{"id":274,"date":"2021-12-16T15:15:10","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T20:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/environmentaldesignguide\/?post_type=chapter&p=274"},"modified":"2026-01-05T16:58:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T21:58:42","slug":"chapter-2-analyzing-the-biological-features-and-functions-for-a-site","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/environmentaldesignguide\/chapter\/chapter-2-analyzing-the-biological-features-and-functions-for-a-site\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 2- Analyzing the biological features and functions for a site","rendered":"Chapter 2- Analyzing the biological features and functions for a site"},"content":{"raw":"

Introduction<\/h1>\r\nWhile this chapter will focus on the biological aspects of a site assessment, it is important to note that the biological elements are intrinsically linked with the geological and physical aspects of a site and are rarely considered or assessed independently.\u00a0 The more common approach is a biophysical inventory with a review and identification of the geological or larger landscape context of area where a specific site is located. \u00a0For this chapter and the purpose of providing an overview of what such an assessment involves, the terms used interchangeably to describe an assessment of the natural elements or biology of a site are environmental or biophysical survey.\r\n\r\nA central tenet for any biophysical assessment is that \u2018it\u2019s all connected\u2019.\u00a0 \u2018Nature\u2019<\/em> and all the associated functions and elements that comprise the ecology of an area must be viewed within the context where they are found.\u00a0 Any one element, while unique with specific characteristics and habitat requirements, is connected to and interacts with a many other elements and aspects of a site. And, these relationships and connections do not begin and end at the boundary of the area of interest for a given site.\u00a0 They extend well beyond the edge of a given property and incorporate a complex and interlinked system of living and non-living elements and forces.\r\n\r\nAn understanding, even on a basic level, of the connectivity and relationships between elements in an ecosystem is important because impacts from development, alterations to vegetation, to physical features like soils, slope or water courses, will affect, and not often in a positive way, the plant and animal species that live there. It would take a great deal of time and resources to complete a full inventory and assessment of every species of plant or animal and their respective needs or function within a given area or ecosystem.\u00a0 Time and resources that are just not available for individual site assessments and because of this, biological assessments tend to be specific and constrained to the regulatory requirements for local, provincial and federal government agencies.\r\n\r\nThe affordability and availability of aerial imagery and remote sensing technologies<\/a> such as LANDSAT<\/a>, aerial imagery<\/a> and orthophotos<\/a>, multi-spectral<\/a> and thermal imagery<\/a>, LiDAR<\/a>,\u00a0 and powerful geospatial analysis tools like ESRI\u2019s ArcGIS Spatial Analyst<\/a> are all significant aids in the assessment and understanding of the biological and physical aspects of a site.\u00a0 Remotely piloted aerial systems<\/a> (RPAS), more commonly known as drones, allow surveyors and biologists a perspective and access to areas that was not previously feasible or available.\r\n\r\nEven with the access and use of these novel tools and technologies, it is not possible to capture or assess all of the biological elements and functions that exist on a site. Time and resource limitations require environmental professionals to focus their assessment on key biological elements, often focusing on those defined by legal or regulatory requirements or liabilities.\u00a0 The point here is that a biological or biophysical assessment is a snapshot of a site over a specific time frame that tells part of the story for specific aspects of the site as defined by the variables (and biases) included in the study design.\r\n\r\nOne aspect of site assessments that is of increasing importance, given the need to address and create resilience in our communities to the effects of climate change, is identification and calculation of existing and potential ecosystem services.\u00a0 For example, the inherent qualities of trees offer services that directly benefit us and mitigate impacts of our activities.\u00a0 Trees store and sequester carbon storage<\/a>, they remove pollutants<\/a> from the air, reduce storm water run-off<\/a>, and contribute to a stable hydrological cycle<\/a>. Trees contribute to cooler air<\/a> and water temperatures<\/a>.\u00a0 Beyond the ecological services, trees, depending on their relative position to a building, they can reduce energy<\/a> required to heat or cool a building.\u00a0 Trees and forests have been linked to benefits for mental and physical health<\/a>, reduced crime rates<\/a> and increased property values<\/a>.\r\n\r\nA site assessment for the construction of a building or larger complex would look at the footprint of building(s) and associated infrastructure and the direct and in-direct impacts of construction and alteration to site (and this includes on-site and off-site impacts).\u00a0 Impacts include, but are not limited to, a loss of plants (flora), habitat and access for animals (fauna), ecological functions and services on site and, subsequently, loss within the larger, adjacent and interconnected natural systems (often referred to as the ecosystem).\u00a0 While not always considered, change on a site will inevitably impact adjacent systems and diminish connectivity and larger ecosystem functions with larger region.\r\n\r\nThis chapter is not intended to provide a lesson in ecology or function as a biology primer.\u00a0 Nor is it intended as a manual or guide for conducting an environmental assessment of a site.\u00a0 Rather, it is an overview of the common elements and frameworks considered in a biophysical inventory.\u00a0 The second part of the chapter will present a few of the tools and methods used for assessment and analysis \u2013 both conventional and novel. The final section of this chapter reviews a number of resources that support a desktop analysis of an area\r\n

