Ecological Restoration of the Built Environment

 The proposal: launch a research and education initiative at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore linking the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable building removal to ecological restoration and green space management

Indiana Dunes National LakeshoreThe IDNL: an atypical land use legacy for a national

park

• A substantial portion of the land is comprised of a patchwork of previous homesites that were demolished and restored to a specific habitat. 

• When the IDNL was authorized in 1966 there were more than 750 residences within its boundaries.   

• Many homeowners maintained reservation-of-use until 2010.

Indiana Dunes National LakeshoreThe IDNL: an atypical land use legacy for a national

park

• Prior to restoration activities buildings are typically demolished, the waste sent to a land fill, and then the  land is restored to a prescribed habitat (e.g., wetland, forest, upland dunes, savanna/grassland). 

• Approximately 60 remaining structures are targeted for removal and habitat restoration. 

Anthony_Sutphen@nps.gov

• We estimate that the 600+ structures that have been demolished to date represent 32,400 m3 of landfill waste. 

• This has an enormous metal and carbon footprint on our regional environment. 

The IDNL: an atypical land use legacy for a national park

Significance and critical need

The U.S. sends ~136 million tons of building-related construction and demolition waste to landfills each year:• 25-30% of all waste produced in the nation• China reports even higher numbers

Minimizing resource use is a key approach to a sustainable economy:• Deconstruction of buildings can reduce construction waste 

and increase efficiency • Demolition or deconstruction by-product synergies can be 

made with local construction projects.

Ecological Restoration of the Built Environment

This legacy of the built environment and the IDNL’s mission to restore the land and create park space makes this site an ideal test-bed to explore the concepts and methods of ERBE.

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Specific goals and intermediate milestones: ERBE

• 1) Create new and link existing courses, seminars, special events, and internship opportunities to develop the theoretical, quantitative, and practical training for cohorts of students in ERBE– e.g. Senior Design Teams in DEEE and College of Technology

• 2) Establish a continuing education program for national park staff and city planners

• 3) Develop best practice manuals for city planners and national park resource managers engaged in or planning ERBE projects 

• 4) Create an online location- based digital database of invasive species, soil properties, and building details at the study site– e.g. Collaboration with Purdue’s visual analytics center (VACCINE)

• 5) Establish integrated ecological, geochemical and soil science, and microbiological research programs to better understand the success of landscape restoration from the built environment. 

Proposed Integration and Coordination ofActivities

Phase One (Initial Site Evaluation) begins with a complete assessment of landscape dimensions and access, building composition and projected reuse/recycle value, an ecological survey of native and invasive vegetation and invertebrate, homesite soil analyses, and interviews with park staff, students, and guests. Local citizen scientist teams will be established during this phase. 

Proposed Integration and Coordination ofActivities

Phase Two (Deconstruction or demolition, Sample Collection, Mapping) will initiate the building deconstruction process, the removal of reusable/valuable ornamental plants and lawn, the establishment of long-term monitoring plots and ecological and soil surveys, the mapping of invasive plants and coordinating their removal. 

Proposed Integration and Coordination ofActivities

Phase three (Restoration, Economic Evaluation, Continued Monitoring) completes the deconstruction and resale/recycle/donation activities, generates detailed economic and life-cycle analysis of building materials, finalizes the infill and grading of the homesite, and initiates the replanting of native species. 

Demolition/ deconstruction assessment and implementation

By-product synergies with 

local construction needs

Pre-restoration Ecosystem Assessment 

Monitor & model  current and past restoration efforts 

Ecosystem Restoration Activities

COS: Filley, MichalskiCOA Emory, Turco, Dunning, Gibson, Richmond, Hildner, Dahl, Siciliano, JohnstonIDNL: MarburgerPU-Cal, ChoiIU-NW: AvisUSGS: Grundel, Pavlovic

COE-S:,Chaubey, NiesCOA Emory, Dunning, Gibson, Hildner, Dahl, Siciliano, USGS: ByappanahalliIDNL: Marburger

COE-S: Chaubey, JafvertCoA: Emory, Turco, Schulze, Richmond, JohnstonCoS: Filley, Michalski, HarborUSGS: Byappanahalli, PavlovicIDNL: Marburger, Kwilosz USGS Retired: Hiebert

COE: Zhao, SutherlandCOT: Alter, SchauretteIDNL:  Agustin, Kwilosz 

Boots on the ground: Senior design teams, honors theses, graduate students, citizen scientists,

IDNL staff

COE: Hastak, ZhaoSutherland, Office of Sust: GullichIDNL: Agustin

Social Science Implications 

and Park Sustainability

HTM: Day, Cai.CLA: RaymondIDNL: Smith

Map activity to IDNL & local community needs

A integrated research and education initiativeEcological Restoration of the Built Environment

Ecological Restoration ActivitiesThe Built Environment

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Leveraging our capabilities

Typical Approach New Approach

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Purdue University 

Local Communities and National Stakeholders New frameworks for collaboration

•  ~35 acres

• Sustainably remove buildings and associated infrastructure

• Restore the land to the upland forest ecosystem

• Monitor past 20 years of restoration efforts

A Unique Education and Training Platform: the Current Research Permit

Impacts to local hydrology, soil moisture, Lake Michigan recharge

Linking sustainable building removal to ecological restoration and green space management

Problem: Dormitory and lab space is essential for success of this effort. 

Solution: Convert selected sites into high energy-efficiency dormitories and research laboratories (an opportunity for Purdue Alumni Donors?)

Ecological Restoration of the Built Environment

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• Minimize land fill waste/toxic disposal

• Create green space for improved environment

• Create green space that promotes resilience

• Urban agriculture, urban forests

• Create jobs in new sectors, e.g., deconstruction, ecosystem restoration

• Minimize new resource extraction through reuse (asphalt, concrete, wood, metals, etc.)

• Create integrated sustainable development graduate training programs (international focus)

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Students trained in economic and environmental assessments of deconstructing buildings

Anthony_Sutphen@nps.gov

Students trained in public awareness and policy related to issues of government acquisition of

private property domain

Anthony_Sutphen@nps.gov

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Students trained in ecological restoration and long term monitoring of environmental parameters—

sustainable green space creation

Anthony_Sutphen@nps.gov