Files
Abstract
Lands managed by the National Park Service (NPS) are continually introduced to natural disturbances and human impacts that can damage their natural and cultural resources. Park vegetation often faces destruction from invasive plants, fire, insects, pollution and off-road vehicles, while battlefields and historic homes face pressure from urban development that can damage viewsheds and overwhelm sound-scapes. In this study, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are used to map, visualize and analyze the vegetation and surrounding land of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (CARL) in Flat Rock, North Carolina. This thesis focused on improving and customizing the production of a digital vegetation database of CARL. An analysis of historical land use trends surrounding the park also was performed to document development trends within a 1609-meter (one-mile) buffer of the park boundary and assess potential impacts to park resources.