Natural Resource Base Inventories

This chapter presents the principles, methods, and data requirements for inventorying and analyzing the natural resource base as a foundation for sustainable city planning and engineering. It emphasizes the need to align development with the carrying capacity of land, water, and ecological systems to maintain a habitable and resilient environment. This chapter details the major components of the natural resource base—including climate, air quality, geology, soils, water resources, woodlands, wetlands, and areas of scenic, historic, and ecological value—and describes techniques for mapping, classification, and interpretation. It highlights the use of geospatial technologies, digital soil surveys, watershed modeling, and integrated water resources management in modern planning practice. The discussion also introduces the concept of environmental corridors as a framework for conserving interconnected natural systems and guiding sustainable urban form. By linking scientific inventories with planning applications, this chapter underscores the essential role of natural resource data in achieving resilient, equitable, and ecologically balanced community development.