Research and Publications

The National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) works to advance the notion that research, collaboration, engagement and thoughtful policy development hold the key to a smarter and more sustainable approach to urban and regional development. NCSG is based at the University of Maryland, College Park, housed under the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, with support from the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, the School of Public Policy, and the Office of the Provost.

 

Recent Research

  • Tree Planting in Prince George’s County, Maryland: Case Studies and Benefits Assessment in Four Parks 

    Allen, Tobias; Allsopp, Millie; Burkhardt, Ian; Ebinama, Nnamdi; Escobar, Antonio; Kisakye, Ian; Martin, Bryn; Moody, Kelsey; Pajaro, Heyner; Ren, Xiaojin; Rodrigo, Karisha; Rosales, Ante; Santaella, Diego; Savio, Hannah; Serra, Lucia; Steinthal, Caitlin; Stokes, Bridget; Wellnitz, Shane; Wilke, Audrey (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2019)
    The benefits of trees and forests and the ecosystems services that they provide is well documented. Ecosystems services include carbon sequestration, stormwater retention, water pollution reduction, air pollution retention ...
  • Redlining in Prince George’s County, Maryland 

    Cheng, Edward; Kim, Bo; Martinez, Angela; Thapa, Mimika; Thomas, Lauren (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2019)
    The project goal was to provide the Prince George’s Planning Department with geographic information regarding historical redlining in the County. Redlining is the act of denying a person the ability to buy property or a ...
  • Information Seeking by Under-Represented Communities 

    Batugo, Ashley; Dhanak, Hardik; Shultz, Danny; Zhu, Yuwen (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2019)
    Prince George's County Parks and Recreation offers recreation programs, facilities, and services throughout the entire county to its residents and visitors. The county operates and maintains more than 27,000 acres of ...
  • Community Engagement for Vulnerable Communities: Flooding Impacts and Adaptation in East Riverdale-Beacon Heights 

    Delcid, Leslie; Flood, Owen; Grier, Emma; Hastings, Kathryn; Idriss, Baindu; Imhoff, Hannah; Mullen, Haley; Petrik, Skylar; Sikorski, Barbara (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2019)
    Flood hazards and associated damage are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the coming years due to increased development and progressing climate change. The severity of these impacts is directly related to ...
  • A Framework Plan for Preservation and Growth in Creswell, Harford County, Maryland 

    Ali, Bilal; Latimer, Sarah; MacKereth, Nick; Nye, Kari; Ottalini, Russ; Smith, Jerah; Weller, AnnaLinden; Clites, Philip; Espinoza, Maria; Kerner, Bridget; Phelps, Brooks; Scott, Sacsheen; Goldsborough, Elena (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2019-06)
    HarfordNEXT, the county’s 2016 Masterplan, calls for a comprehensive analysis of facilities needed to serve Creswell and asserts that future development must be compatible with the preservation of Creswell’s rural character. ..
  • Springdale Preparatory Track Facility 

    Gobelez, Zeki; Murphy, Kyle; Henning, Brendan; Yerkes, Andrew; Machado, Fiona (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2019)
  • Environmental Analysis and Development Potential in the Creswell Area of Harford County, MD 

    Russell, Sherry; Turner, Sarah; Wallace, Sarah (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2018)
    This project was undertaken as part of the UMD PALS program by graduate Landscape Architecture students in LARC 642 in the fall of 2018. It contributes to a series of courses addressing the development potential of the ...
  • Sewer System Alternatives Evaluation for Potential Creswell Area Expansion in Harford County 

    Alarcon, Julio; McAllister, Nicholas; Furlong, Brian; Benyarku, Eben; Carter, Alonzo; Hall, Courtney; Belay, Mengistu; Cho, Andrew (Seong); Kaur, Gurpreet; Islam, Sanjidul; Batista, Sabrina; Lucki, Alexandra; Bloemendaal, Kim; Gonzalez, Raul Castillo; McElhaney, Matthew; Diwani, Souhayl; Reister, Ben; Clark, Phillip; Tokar, Jayne; Schachter, Greg; Tyshing, Miguel; Berhane, Michael; McKenna, Eric; Krasnoff, Gregory; SyedNaveed, Mishaal; Siegel, Evan; Shuey, Joe; Milligan, Austin; Miranda, Mario; Moez, Yasmin; Queen, Michael; Tolnay, Sara; Wink, Pete; Schito, Gabriella; O'Neal, Jeff; Drumm, Lauren; Alvarez-Couceiro, Nico; Dougen, Graham; Radstake, Damiaen; Reisfeld, Daniel; Berger, Eli; Streett, Rebecca; Palumbo, Emily; Hoover, Madeline; Blout, Tim; Sage, Madison; Holtzman, William; Sultan, Robin; Mayer, Erik; Nachenberg, Koby; Lynch, Sadie (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2018)
    This report summarizes the findings of the ENCE422 Fall 2018 class term project. Students were tasked with evaluating sewer system alternatives for the Creswell area expansion in Harford County. Student groups were to ...
  • Inspector District Management Process Flow Study, Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits 

    Mishra, Ritwik; Parikh, Raj (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2018)
    The Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits (ILP) in Harford County, Maryland works to create streamlined and efficient processes for inspections, licenses, and permits for the construction in the county. The ...
  • Harford County Tour Recommendation 

    Gupta, Shriya (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)2018)
    Visit Harford — Harford County, Maryland’s destination marketing organization — would like to improve its Visitor Tour Planning Application to enhance the touring experience for people visiting the county. The current ...