2014 GIST Master Projects
Projects | Date and time | |
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A Comparison of Remote Sensing Indices and Temporal Study of Cienegas at Cienega Creek from 1984 to 2011 Using Multispectral Satellite ImageryAuthor: Natalie R. Wilson, nrwilson@usgs.gov cienegas; arid region wetlands; Cienega Creek; Landsat Thematic Mapper; remote sensing indices Desert wetlands, in particular those slow moving bodies of water known as cienegas, are important sites for biodiversity in arid landscapes and serve as indicators of hydrological functioning on the landscape-level. One of the most extensive systems of cienegas, historical or extant, in southeastern Arizona lies along Cienega Creek, located southeast of Tucson, Arizona. Satellite imagery analysis is heavily utilized to determine landscape-level trends, but cienegas present a challenge to traditional analysis methods. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the classic measure of vegetation greenness, reacts counterintuitively to open water and is affected by open ground, both common occurrences in cienega habitats. Additional remote sensing indices have been developed that balance sensitivity to these environmental elements. This research explores these remote sensing indices at Cienega Creek applying one topographic index to current elevation data and five spectral indices to Thematic Mapper imagery from 1984 to 2011. Temporal trends were identified for all spectral indices and all indices were compared for suitability in cienega habitats. Temporal trends were analyzed for spatial clustering and spatial trends identified. The Normalized Difference Infrared Index utilizing Landsat Thematic Mapper band 5 outperformed other indices at differentiating between cienega, riparian, and upland habitats and is more suitable than NDVI for analyzing cienega habitats in such circumstances. |
12/11/2014 - 6:40pm to 7:00pm | |
Alternative Build-Out Analysis and Land Use Designation for Hillside Preservation in Santa Cruz County, ArizonaAuthor: Deni Huffman, denihuffman@email.arizona.edu Hillside preservation; build-out analysis; suitability analysis; development; Santa Cruz County; Arizona This project develops an alternative build-out analysis and proposes a new Land Use (LU) designation for preservation of hillside open space that is within active private land parcels for Santa Cruz County, Arizona. This study analyzes Santa Cruz County’s current land use plan and discusses an alternative method of build-out analysis, following existing plans and regulations. Santa Cruz County currently does not have a hillside ordinance to restrict building on lots with steep slopes. A comparison to the standard that is currently used and the alternative method highlights the differences in future land use patterns and capacity of County build-out. A suitability analysis used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), thus arriving at criteria that would be most useful. The criteria I used is the distance to a Conservation Area, Lot size, and Steepness of Slope to establish the suitability of parcels that should be placed in the new Hillside Preservation Area LU Code. The resulting analysis identifies areas that meet my criteria. Utilizing GIS as an alternative method to assessing the build-out demonstrates the need for adoption of a new hillside preservation ordinance and land use designation in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. |
12/11/2014 - 6:20pm to 6:40pm | |
Redefining and Analyzing Active versus Passive Recreational Opportunities for Children Ages Zero to Four in Eastern Pima County, ArizonaAuthor: Jessica Styron Abrahams, jabraha1@email.arizona.edu suitability analysis; LUCIS; playgrounds; recreation; Pima County In addressing overweight and obesity in children, many studies of accessibility to recreational opportunities use a half-mile standard as a basis of how accessible a park is, regardless of user age. Others solely differentiate between active and passive recreation. When analyzing recreational opportunities for very young children ages zero to four, a quarter-mile standard should be used to assess walkability, and the presence or absence of a playground should also be considered. To better analyze access to playgrounds for children ages zero to four in eastern Pima County, Arizona and determine where to place new playgrounds, this study produces a suitability analysis based on a seven-point model. This model considers: 1) population of children ages zero to four by 2010 Census Blockgroup, 2) median household income by 2010 Census Tract, 3) distance to playgrounds, 4) distance to major roads, 5) existing soil types and whether they can support a playground, 6) slope, and 7) existing zoning and land use codes. All factors were weighted equally in this suitability analysis, and used to produce a GIS map of high to low suitability of areas for new playground development within eastern Pima County. This suitability map was then paired with the 98 existing vacant parcels in eastern Pima County, Arizona to determine which would be best suited for conversion to new playgrounds. The seven-point model thus determines where new playgrounds should be placed and assesses accessibility to recreational opportunities for children ages zero to four. |
