Spatial models and computer graphics to visually simulate vegetation restoration and management strategies for historic sites

While historic preservation has gained momentum in the last decade, only recently has vegetation management been considered an important component of preservation and restoration of historic sites. Many of these sites are biologically and historically rich, they range from small gardens to hundred of acre sites. The size differences make it difficult to develop one single method for analyzing and assessing the historic contents at both site and regional scales. The purpose of this paper is to describe a methodology for modeling, using a geographic information systems (GIS) and computer graphic simulation, a preservation vegetation management strategy (PVM) for the historic Hills and Dales Park in Dayton, Ohio. A spatial model was developed based on biophysical and historic data from 1900 survey maps, compared to current plant species composition data acquired from samples across the site. A vegetation management strategy was proposed along with realistic simulations of the visual impacts of the vegetation management alternatives. Results of this study clearly illustrated the utility of using a GIS modeling and visual simulation approach for identifying and protecting the historic integrity of the site, as well as communicating through visual simulation, options for the restoration of the historic fabric. -Authors