Marina Alberti

Marina Alberti is Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning in the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington. She directs the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Urban Design and Planning and the Urban Ecology Research Laboratory. She teaches courses in Urban Ecology, Environmental Planning, Geographic Information Systems, and Group Dynamic and Conflict resolution. She also teaches an Advanced Course in Research Design. Her research interests are in the impacts of alternative urban development patterns on ecosystem dynamics.

She is the Principal Investigator on a number of grant- funded research projects (see Current Research) including an NSF grant for the Biocomplexity Program aiming to develop a simulation model that integrates urban development and ecological dynamics. Recently, she was awarded a new Biocomplexity Grant to study the emergent properties of urban landscapes in Seattle, WA and Phoenix, AZ. Her research also focuses on measures of urban environmental performance that can be used to monitor progress and inform policy-making. She is especially interested in advanced interdisciplinary approaches to urban ecological problems, and is Co-PI in the National Science Foundation Interdisciplinary Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program in Urban Ecology.

Professor, Department of Urban Design and Planning

Director, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Urban Design and Planning

Director, Urban Ecology Research Laboratory

Member, Executive Steering Committee of UW Earth Initiative

Selected Publications

Books

Alberti, M. Advances in Urban Ecology: Integrating Humans and Ecological Processes in Urban Ecosystems. Springer, 2008.

Marzluff, J.; Shulenberger, E.; Bradley, G.; Alberti, M.; Ryan, C.; ZumBrunnen, C.; Endlicher, W.; Simon, U. (Eds.)
Urban Ecology: An International Perspective on the Interaction of Humans and Nature, Springer, 2008.

Alberti, M, G. Solera, and V. Tsetsi. 1994. Sustainable Cities. F. Angeli, Rome. (In Italian).

Alberti, M., Berrini, M., Melone, A. And M. Zambrini. 1988. Environmental Impact Assessment: Instruction for Use. F Angeli, Rome. (In Italian)

V. Bettini, Alberti, M., G. Bollini, and E. Falqui. 1988. Environmental Impact Assessment Methods, CLUP-CLUED, Milan. (In Italian).

Bettini, V., Falqui, E., and M. Alberti. 1984. Environmental Impact Analysis. CLUP-CLUED, Milan. (In Italian)

Books (New Book Contract)

Alberti, M. Cities as Hybrid Ecosystems. UW Press. Forthcoming 2010.

Papers

Hepinstall, J.A., J.M. Marzluff, M. Alberti. 2009. Predicting avian community responses to increasing urbanization. Studies in Avian Biology. In Press.

Blanco, H., Alberti, M., Forsyth, A., Krizek, K.J., Rodriguez, D.A., Talen, E., Ellis, C. 2009. Hot, congested, crowded and diverse: Emerging research agendas in planning. Progress in Planning 71:153-205.

Cuo, L., Lettenmaier, D.P., Alberti, M., Richey, J.E. 2009. Effects of a century of land cover and climate change on the hydrology of the Puget Sound basin. Hydrological Processes 23 (6): 907-933.

Shandas, V and M. Alberti, 2009. Exploring the role of vegetation fragmentation on aquatic conditions: Linking upland with riparian areas in Puget Sound lowland streams. Landscape and Urban Planning 90: 66-75.

Powell, S., Cohen, W., Yang, Z., Pierce, J., and M. Alberti. 2008. Quantification of impervious surface in the Snohomish water resources inventory area of Western Washington from 1972- 2006. Remote Sensing of Environment. 112(4): 1895-1908.

Hepinstall, J.A., M. Alberti, J.M., Marzluff. 2008. Predicting land cover change and avian community responses in rapidly urbanizing environments. Landscape Ecology 23:1257-1276.

Rottle, N. and M. Alberti, 2008. Climate change and place. Places: Forum of Design for the Public Realm 20/2:4-7.

Rottle, N. and M. Alberti, guest editors 2008. Climate Change and Place, special issue of Places: Forum of Design for the Public Realm 20/2.

