A Geospatial Approach to Equitable Schoolyard Design
Lu Liang, Professor
Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
Applications for Fall 2025 are closed for this project.
Schoolyard trees are a low-cost, nature-based solution to environmental and social challenges, from reducing extreme heat and improving air quality to supporting student well-being. Research shows that access to trees can lower stress, boost attention, foster social connections, and even improve academic performance.
However, many schools lack adequate tree cover—especially in areas students actually use. In California, the median canopy coverage in student zones is only 6.4%, with millions of students (many from low-income families) attending schools with less than 5% coverage. Even where trees exist, they are often placed in ways that provide little benefit to students.
This project will help close the data gap by building a nationwide, spatially detailed database of K–12 campuses, integrating satellite imagery, GIS data, and machine learning. We will map tree canopy in student-accessible areas, identify schools and student populations most at risk, and explore how schoolyard design can better prioritize shade, climate resilience, and equitable access to nature.
Role: • Create a Public School Campus and Student Zone Dataset
• Develop a Campus Tree Dataset
• Assess Equity in Schoolyard Tree Coverage
Qualifications: • Excellent attention to detail and accuracy (required).
• Proficiency in ArcGIS Pro and Online digitization tool (required).
• Basic GIS analytical skills in ArcGIS or QGIS) are a plus (preferred).
• Strong interest in urban studies, environmental science, or related fields (preferred).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team (required).
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Engineering, Design & Technologies Environmental Issues