecology experts. Four papers will bring theoretical and practical findings back to the respective discipline and be summarised in a cumulative dissertation.
Project Web Site
Primary Contact
Principal Investigator
Start Date
2024-03-01
Expected Completion Date
2028-02-29
Partner Organisations
ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Bern University of Applied Sciences
Keyword(s)
visual communication design
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cartography
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urban trees
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biodiversity
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climate change
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design research
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knowledge visualisation
Languages
en
de