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Case Study Investigation (CSI)To support design firms in assessing anddocumenting the performance of exemplarylandscape projects, LAF conceived of a paidstudent internship program. In 2001, this ideaevolved to include faculty researchers whocould provide academic rigor and lend theirexpertise in developing methods to quantifybenefits. And so the Case Study Investigation(CSI) initiative was born…CSI is a unique research collaboration thatmatches faculty-student research teamswith leading practitioners to quantify theenvironmental, economic and social benefitsof landscape projects and produce LPS CaseStudy Briefs. Faculty leaders are selected asLAF Research Fellows through a competitiveapplication process, and LAF pays a stipend tosupport a student research assistant for each.The pilot CSI program ran for 10 weeks in theSummer 2011, with 10 faculty-student researchteams and 15 participating design firms. Theprogram delivered 20 new Case Study Briefs,“The greatest strength of CSI is its potentialto bridge the gap between academia and theprofessional world. Educating about landscapeperformance is a critical component of goodlandscape architecture curriculum, becausethat is ultimately what we want to achieve asdesigners.” — 2011 CSI Participantdozens of detailed, replicable methods toquantify landscape benefits, and new insightson existing research, tools and calculators. Inaddition to generating compelling evidencethat demonstrates the critical role landscapesolutions play in sustainable design, the CSImodel provided students with much-neededresearch and professional developmentopportunities.Based on the success of this pilot, LAF willoffer CSI as regular summer program startingin 2012. By investing in this research, LAFhopes that CSI can be a key impetus in movingthe landscape architecture profession towardroutinely setting and designing for specificperformance objectives, collecting performancedata, and documenting work.A classroom version of CSI was piloted in agraduate-level seminar course at the Universityof Washington during the 2011 Autumn Term.Associate Professor Nancy Rottle and LAFsupportedResearch Assistants Pam Emersonand Delia Lacson led 15 students throughthe process of documenting the performanceof a dozen projects, many of which will beexpanded on and published as LPS Case StudyBriefs in 2012.The Fall CSI seminar marks LAF’s firstcoordinated effort to bring the concept oflandscape performance into the classroom andenhance design education so that studentshave the skills and knowledge to quantify andcommunicate the value of landscape solutionsin this increasingly evidence-based market.Research Assistant Myvonwynn Hopton from the Universityof Southern California measures tree diameter to determinecarbon and air quality benefits.2011 Research FellowsJessica Canfield, Kansas State UniversityDennis Jerke, Texas A&M UniversityMary Myers, PhD, Temple UniversityBo Yang, PhD, Utah State UniversityChris Ellis, PhD, University of MichiganByoung-Suk Kweon, PhD, University of MichiganAlexander Robinson, University of Southern CaliforniaKristina Hill, PhD, University of VirginiaNancy Rottle, University of WashingtonKen Yocom, PhD, University of Washington8 | Landscape Architecture Foundation