Visualize Six Years of Architectural Changes at the University of British Columbia Vancouver Campus: Impacts on Tree Growth, Green Connectivity, and Coyote Footprints

Urban development, such as campus expansion, alters land cover and disrupts ecological processes, but the full extent of these impacts is often underexamined at fine spatial and temporal scales. This study investigates how building expansion on the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus from 2015 to 2021 has influenced tree dynamics and coyote movement by leveraging high-resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and spatial analysis. A campus-wide analysis revealed an increase in building density from 0.91 to 1.03 buildings per hectare, with total building coverage expanding from 16.62% to 18.39%. Eight campus neighborhoods were analyzed in detail, with Wesbrook Place experiencing the most substantial change, adding 22 new primarily residential buildings. Beyond direct tree removal, construction activities indirectly hindered vegetation recovery by damaging root systems and compacting soil. Neighborhoods with lower construction intensity, such as East Campus and Hawthorn Place, showed more stable canopy structure and tree growth. Wildlife patterns were also affected; fragmentation of greenspace and reduction in canopy cover disrupted ecological corridors, influencing coyote movement across the campus. These findings highlight the critical role of remote sensing in tracking and visualizing land-use change, offering valuable insights for sustainable campus development and contributing to urban ecological planning in rapidly expanding metropolitan areas.