Antelope Island Study: Guidelines for Recreational Land Use Planning for Antelope Island, Utah, Using Computer Techniques

• Main Author: Scott, Robert D., Jr.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 1974
• Subjects: Antelope Island; Recreational Land Use; Utah; Computer Techniques; Landscape Architecture
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/3461; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4475&context=etd

Throughout the history of traditional land use planning, justification for allocating a land use for a particular area has been accomplished generally in a debilitated fashion. For example, decisions have generally been arrived at by (1) political process--incorporating fringe areas into present land use patterns, or (2) short-term revenue producers are given a land use change from a tax base incentive, or (3) revelations implemented, or other subjective justifications. Except in very few instances, data used to base land use planning decisions was not accurately interpreted for adequate input or not even gathered. Recently, new and innovative methods for land use planning processes have evolved to gather, interpret and measure data more accurately. More notable processes have been developed by Ian McHarg, Peter Jacobs, Phillip H. Lewis, G. Angus Hills, David Stinton and Carl Steinitz. David Stinton and Carl Steinitz developed a program called "GRID" which basically utilizes the computer as a tool to process data and display data through computer graphics as maps. The process implemented in this project to compile and graphically display data was the GRID computer program. The program utilized Utah State University's Burroughs 6700 digital computer. This system has been found to be faster and more economical than the traditional method of overlays without sacrificing accuracy. Utilizing computer graphic techniques, this project conducted a detailed environmental inventory and analysis of Antelope Island, Utah. Various land use activities were evaluated for their potential impact upon certain natural systems of the island. The major objective of this thesis is to provide, for interested levels of government and concerned citizens, guidelines for land use planning that will assist them in making more meaningful and accurate decisions of present and future land use in the study area. This project established recreational guidelines for Antelope Island, Utah, and acts as a study model for recreational land use planning for the cold desert biome states of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. The study is an environmental analysis and attempts to recognize problem areas sensitive to development. Guidelines deal directly with maximizing recreation potential of the island while minimizing impacts on natural systems such as vegetation, wildlife and soil erosion.