Department:
Landscape Architecture
Active Dates: 2012 – 2019
Principal Investigator: Matthew PRYOR (PI), Yuxiao CHEN (Co-I)
Funding body: HKSAR Collaborative Research Fund
Abstract
From the outset, Hong Kong has had a highly compact urban form. Green spaces within the city have typically been very small and infrequent, street corridors are highly contested environments (in plan and section). Huge spatial and operational challenges have to be overcome in order to maintain any significant greenery or urban forest. This research initiative explores a broad spectrum of technical and operational issues involved in establishing and sustaining vegertation in high density cities. It includes separate studies on the production, planting, arboricultural maintenance, protection of trees and transplanting of street trees in high density urban environments, and addresses the historical perspective, the underlying arboricultural science of trees in the street and the development of best practice standards.
Objectives
The study aims to develop specific practical knowledge relating to the growth of trees in high density urban environments, and how these can be modified to improve the health of our urban forests.
Results
The study has produced a range of academic and best practice outputs covering the vegetation of slopes, street tree planting, and landfill restorations.
Outputs
Academic Outputs
Conference Papers, Other Outputs, Awards
Anticipated Outputs
Pryor M., Ng, C.W.W., Chen, Y.X et al. Development of reliability-based preliminary design guidelines for live covers for man-made slopes and landfills. (est. 2016)
Anticipated Impact
The research is intended to improve the qulaity (healthy, longevity and biodiversity), type and extent of vegetation throughout the city. Although focused on Hong Kong, the outputs are directly relevant to high density cities in any tropical/sub-tropical climate.