Summer Intern, Urban Tree Connection

Posted by on May 01, 2011

Land Use Index: Intern Job Description
Project Dates: May 19 – August 12 (tentatively)
Expected Time Commitment: 10 – 40 hours/week (flexible)

Project Background & Description:
Urban Tree Connection is working to apply a vacant land suitability model to parts of Philadelphia’s Haddington neighborhood. The goal of the model is to inventory and classify all urban vacant land within Urban Tree Connection’s catchment area according to each parcel’s suitability for either small-scale commercial agriculture or community gardens. While most data analyzed in the model can be gathered from existing spatial geodatabases, several parcel characteristics have to be “ground-truthed” on-site. The ultimate goal is to collect and overlay in ArcGIS all spatial data associated with each vacant parcel, apply the model to assess each parcel’s suitability, generate a map designating the most promising sites for Urban Tree Connection to expand into, and to research the available land acquisition methods. This project is in conjunction with University of Wisconsin graduate research. Individuals who partake in this study will be acknowledged in the publication.

Primary Duties:
The intern will spend the bulk of his/her time collecting the following data from each parcel that has been pre-designated as a potential site:
• available sunlight
• vehicle accessibility
• existing infrastructure (i.e. fence, shed, etc.)
• land use incompatibilities either on- or off-site
• existence of a southern exposure (for potential greenhouse or hoop-house production)
• vegetation
• water access
• identified social/neighborhood components

If with relative certainty the soil is judged to be uncontaminated, randomized soil cores will be extracted to assess the following physical characteristics:
• organic matter content
• compaction
• soil texture class (i.e. sand, silt, or clay)
and

There is a corresponding land acquisition research document which will be developed in conjunction with the acquired data. The intern’s main responsibility will be identifying all the vacant land acquisition methods in Philadelphia and expanding on the methodology for acquiring land.

Qualifications:
For data collection, the ideal intern will have broad interests in either (urban) agriculture, geography, GIS, urban planning, or urban development. Experience with data collection and recording is a plus, but not necessary. Training will be provided, and work hours are flexible. (Approx. 10-20 hours/ week)

For researching land acquisition methods, the ideal intern will have academic experience in political research methods and an interest in land use philosophy, urban planning, environment, and agriculture. A two page writing sample of a previous research paper will be requested. (Approx. 10-20 hours/ week)

Compensation:
This is a non paid internship for which academic credit can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.
If interested, please contact Ryan Witmer at ryanleewitmer@gmail.com.