Powell, S., Cohen, W., Yang, Z., Pierce, J., and M. Alberti. 2008. Quantification of impervious surface in the Snohomish water resources inventory area of Western Washington from 1972- 2006. Remote Sensing of Environment. 112(4): 1895-1908.

Liu, J., Dietz, T., Carpenter S., Folke, C, Alberti, M. Redman, C., Schneider, S. Ostrom8, E., Pell, A., Lubchenco, J., Taylor, W., Ouyang, Z., Deadman, P. Kratz, T., and W. Provencher. 2008. Coupled Human and Natural Systems. Ambio.

Alberti, M. 2007. Ecological signatures: Seeking a more scientific understanding of sustainable urban forms. Places 19(3):56-60.

Liu, J., Dietz, T., Carpenter S., Folke, C, Alberti, M. Redman, C., Schneider, S. Ostrom8, E., Pell, A., Lubchenco, J., Taylor, W., Ouyang, Z., Deadman, P. Kratz, T., and W. Provencher. 2007. Complexity of Coupled Human and Natural Systems. Science.

Alberti, M., Booth, D., Hill, K., Avolio, C., Coburn, B., Coe, S., and D. Spirandelli 2007. The impact of urban patterns on aquatic ecosystems: An empirical analysis in Puget lowland subbasins. Landscape and Urban Planning, 80: 345–361

Alberti, M. Christie, P. Marzluff, J. and J. Tewksbury. 2007. Interactions between Natural and Human Systems in Puget Sound. Sound Science: Synthesizing Ecological and Socioeconomic Information about the Puget Sound Ecosystem. January 2007.

Alberti, M., C. Redman, J. Wu, J. Marzluff, M. Handcock, J. Anderies, P. Waddell, D. Fox, H. Kautz, J. Hepinstall. 2006. Urban landscape patterns and global environmental change (GEC): Complex dynamics and emergent properties. International Human Dimension of Global Climate Change. Spring 2006.

Morawitz, D.; Blewett, T., Cohen, A., and M. Alberti* 2006. Using NDVI to Assess Vegetative Land Cover Change in Central Puget Sound. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 114 (1- 3):85-106. *Authors are in no particular order as specified in paper.

Alberti, M. 2005. The Effects of Urban Patterns on Ecosystem Function. International Regional Science Review. 28(2):169-192.

Alberti, M. and J. Marzluff. 2004. Resilience in Urban Ecosystems: Linking Urban Patterns to Human and Ecological Functions. Urban Ecosystems 7:241-265.

Alberti, M., Weeks, R., and S. Coe. 2004. Urban Land Cover Change Analysis for the Central Puget Sound: 1991-1999. Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 70:1043-1052.

Alberti, M., Marzluff. J. Shulenberger, E., Bradley, G. Ryan, C. and C. Zumbrunnen. 2003. Integrating Humans Into Ecology: Opportunities And Challenges For Urban Ecology. BioScience. Vol. 53, No.12.

Alberti, M. 2001. Quantifying the Urban Gradient: Linking Urban Planning and Ecology. In J. M. Marzluff, R. Bowman, R. McGowan, R. Donnelly, Eds. Avian Ecology in an Urbanizing World. Kluwer, New York.

Alberti, M and P Waddell 2000. An Integrated Urban Development and Ecological Model. Integrated Assessment. 1: 215-227.

Alberti, M 1999. Modeling the Urban Ecosystem: A Conceptual Framework. Environment and Planning B. Vol. 26: 605-630.

Alberti, M. 1999. Modeling the Urban Ecosystem: A Conceptual Framework. Environment and Planning B 26:605-630.

Alberti, M. 1999. Urban Patterns and Environmental Performance: What Do We Know? Journal of Planning Education and Research 19(2):151-163.

Alberti, M and P Waddell. 1999. Developing an Integrated Urban Development and Ecological Model. In P. Rizzi (Ed.) Computers in Urban Planning and Urban Management. Franco Angeli, Milan.

