Teaching Responsibilities
- LA 346, Site Systems II
- LA 426, Capstone Course in Landscape Architecture
Education
Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA)
Iowa State University Landscape
Architecture 1972
Master of Science - Natural Rescources
Purdue University 1974
Professional Memberships and Registration
American Society of Landscape Architects
Chair, Reclamation Professional
Interest Group
Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture
Sigma Lambda Alpha, Honorary Society for Landscape Architects
Alpha Chapter (National),
member-at-large, President 2002 to 2004
Xi Chapter (Purdue) Charter member and faculty advisor
Indiana Mineral Aggregates Association
Associate member Member, Technical
Advisory Committee
Clearing Institute, board member
Indiana Urban Forest Council
Founding board member President 1994
to 1995
Registered Landscape Architect, State of Indiana
Professional Practice
Dahl & Associates, principal consulting landscape architect
Ecologistics Limited, senior associate
Teaching
Contributions in course and curriculum development - Professor Dahl
has been a leader in the development of service learning courses. He teaches
his courses using hands-on, real world projects that result in meaningful
design assistance for communities throughout Indiana. The communities support
the service learning approach through grants to Professor Dahl and in turn
receive his students' ideas and strategies that help them move forward. Dahl's
instructional approach includes grantsmanship. His students apply their new
grant writing skills to assist the communities in procuring funds for public
works. Dahl's students have won several national design awards for the
reclamation of mined land. These service learning projects help adjacent
communities visualize possible futures for disturbed land. Professor Dahl's
emphasis on environmentally sensitive design is well recognized by his students
and peers.
LA 101 - Survey of Landscape Architecture (3 credits, fall semester).
This course is an overview of the profession and Purdue's curriculum in
landscape architecture. All of the faculty are invited guest speakers in the
class. They each talk about themselves, the courses they teach and their other
interests and activities.
LA 346 - Site Systems II (3 credits, fall semester). This course
deals with layout, grading and drainage. Site systems are approached from a
holistic perspective. Grading and drainage starts with precipitation, runoff
and soil characteristics. Students are taught to understand why they are
expected to design drainage systems. This course also covers erosion, watershed
management and irrigation, and also explores the production of detailed
drawings for the construction of landscape elements.
LA 516 - Regional Design (5 credits, spring semester). This class
focuses on issues of regional scale, from a single community to several
counties or an entire watershed. Work with river corridors, trails and
greenways is highlighted in this class. Mined land reclamation, rural
preservation and scenic byway projects are also conducted. Regional scale
thinking is emphasized. The recognition of regional resources as determinants
of regional design form is stressed. The focus is on regional design, not
regional planning. The students are introduced to the role of governmental
agencies and national nonprofits.
Design Awards
In the past eight years, Professor Dahl has guided his students in the
development of award winning designs in mined land reclamation. He instructs
his students in LA 516 in the preparation of mined land reclamation proposals
that are entered in the National Student Design Competition for Aggregate
Operations. The competition is sponsored by the American Society of Landscape
Architects and the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association with students
from all seventy-five U.S. graduate and undergraduate programs in Landscape
Architecture invited to participate. The competition was established
twenty-five years ago to foster the creative exploration of concurrent
reclamation and post-mining land development ideas. The mining industries and
adjacent communities all benefit from the student plans that show a conversion
of a liability into a community asset.
Professor Dahl conducts the semester-long projects in accordance with the
competition guidelines. His many contacts with mine owners and operators allow
him to match students with challenging projects. Dahl arranges site visits with
the students where they learn about the mining operation and the nearby
community and discuss possible land uses with mining personnel and community
residents and leaders. He also provides the students with research and resource
materials to assist them in developing creative yet practical plans for the
land. Professor Dahl has used this as a service based learning approach and as
an affective tool to provide students with a great sense of accomplishment in
the real world.
The following projects are only the competition winners, illustrating the
range of design ideas.
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Project - Location
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Place
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Year
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Agricultural Research and Training Center , Patriot,
Indiana
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Second
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2001
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A regional training facility for juvenile offenders
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Sustainable Community, Carmel, Indiana
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Third
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2000
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An urban farm utilizing alternative technologies
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Botanical Center, Carmel, Indiana
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Second
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2000
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Demonstration gardens and recreational trails in a deep quarry
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Recreational Complex, Sellersburg, Indiana
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Second
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1999
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Camping, hiking and sailing in and around a water-filled quarry
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Agricultural Research Center, Patriot, Indiana
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Second
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1998
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Mine reclamation and alternative agriculture test plots
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Vineyard/Winery, Delphi, Indiana
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First
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1997
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Fine wines and fine dining overlooking beautiful quarry waters
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Effigy Mounds, Battle Ground, Indiana
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Third
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1996
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A shaped land tribute to the mining process
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Residential Development, West Lafayette
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Second
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1996
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Home sites concurrently developed on an active mine
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Aquaculture Center, Peru, Indiana
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First
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1995
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Specialty fish species raised, harvested and served in mid-Indiana
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Truck Farm/Market, Noblesville, Indiana
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First
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1994
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Fresh fruits, vegetables and mushrooms grown on reclaimed land
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Creative Endeavor, Research, Scholarship
Professor Dahl's research, scholarship and creative endeavors are integrated
with his teaching program. He focuses on the needs of communities and the
natural environment. Specifically, he explores the areas of mined land
reclamation, trails and greenways, community forestry and rural
preservation. Much of his research is done in conjunction with the
service learning projects presented to his students and conducted within
communities throughout Indiana.
