community assigment

Community Assignment Instructions

· Select a natural area (e.g., local park, nature center, etc.) near you and visit the location. Take photographs. No Google Earth Street Photographs.

· Select a shopping center near you and visit the shopping center. You can use a shopping center you visit frequently. Take photographs.  No Google Earth Street Photographs.

· The natural area and shopping center should be approximately the size. You can use Google Earth to determine the area of the natural area/park and shopping center (See instructions on Google Earth for obtaining measurements-ruler function).

· Identify and compare how the following are used at both locations:

·

. Energy (identify where energy is used)

. Solid Waste (how is solid waste disposed of)

. Water (storm drainage and water use)

· Determine the approximate area (in square feet) devoted to the following at both locations:

· Parking Lot

· Building Footprint

· Green Space (e.g., grass, shrubs, trees, landscaping, etc.)

You will also need to convert all values to percentages for each location.  The approximate area should be presented as a pie graph for comparison purposes. 

Answer the following questions:

· What are the differences between land cover for each site?

· How is storm water drainage handled at each location?

· How is energy used at each location (e.g., lights, buildings, etc.)?

· What are sources for storm water runoff contamination?

· Summarize the difference between the land use practices.

What to Submit?

· Aerial photographs of both locations (Google Earth can provide jpg of locations)

· Site photographs from both locations

· Numerical values of all area calculations (Percentages)

· Answers to the discussion questions in paragraph form (1-2 pages typed report)

Discussion Questions (put into a summary)

· What are the differences between land cover for each site?

· How is stormwater drainage handled at each location?

· How is energy used at each location (e.g., lights, buildings, etc.)?

· What are sources for stormwater runoff contamination?

· Summarize the difference between the land use practices.