Resilience by design: a framework for evaluating and prioritizing social-ecological systems

Abstract

Resilience theory provides an approach for landscape architects to analyze systems and design adaptive environments. C.S. Holling created the theory in response to changing social-ecological systems (Holling 1973). Resilience is the ability of a system to adapt to disturbances and remain in the same state (Walker and Salt 2006). This report proposes a framework that applies resilience to site analysis. The goal of the Resilience Analysis Framework is to help designers address expected and unexpected threats to human well being on a global and local scale. The framework was created by synthesizing findings from a literature review and expert interviews. A literature review based the framework in theory. Interviews with professionals working on the Rebuild by Design (2013) competition grounded the framework in professional practice. The goal of the Rebuild by Design competition was to develop resilient solutions to the changing environment. Synthesizing findings from the literature review and expert interviews resulted in a five part framework. The five parts are: Stakeholder Engagement, System Description & Goal Establishment, System Analysis, System Report, and Prioritization. Stakeholder Engagement is a process that occurs throughout each part of the framework. It includes education, data collection, reporting, and feedback. The System Description & Goal Establishment part describes the basic properties of a system and establishes goals for the future of those properties. System Analysis is an in depth evaluation of the factors determining a system’s level of resilience. The System Report synthesizes the important information from the System Description & Goal Establishment and System Analysis parts. Prioritization performs the essential task of focusing a project by identifying high priority systems. The goals (from the System Description & Goal Establishment and System Analysis parts) for the high priority systems determine the primary goals for the project. These goals inform decisions during the site analysis/strategic planning phase of the design process. The framework was applied to Washington Square Park in Kansas City, Missouri. This application provided an example of how to apply the framework to a park analysis. This report’s main finding was a framework for building evidence to make resilient design decisions.