A biophysical inventory and site assessment: conventional methods and approach<\/h1>\r\nA review of a site location with the landscape and region is often the first task for an environmental assessment.\u00a0 Such a review includes a review local weather patterns and norms, vegetation communities, bedrock and soils, the topography (hills and valleys or form and feature of landscape) and the water features and hydrology across larger region within which the site is located.\u00a0\u00a0 The location within the larger landscape is also important and can affect weather patterns, amount of solar radiation, precipitation and drainage.\r\n\r\nThe best way to explain geography and a site is a map.\u00a0 The illustration below provides an example of a specific site, the Cheakamus Centre<\/a>, located in the Pacific Northwest along the Sea to Sky Highway north of the community of Squamish in British Columbia, Canada.\u00a0 This site provides a good case study for an environmental assessment.\u00a0 This property has been used in previous research projects by students from several programs at BCIT, including the Architectural Science department, and we have a great deal of information and detail to review and share here.\u00a0 To review projects completed to date, please visit the ESRI Story Map for the site \u201cCheakamus Centre: Opportunities for Education and Research<\/a>\u201d.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n
Figure 1: Site Map for Cheakamus Centre property and local topography. Site located north of the District of Squamish, BC. Note the reference to location of Daisy Lake Dam relative to Cheakamus Centre location.<\/h5>\r\nThe site map and location with in region provided in map, inset in Figure 1 illustrates the boundary of the site, and the inset provides the location within the local region.\u00a0 A site location map establishes \u2018place\u2019 for a site and highlights the geographical context and relative position of area to other landmarks or significant features.\u00a0 There are many ways to represent the geographical context and elements of site.\u00a0 Data and information used to describe a site can vary by location and by the purpose and objectives of a site assessment.\u00a0 As you see in the series of maps provided in Figure 2, there are many ways to represent the features or context of a site \u2013 the maps provided here are but an example of the data that could be used to describe a site.\r\n\r\nToday, we have many layers of data available for sites.\u00a0 Most areas where any development or construction will take place, there is likely more data than you could use or need for your description of a site and an environmental professional must be able to parse and filter data to find and use information relevant to a study or site review.\u00a0 Even then, the datasets and important elements can rarely all be used in a single map.\u00a0 A map series that separates specific types or categories of data can be useful for reference and for analysis. The maps included in Figure 2 are an example of a map series and illustrate the following aspects of the site: (1) biogeoclimatic zones; (2) bedrock geology class or type; (3); the topography based on a digital elevation model raster; (4) District of Squamish land use zoning<\/a>; (5) road, rail and hydro line infrastructure; (6) watershed boundary for the Cheakamus River; (7) Squamish First Nation traditional territory<\/a>; (8) hydrology or rivers, streams and lakes in area; and (9) critical habitat for the federally listed species Marbled Murrelet<\/a>.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_276\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"634\"]\"Series Figure 2: Series of reference maps for the Cheakamus Centre site located in Paradise Valley north of Squamish, BC. The maps represent the following data sets: (1) biogeoclimatic zones; (2) bedrock geology class or type; (3), the topography based on a digital elevation model raster; (4) District of Squamish land use zoning; (5) road, rail and hydro line infrastructure; (6) watershed boundary for the Cheakamus River; (7) Squamish First Nation traditional territory; (8) hydrology or rivers, streams and lakes in area; and (9) critical habitat for the federally listed species Marbled Murrelet.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe map series example provided here gives the boundary for the Squamish First Nation traditional lands only.\u00a0 Note that maps for a site assessment would normally include an outline or identification of all jurisdiction boundaries, local, regional and First Nation traditional lands. This is important to include in any site assessment as the legislation and legal duties, requirements for access, activities permitted, and the information and monitoring for a baseline study, impact mitigation, remediation and monitoring will vary across jurisdictions and government agencies.\u00a0 All must be considered, consulted and accommodated in the design of a biophysical site assessment study.\r\n\r\nNote that much of the data used in the preliminary assessment of the site was accessed via the BC Data Catalogue<\/a>. The province has created an extensive catalog of digital data and layers for use with geographic information systems like ArcGIS Maps, ArcGIS Pro and Google Earth.\u00a0 The layers are also accessible via the provincial data viewer iMapBC<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Information on how to use and access these tools is available via both the BC Data Catalogue and the BC Map Services<\/a> page.\r\n\r\nAt a site level, vegetation communities, vegetation structure, age and size, diversity of plant types (species) are all important and directly related to the biogeoclimatic zones defined in the British Columbia Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification<\/a> or BEC system that exists for the entire province.\u00a0 Biogeoclimatic (BGCZ) or BEC zones are unique to BC and were developed by researchers at UBC in the 1970s to describe vegetation communities with similar plants, soils and climate. A review of known or historic presence of wildlife or fish, particularly endangered or critical species and the associated habitat values on site as well as connectivity to adjacent \u2018green\u2019 areas or greenways or corridors that may exist nearby.\u00a0 The specific physical conditions of a site can be described by aspect (cardinal orientation of a site), soil and bedrock materials, slope or grade, topography within the site itself, moisture and nutrient regimes and evidence of disturbances (fire, mass-wasting, flooding).\r\n\r\nBritish Columbia has developed many tools for site assessment and these provide a good overview of the ecological factors considered for both terrestrial (ground) and aquatic (water) habitats\/ecosystems.\u00a0\u00a0 BC Government documents such as \u201cThe Field Manual for Describing Terrestrial Ecosystems<\/a>\u201d are available via the provincial inventory standards<\/a> resource site. This document and the other resources and guides provided on this site provide a good overview of the elements and values that are considered in environmental assessments.\u00a0 The number of manuals and resources, guidelines and forms on this page indicate the amount of information and detail that is needed to understand, quantify and qualify the ecological condition for any given site.\r\n\r\nThe first step is describe and establish the geographical context of a site.\u00a0 Much of this work is completed as part of a desktop or research project prior to the commencement of the design of a study or work in the field.\u00a0 Elements that are often included in such a description include:\r\n