University of Michigan (Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, University of Michigan)

The Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum will hire staff to digitally map and document the condition of its aging historic landscape collection at the arboretum. Consistent, uniform, and online-accessible baseline assessment data and standardized maps are needed to prioritize and customize conservation planning. The museum will integrate the documents with its geospatial database and plant records system to inform long-term collection-conservation, rejuvenation, and management planning for university and public needs. Tangible outputs will be from the data in the geospatial database, which will be accessed as web-based printable maps and data sets. The one-year project, a cornerstone of the museum's new strategic plan, will benefit three groups: management teams engaged in the collection rejuvenation; university partners needing digital maps and related data for teaching, creative works, and research; and arboretum visitors.