Alberti, M. 1999. Urban Form and Ecosystem Dynamics: Empirical Evidence and Practical Implications. In M. Jenks, E. Burton, and K. Williams. Achieving Sustainable Urban Form. Routledge, London.

Alberti, M. 1997. Measuring Urban Sustainability. Environmental Impact Assessment Review Special Issue, Vol. 16, n. 4-6, July-Nov.

Alberti, M. and L. Susskind (eds).1997. Managing Urban Sustainability. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Special Issue, Vol. 16, n. 4-6, July-Nov.

Daily, G.C., Ehrlich P.R. and M. Alberti. 1996. Managing Earth’s Life Support Systems: The game, the players, and getting everyone to play. Ecological Applications. Vol. 6, N.1

Current Research

Linking Urbanization and Vegetation Carbon Patterns. PI.
Bullitt Foundation. $14,410, 7/1/09-6/30/10.

Land Cover Change Modeling, PI.
Weyerhaeuser Co., $49,814. 10/16/08-10/15/09.

Human Systems Modeling and Analysis for Puget Sound Ecosystem-Based Management, PI.
NOAA. $44,843. January 1, 2008-12/31/10.

Regulatory Effectiveness Monitoring for Developing Rural Areas. PI. Environmental Protection Agency via King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. $75,000. January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2011.

Urban Landscape Patterns: Complex Dynamics and Emergent Properties, PI
Funded by the National Science Foundation (BE/CNH-0508002) to develop models of urban landscapes as complex systems. $1,399,644, September 15, 2005 - August 31, 2009.

Future Without Project, Phase II, PI
Funded by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Program. $48,330, November 15, 2006 - September 30, 2008.

Integrative Graduate Education in Urban Ecology, Co-PI
Funded by the National Science Foundation (IGERT DGE-0114351) to develop an Interdisciplinary Graduate Training Program in Urban Ecology. $2,700,000, September 9, 2001 - August 31, 2006.

Landscape Composition and Configuration in the Puget Sound Basin, PI
Funded by RGI/EPA Region 10, $47,737, October 10, 2005 - September 20, 2006.

Operational Remote Sensing Solutions for Estimating Total Impervious Surface Areas and the Contribution to that Area Made by Transportation, PI
Funded by the Washington State Department of Transportation, $92,000, March 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006.

Modeling Interactions Among Urban Development, Land-Cover Change, and Bird Diversity, PI
Funded by the National Science Foundation (BIOCOMPLEXITY BCS-0120024) to develop an integrated strategy to model bird population changes in response to urbanization. $1,128,818, September 15, 2001 - February 28, 2005.

A Tiered-scale GIS Analysis of Land Use Change and Shoreline Habitat Alteration, PI
Funded by NOAA and the State of Washington Department of Ecology (IA# C050041) $75,000, July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005.

Urban Growth Patterns Assessment – Landsat Benchmark Project, PI
Funded by the State of Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, $57,947, December 12, 2003 – June 310, 2005.

Pacific Northwest Center for Ocean and Human Health, GIS and Urban Ecology, Project Leader
Funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), $7,543,020, 2003-2008.

The Impact of Urban Patterns on Ecosystem Dynamics, PI
Funded by the National Science Foundation, $424,977, August 1, 1999 July 31, 2002.

Development of an Integrated Urban Ecological Simulation Model for the Puget Sound, PI
Funded by the Puget Sound Regional Synthesis Model (PRISM), University Initiative Fund (UW) $214,909.

Ecology of Foodborne Infectious Diseases from Consumption of Recreationally Harvested Puget Sound Shellfish, PI
Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10/Puget Sound Action Team, September 5, 2003 – June 30, 2005.

Reusable Modeling Components for Simulating Land Use, Transportation, and Land Cover, Co-PI
Funded by the National Science Foundation $439,357, February 15, 1999-January 31, 2001.

UW Tools for Transformation13, Co-PI
Funded by the University of Washington, $314,000. 1999-2000.