LAND USE PLANNING AND DECISION SUPPORT

The CLUS partners with local organizations and businesses to conduct analyses and provide information to support healthy growth of our communities. Learn about our projects related to land use planning and decision support:
Appalachian Trail Natural Resource Condition Assessment

In 2018, the CLUS entered an agreement with the National Park Service Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) through the Chesapeake Watershed CESU. The goal of this project is to assess current ecological conditions and trends for natural resources and ecosystems, identify data and knowledge gaps, and highlight existing and potential threats along the more than 2,100 mile trail.

Visit the Appalachian Trail Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) mapping portal to interact and visualize NRCA data through story maps, apps, and web maps.

Read more about the Appalachian Trail Natural Resource Condition Assessment project here.

Read more about the Appalachian Trail Natural Resource Condition Assessment project here.

Appalachian Trail Natural Resource Condition Assessment

In 2018, the CLUS entered an agreement with the National Park Service Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) through the Chesapeake Watershed CESU. The goal of this project is to assess current ecological conditions and trends for natural resources and ecosystems, identify data and knowledge gaps, and highlight existing and potential threats along the more than 2,100 mile trail.

Visit the Appalachian Trail Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) mapping portal to interact and visualize NRCA data through story maps, apps, and web maps.

Kittatinny Coalition

The Kittatinny Coalition is an alliance of organizations, agencies, and academic institutions working with municipal officials and private landowners to conserve the natural, scenic, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor. Shippensburg University is an active member, and has partnered to conduct GIS and demographic analyses and user surveys to support conservation and communication efforts along the Kittatinny Ridge.

Project deliverables include two story maps: Land Cover Dynamics Along the Kittatinny Ridge and DRWI Cluster Demographic Analysis. Learn more about the Kittatinny Ridge Recognition and Cultural Identification Survey and results.

Read more about the CLUS partnership with the Kittatinny Coalition and various projects including GIS support services, demographic analysis, and user survey.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Partnership

The goal of this five year agreement with the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (UPDE) is to complete and launch an effective and efficient spatial decision support tool to replace the current paper map based system. This collaboration began through the Chesapeake Watershed CESU in 2016. 

An interactive GIS tool is the main deliverable for this project. This tool will help Upper Delaware Partners review and manage projects and resources issues with the potential to impact natural, cultural, historical, and recreational aspects of UPDE.

Learn more about the UPDE Project.

Learn more about the UPDE Project.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Partnership

The goal of this five year agreement with the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (UPDE) is to complete and launch an effective and efficient spatial decision support tool to replace the current paper map based system. This collaboration began through the Chesapeake Watershed CESU in 2016. 

An interactive GIS tool is the main deliverable for this project. This tool will help Upper Delaware Partners review and manage projects and resources issues with the potential to impact natural, cultural, historical, and recreational aspects of UPDE.

The Center for Land Use and Sustainability is involved in a variety of Student and Research Projects related to land use.