Air sparging - A two-part process to remove contaminants from groundwater. Air is injected into groundwater, causing bubbles that trap contaminants. The bubbles rise through the soil as vapors, which are captured by soil vapor extraction wells and then conveyed to the vapor extraction equipment.
Biodiversity - simply stated, biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the sum of all the different life forms on Earth. It’s the variety of all species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms and their habitats.
Ecosystem - any group of living and nonliving things interacting with each other can be considered an ecosystem; it can be as small as a puddle or as large as the Earth itself.
EDG – early design guidance.
EIS – Environmental Impact Statement; a report on a project’s potential impacts to the environment.
Greenhouse gas - a gas, such as carbon dioxide or methane, that contributes to potential climate change.
Heat island effect - on hot summer days, urban air can be up to 10°F hotter than the surrounding countryside. Not to be confused with global climate change, scientists call this phenomenon the "heat island effect." Heat islands form as cities cover natural land with pavement, buildings, and other infrastructure.
Holistic - a focus on the whole rather than analysis or separation of its parts.
MUP – Master Use Permit (for approval of garage and first phase campus construction).
MPD – Major Phased Development (for approval of long-term campus development).
Pile – In construction, a vertical wood, metal, or concrete support that is driven into the ground to provide reinforcement.
Rebar – Steel rods that are used to reinforce concrete; often bent and tied together with wire to form a cage or framework that concrete is poured over.
Renewable - resources that can be restored and replenished by nature in a reasonable amount of time.
Scoping – gathering comments on potential project impacts.
Shore – To stop something (such as a wall or the sides of a deep hole) from falling down or caving in by placing a support against it.
Stormwater - Water that runs off a property after it rains and is channeled into the city’s storm drains. The storm drain system is different from the sanitary sewer system because stormwater usually is untreated before it goes into streams and rivers.
Sustainable design - sustainable design seeks to minimize environmental damage from development.
Watershed - an area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake, or groundwater.