IU Northwest Students Map Campus Trees After Storms

First-year students are using GIS technology to inventory trees following significant storm damage on campus.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Geography

IU Northwest Students Map Campus Trees After Storms

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IU Northwest students are conducting a detailed tree inventory across campus following a destructive storm system that hit Northwest Indiana in August 2026. The project aims to identify hazards and promote biodiversity after the storms caused extensive tree damage.

Why it matters

The inventory serves as a required student service-learning project to maintain the campus Tree Campus Higher Education designation. It also provides practical field experience in environmental conservation and data management for students.

Students use laser range finders to calculate the precise height of trees and branches. This data is then input via smartphone apps into a Geographic Information System (GIS) for long-term tracking.

The players

IU Northwest

This public university located in Gary serves students across Northwest Indiana through a variety of academic and professional programs.

The details

Students enrolled in a first-year geosciences seminar are identifying specific tree species while flagging those that pose potential safety risks. The findings will support future recommendations for planting native and storm-resilient tree species on the Gary campus.

August 11, 2026: A major storm system impacted Northwest Indiana.
Fall 2026: The first-year seminar conducts the campus tree inventory.

The Big Picture

The project follows the formal requirements established by the Tree Campus Higher Education designation. By integrating academic research into campus maintenance, the initiative aligns IU Northwest with national standards for sustainable university forest management.

The systematic removal of hazards and the selection of storm-resilient species will likely improve campus safety during future severe weather events. Additionally, the resulting map could eventually serve as a model for local municipalities looking to improve urban canopy resilience.

The takeaway

This initiative demonstrates how academic seminars can effectively bridge the gap between classroom theory and urgent environmental stewardship. Residents and students alike benefit when data-driven efforts inform the long-term health and safety of local green spaces.