Did you know that integrating our built environment with the natural world can result in a more functional, sustainable, and resilient landscape? Here at ISG, we aim to make tomorrow better than today, and one way we do that is by incorporating ecology into our planning and design work.
Ecology is the study of relationships between organisms and their environment. Our homes, businesses, and cities are an interconnected component of the environment, as well as natural elements, including soil, the water cycle, the nutrient cycle, wildlife populations, and plant communities. ISG’s plant ecologists understand the importance of this relationship and their influence on one another, and take an ecological approach to each project design.
Our interdisciplinary team of water resource engineers, civil engineers, landscape architects, and environmental scientists work with our team of plant ecologists to restore plant communities and integrate biodiversity. Recently, ISG worked on a prairie restoration project for Moore Memorial Nutrient Bank. The team intentionally designed a customized seed mix consisting of forbs (wildflowers), grasses, and flowering shrubs to provide a habitat for pollinators, including the endangered Rusty-Patch Bumblebee, helping preserve the species and stabilize soils around the built environment.
The benefits of this ecological approach are muti-faceted. Effectively using native plants can positively influence water infiltration, water quality, stormwater runoff, and flood mitigation. The health of soil is improved and stabilized, and there are proven improvements to air quality and carbon sequestration. Additional benefits include the cooling of urban heat islands, the support of wildlife habitat, increased recreational opportunities, reduced costs in conservation and restoration practices, and improved health and wellness of people.
Working together with our team of plant ecologists, clients are provided options to integrate biodiversity into projects that not only meet their goals but help shape a better planet for all. Below is a list of services that ISG’s plant ecology team can provide:
ISG’s applied technology team invests in state-of-the-art tools for several reasons, the most important: added value. With devices and services like drones, visualization, geographic information systems, 3D scanning, and virtual reality, our trained operators gather data efficiently, with precision detail. We exceed expectations to deliver accurate data, allowing for better decisions, faster—critical to healthcare environments of all scales. As the needs of health systems continuously evolve, ISG has uncovered how these tools create strategic solutions and increase operational efficiency.
Nearly every architectural and engineering project intersects with environmental landscapes, often requiring wetland delineation as a first step toward sustainable development. ISG’s environmental team offers expertise and guidance in this critical phase of project due diligence, supporting a range of diverse sectors.
ISG is leading the way in sustainable water management across the Midwest. Our experience in developing One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P)strategies and Multi-Purpose Drainage Management (MDM) Plans provides comprehensive solutions, including advanced flood control, water resource management, and environmental sustainability.