DOCUMENT RESUME ED 304 386 SO 019 728 TITLE Technologies for the Preservation of Prehistoric & Historic Landscapes. Background Paper. INSTITUTION Congress of the U.S., Washington, D.C. Office of Tecnnology Assessment. REPORT NO OTA-BP-E-44 PUB DATE Jul 37 NOTE 61p.; For related document, see ED 280 782. Derived from a Workshop on Technologies for Preserving Planned Landscapes and Other Outdoor Sites (Washington, DC, February 27-28, 1986). AVAILABLE FROMSuperintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Stock number 052-003-01076-3; $2.50). PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Computer Graphics; *Documentation; *Policy Formation; *Preservation; United States History IDENTIFIERS Historical Landmarks; *Landscapes; National Park Service ABSTRACT Requested by the U.S. House of Representative's Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, this Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) paper identifies and examines: (1) the primary problems or issues that face prehistoric and historic landscape preservation; (2) the technologies for addressing these issues; and (3) policy options for putting the technologies to work. The OTA assessment proposes: (1) more consistent terminology and preservation standards' guidelines; (2) an increase in public awareness of the landscapes' value to U.S. history; (3) a federally funded research and develormsnt center; and (4) systematic, long-term maintenance of landscapes. Technologies for the identification and documentation of landscapes range from basic techniques, such as volunteers wielding pencil and paper, to sophisticated computer systems that can assimilate, manipulate, and store geographic information and generate complicated maps of a region. OTA suggests that the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. government's leader in preservation matters, initiate greater efforts to preserve and create awareness of these landscapes. A 49-item bibliography is included, as well as black and white photographs, tables, and drawings. (DJC) Iclelcxxxxxxxxxxxxxxlc*A****Iclelc1;xxxxxxlc*Iclelcxxxxxxxlc*Iclelc**Icxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxlca Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. **********************************************s************************ .10 Technologies for the co .4- Preservation of 1::; Prehistoric & Historic Landscapes W \ i U S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) rill* document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization ongmafing it C Minor chanOeS have been made to Improve feproduCtiOn quUfity Pomts of mew or opimonSstatedin this docu- ment do not necessanty represent official OERI positan or pohcy Background Paper CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 01 Ice of Technology Assessment 4. AVAILABLE BEST COPY .....1111.., Office of Technology Assessment Congressional Board of the 100th Congress MORRIS K. UDALL, Arizona, Chairman TED STEVENS, Alaska, Vice Chairman Senate House ORRIN G. HATCH GEORGE E. BROWN, JR. Utah California CHARLES E. GRASSLEY JOHN D. DINGELL Iowa Michigan EDWARD M. KENNEDY CLARENCE E. MILLER Massachusetts Ohio ERNEST F. HOLLINGS DON SUNDQUIST South Carolina Tennessee CLAIBORNE PELL AMO HOUGHTON Rhode Island New York JOHN H. GIBBONS (Nonvoting) Advisory Council WILLIAM j. PERRY, Chairman CLARE T. DEDRICK RACHEL McCULLOCH H&Q Technology Partners California Land Commission University of Wisconsin DAVID S. POTTER, Vice Chairman S. DAVID FREEMAN CHASE N. PETERSON General Motors Corp. (Ret.) Lower Colorado River Authority University of Utah EARL BEISTLINE MICHEL T. HALBOUTY JOSEPH E. ROSS Consultant Michel T. Halbouty Energy Co. Congressional Research Service CHARLES A. BOWSHER CARL N. HODGES General Accounting Office Univ?rsity of Arizona Director JOHN H. GIBBONS The views expressed in this bak,Ivgn,.. nd paper are nut necessarily thuse of the Board, OTA Advisory Council,or individual membe-s thereof. Technologies for the Preservation of Prehistoric & Historic Landscapes Background Paper CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES r Office of Technology Assessment Washogtco, DC 20510.8025 Recommended Citation: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Technologies for the Preservation of Prehistoric and Historic LandscapesBackground Paper, OTA-BP-E-44 (Washington,DC. U.S. Government Printing Office, July 1987). Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 87-619847 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (order form on p. 49) Foreword In recent years, the American public and Congress have become much more aware of the value of historic landscapes as teachers and guides to America's heritage. In- terest in preserving landscapes fof the enjoyment and education of future generations extends well beyond saving historic battlefields and the grounds of historic houses, and now encompasses such varied cultural landscapes as the Pine lands of New Jer- sey, the historic courtyards of Arizona, tobacco farms in Kentucky, and the historic parks and gardens of landscape architects. These and other historic landscapes in every State of the Union reflect the exciting cultural diversity of rural and urban America. As this background paper shows, the implementation of Federal historic preserva tion laws with respect to historic landscapes lags far behind the effort expended on historic buildings and archaeological sites. For example, to date, n, one has invento- ried the many gardens, parks, and other historic landscapes designed by the well-known firms of Frederick Law Olmsted and his associates. Yet these landscapes, which grace most major U.S. cities, stand out as prime examples of American design and cultural values. The desire to rectify this situation has led to congressional consideration of a specific bill, the Olmsted Heritage Landscapes Act of 1987, which is discussed and analyzed in this background paper. Because landscapes are always living, growing, and dying, they are highly vulner- able to environmental changes, from both human and natural agents. This background paper illustrates the importance of continuing to apply certain high leverage, cost- effective technologies, such as remote sensing and computer hardware and software, if this Nation wishes to protect, restore, and preserve important parts of its rich heritage for future generations of Americans. In undertaking this work, OTA sought the contributions of a wide Spectrum of knowledgeable and interested people within Federal and State governments and the private sector. Some provided information and guidance, others reviewed drafts of this background paper. OTA gratefully acknowledges their contributions of time and in- tellectual effort. 141444JOHN H. GIBBONS Director III Workshop Participants: Technologies for Preserving, Planned Landscapes and Other Outdoor Sites, Feb. 27.28, 1986 Patricia O'Donnell, Chair Walmsley & Co., Inc., New York, NY Shary P. Berg Martin McGann Consultant Supervisor of Landscapes Boston, MA Director, Institute of Historic Horticulture Sleepy Hollow Restorations Carole L. Crum ley Tarrytown, NY Professor Department of Anthropology Hugh C. Miller University of North Carolina Chief Historical Architect Chapel Hill, NC National Park Service Washington, DC Nomi Greber Curator Darwina L. Neal Cleveland Museum of Natural History Landscape Architect Cleveland, OH National Park Service National Capital Region Robert Harvey Washington, DC Professor Department of Landscape Architecture Ford Peatross College of Design Curator Iowa State University Prints and Photographs Division Ames, IA Library of Congress Washington, DC Catherine Howett Associate Professor Scott Weinberg School of Environmental Design Assistant Professor University of Georgia School of Environmental Design Athens, GA University of Georgia Athens, GA Thomas J. Kane President M. Jane Young Kane, Liede, & Ratyna, P.C. Associate Professor Pleasantville, NY American Studies Department University of New Mexico Timothy Keller Albuquerque, NM Land & Community Associates Charlottesville, VA Setha M. Low Associate Professor Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA NOTE. OTA appreciates and is grateful for the valuable assistance and thoughtful critiques provided by the vvulkshup participants. The workshop participants du not, however, necessarily approve, disapprove, or endorse this report. OTA assumes full rtsponsioility for the report and the accuracy of its contents. iv Preservation of Prehistoric and Historic Landscapes OTA Project Staff Lionel S. Johns, Assistant Director, OTA Energy, Materials, and International Security Division Peter D. Blair, Energy and Materials Program Manager Ray A. Williamson, Project Director Mary Lee Jefferson, Contractor Jannelle Warren-Findley, Contractor Administrative Staff Lillian Chapman Linda Long Acknowledgments The following individuals contributed to thisstudy in a variety of ways. OTA is grateful for their assistance. Laura Feller Nancy Miller National Park Service Nation Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers Stan Hordes HMS Associates Loretta Neumann Santa Fe, NM Foresight Science & Technology, Inc. Washington, DC Mary Hufford American Folk life Center Marilyn Nichols Library of Congress National Park Service Thomas King Connie Ramirez Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Department of the Army John J. Knorel Orlando Ridout National Park Service Maryland Historical