Arborgraphia, a new app developed by UL Lafayette faculty and students, helps visitors identify trees on campus.
Dr. Douglas Williams, a professor of instructional technology, dreamed up the app. He鈥檚 also director of the University鈥檚 Center for Innovative Learning and Assessment Technologies, which creates educational mobile apps and computer games. 鈥淢y family enjoyed the outdoors, so I grew up with an appreciation for nature, including trees. I started brainstorming, thinking of a way to share the treasure of our trees on campus and also provide a learning tool,鈥 he said. Williams used information in one block of campus 鈥 bounded by Johnston Street, East University Avenue, Hebrard Boulevard and East St. Mary Street 鈥 to establish the app.
That block has more than 260 trees representing 33 species. Among them are the Centennial Oaks, which were planted by the University鈥檚 first president in 1901, and camellias that line part of the Walk of Honor, a pathway of bricks engraved with graduates鈥 names.
Photographs and illustrations of trees, and their bark, fruits and flowers, help users identify species. There鈥檚 an interactive map, an index of tree species and guided walking tours. A history tab reveals more information, such as how American Indians used a particular species, or how a certain tree is related to the University鈥檚 history.
An additional feature, 鈥淢y Journal,鈥 uses GPS coordinates for individual trees, so the app will 鈥渒now鈥 when the user is within a certain radius of a given tree.
Arborgraphia is suitable for all ages, although younger users will need some help navigating it, Williams said.
It was a collaborative effort that began in 2011. Three students created its illustrations: Ahren Brown, who graduated in 2012; Brittny Giroir, a junior; and Amy Heinz, a senior. Tiffany Gilbert, a freshman majoring in informatics, determined each tree鈥檚 GPS coordinate and uploaded data, including images and illustrations. Dr. Yuxin Ma and Louise Prejean, Center staff members, contributed to the overall design, content and testing of the app.
Most of the data came from UL Lafayette鈥檚 Community Design Workshop, a senior-level studio for architecture students that鈥檚 focused on urban planning. Its students are conducting a campus-wide tree inventory.
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