The Exploratory and Data Research of Perennial Trees at Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang for Conservation

Abstract

          The aim of collecting survey data and plotting coordinates of perennial plants at Faculty of Architecture King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang is to fulfill the royal initiative under the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiation of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn initiative by King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (RSPG-KMITL). The research objectives are 1) to compile plant species, 2) to plot coordinates of the plant species in the study area and 3) to train on plant survey methods and assess the satisfaction of students participating. The survey method divides the survey area of 85 rai (136,090 m2) into 4 parts for convenience by using the inner faculty's road as the boundary line. This study specifically focuses on perennial plants, which have the sizes of trunk circumference from 14.14 cm. at the height of 1.30 meters from the ground by recording the circumference of the trunk, the radius of the bush and the actual height of tree in meters. After that the plant co-ordinations were created by using computer drawing program to specify the position in the map. The survey process started from December 1, 2017- November 30, 2018. Additionally, the results identified that there are 2,301 trees, classified as 157 species, 121 genera, and 45 families. In brief, from the survey area, most species from the survey and the distribution of plant species in the study area are Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC., Cerbera odollam Gaertn, Parkia javanica Merr., Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb., Swietenia mahogany (L.) Jacq., Swietenia macrophylla King., Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr., Delonix regia (BoJ. ex Hook.) Raf., and Lagerstroemia floribunda Jack. Furthermore, this study finds 18 plants used for construction and 30 species of trees that have economic value from 58 items. As a result, the finding of this survey and mapping can be used and applied for further studies in landscape architecture and architecture. Besides, the authors organized a training course on plant species survey for students and received very satisfied results. This could lead to a participatory process for the conservations of plant for students.

Keywords: Plant Species, Perennial Plant, Finding Coordinates, Girth at Breast Height, Database