Project Team

• Joan Nassauer - SNRE
• Eric Dueweke - Architecture & Urban Planning

Project Summary

In 2011 the Graham Institute partnered with the non-profit organization Data Driven Detroit (D3) to initiate the Detroit Sustainability Indicators Project. The overall project consisted of six U-M faculty-led research teams that worked to develop data, tools, and analysis to help decision makers in Detroit consider sustainability in their planning and redevelopment efforts.

Two project teams collaborated to survey 9,000+ parcels in two Detroit neighborhoods. Their detailed assessments revealed differences among highly-vacant areas that may require different planning, policy, and landscape approaches to achieve better long-term outcomes for residents. The Detroit Land Bank Authority adopted concepts from the project to guide the ecological design of demolition sites.

This project received a $40,000 Detroit Sustainability Indicators Project Grant in 2011.