Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.15
Liaison Leslie North
Submission Date March 3, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Western Kentucky University
IN-24: Innovation A

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
WKU Arboretum Tree Viewer

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

The WKU Arboretum Tree Viewer is an educational and planning element that supports our tree care plan for the main campus. The Tree Viewer is a web-based GIS map of the entire main campus forest. Each tree is included in the inventory and any tree can be selected on the map for information such as species, common name, size, and other information. Alternatively, if a user is looking for an example of a particular species, the query tool can be used to find individual trees that meet the search criteria.
The WKU Arboretum Tree Viewer is the culmination of several student research projects under the direction of the WKU Planning, Design and Construction Department.
The trees were collected by a Trimble GPS unit, aerial digitizing, field measurements and digitized from field photos. A detailed tree study was conducted in year 2009 to determine each tree species, genus, diameter, flower color, multistem, and other fields. Another detailed study was conducted in March 2013 to update the geographic location of each tree on WKU's Main Campus. In November 2014 to January 2015, another comprehensive study was conducted. This study included verifying the geographic location of each tree, inventorying missing trees, measuring the DBH (Diameter Breast Height) and identifying the scientific name for each tree.


Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Research
Campus Engagement
Grounds

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.