Professor Dahl's scholarship is also integrated into
the classroom by presenting grantsmanship from his professional practice to his
students. Dahl is one of few landscape architects known regionally for
his grantsmanship and nationally for teaching grant writing.
Publications
Books and Chapters:
Dahl, B., Dunbar, F., Ramadhyani, R.
1995. "Engaging Universal Design Program-wide," Chapter 15 of Strategies
for Teaching Universal Design, Boston, Massachusetts, Adaptive Environments
Center.
Refereed Papers:
Dahl, B., Hough, M. and Skabelund, L.
2001. "Urban Ecological Restoration", Common Ground: Culture
and Nature. Annual Meeting Proceedings of the American Society of
Landscape Architects, D. Schue, Editor. pp. 143-146. Montreal,
Quebec.
Book Reviews:
Dahl, B. 1996, Book Review of Views From
the Road, A Community Guide for Assessing Rural Historic Landscapes by
David H. Copps. Landscape Journal.
Dahl, B. 1996, Book Review of Views From
the Road, A Community Guide for Assessing Rural Historic Landscapes by
David H. Copps. American Society of Landscape Architects Committee on
Rural Landscapes Newsletter.
Dahl, B. 1988, Book Review of The
Naturalist's Garden by John Feltwell. Landscape Journal.
Abstracts:
Dahl, B. 2001. "Service Learning
Course as Capstone of the Curriculum". Council of Educators in
Landscape Architecture. Meeting at the Edge: Curriculum and
Learning. pg. 42. San Luis Obispo, California.
Dahl, B. 2001. "National
Non-Profits and Governmental Agencies: The Roles of Landscape Architects".
Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. Meeting at the Edge:
Curriculum and Learning. pg. 68. San Luis Obispo, California.
Kavanaugh, J., Dahl, B., Bork, D., Chidister, M.,
Mace, R., Mead, J., Ostroff, E., 1994. "The Universal Design
Education Project Workshop: Infusing Accessible Design into the
Curriculum", Panel presentation. Council of Educators in Landscape
Architecture History and Culture. pg. 82. Gulfport, Mississippi.
Dahl, B., 1993. "Grant Writing -
Acquiring Funds for Public Works" Council of Educators in Landscape
Architecture. Public Lands/Scapes. pg 20. Eugene, Oregon.
Dahl, B. and Payne, J. 1990. "Trails
Training Workshop" Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.
Tourism, Recreation and Resort Design. pg. 98. Denver, Colorado.
Dahl, B. 1989. "Student Participation in
Course / Curriculum Development". Council of Educators in Landscape
Architecture. CELA 89: Water. pg. 41. Amelia Island, Florida.
Dahl, B. 1986.
"Energy-Conserving Landscape Design: A Demonstration Project".
Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. CELA 1986:
Vegetation. pg. 109. Helen, Georgia.
Dahl, B. 1984. "Stereo Image
Perception". Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.
pg. 36. Guelph, Ontario.
Dahl, B. 1981. "Stereo Imagery–A
New Teaching Tool" Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.
The Challenge of Change. pg. 17. Seattle, Washington.
Abstract Reviews:
Dahl, B. 2000. Reviews of manuscripts
for publication in American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting
Proceedings.
Dahl, B. 1999, 1991, 1989. Reviews of
abstracts for presentations at and publication in Council of Educators in
Landscape Architecture Annual Meeting Proceedings.
Dahl, B. 1998. Reviews of manuscripts
for publication in Landscape Journal.
Dahl, B., expected 2001. "Urban Trees
for Indiana: Identification and Selection". This project was funded
by the USDA-Forest Service. The manual is meant for use by community tree
boards and other people involved in developing community forestry
programs. A pre-publication copy is available for inspection.
Meyer, E., Dahl, B., Parker, G., Dennis, L.
2001. "Open Space Conservation Assistance from
Not-for-Profits". Panel presentation. Indiana Parks and
Recreation Association State Conference. West Lafayette, Indiana.
Dahl, B. 1996. "Trail
Construction along Canal Towpaths". International Trails and
Greenways Symposium. San Diego, California.
Dahl, B., Libka, L., Spangenberger, E. and Doty,
T., 1995. "Urban Forestry in Indiana". Indiana Parks and
Recreation Association / Indiana Chapter, American Society of Landscape
Architects / Indiana Planning Association Joint Annual Conference,
Indianapolis, Indiana.