12/11/2014 - 7:35pm to 7:55pm | |
Southwest Wyoming Nineteenth Century Emigrant Trail AnalysisAuthor: Robert E. Davis, recdavis@gmail.com Nineteenth century emigration; Emigration; National Historic Trails; Wyoming; Oregon-California Trails; Sublette Cutoff This project examines and analyzes the mid-nineteenth century emigrant trails in southwest Wyoming; a wild area bounded by the Continental Divide to the east, the Bear River to the west, the Wind River Range to the north, and the Uinta Mountains to the south. Here, emigrants created almost one thousand miles of trails in an uncoordinated, collective effort to find the flattest and shortest trail that also provided the raw materials required by wagon travel, grass and water. Often, these requirements for wagon travel were at odds with the facts of geography: time, distance, and elevation. Given this competition, what are the trails and routes requiring the least effort to traverse while maximizing the availability of resources? To answer this, the project includes elevation profiles, network analysis of existing emigrant trails, least-cost path, and least-cost corridor analysis. Terrain is analyzed based on distance from major sources of water and animal feed; roughness; slope; and in some cases, the existence of established trails. These analyses show that, by and large with one significant exception, the emigrants did follow the least-cost paths, corridors, and networks. The exception is the Sublette Cutoff. While emigrants used the Sublette Cutoff extensively after 1849, this analysis identifies Hams Fork Cutoff (also used by emigrants), farther south, as the route requiring the least effort to traverse the study area. Along with some relevant photographs and other material, the results of the analysis are integrated into a website that can be used by the general public and historians. |
12/11/2014 - 7:00pm to 7:20pm |
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A Site Suitability Model for Photovoltaic Solar Panel Installation on Mine Tailings in ArizonaAuthor: Leanndra Arechederra-Romero, Lareromero@gmail.com surface mines; mine tailings; suitability analysis; Solar Radiation Tools; renewable energy Solar energy is an unlimited renewable energy resource. This project explores how a GIS-based site suitability analysis identifies solar energy opportunities on traditionally unusable, contaminated, large, open-pit/surface mine tailings in seven Arizona Counties. In the analysis, a point ArcGIS Solar Radiation tool determines the amount of insolation or radiation for each mine tailing location, and an area tool determines the radiation for the counties. To calculate suitability for a site, the analysis uses the Weighted Overlay Tool. This tool uses several criteria Area Solar Radiation, Slope, Aspect, and Distance to Major Roads to produce an overlay of low, medium, and high suitability. The mine with the greatest amount of insolation or annual solar radiation for 2014 is the Morenci Mine. This analysis results in a suitability map that illustrates high suitable areas to place solar panels exist in all counties. This project serves to provide a baseline for site selection of solar panel installation on mine tailings in Arizona. |
12/15/2014 - 6:20pm to 6:40pm | |
A Vegetation Monitoring Program for Pima County, ArizonaAuthor: Jason B. Kennedy, jasonbkennedy@email.arizona.edu Endangered Species Act; Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR); Remote Sensing; Vegetation Monitoring; and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); Semi-Global Matching (SGM) The Endangered Species Act Section 10 permit requires municipalities to monitor temporal change in vegetation on land owned and administered by that particular municipality. Due to the most recent advancements in remote sensing technologies, Pima County, Arizona, would like to employ these technologies to remotely monitor vegetation change. Traditional monitoring methods entail physical contact with study areas, resulting in less cost effective data collection. This study investigates the following remote sensing technologies for vegetation monitoring in Pima County, Arizona: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Stereo photogrammetry, multi and hyper-spectral imagery, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Each technology has intrinsic benefits when reviewed alone, but combining the different technologies provides the best option for complete understanding of vegetation change over time. Given limited funding for municipalities, combining all of these technologies is impractical. Therefore, finding one or two technologies that yield the best results while minimizing costs is essential. This study concludes that UAVs and hyper-spectral imagery are not cost-effective or conducive to monitoring the 200,000+ acres of land Pima County owns and or operates. The use of LiDAR and stereo photogrammetry, using a Semi-Global Matching (SGM) routine, is the most beneficial and cost-effective method for Pima County, Arizona to remotely monitor their vegetation. A 2015 collection of LiDAR and orthophotography has already been planned, which will place Pima County in an excellent position to begin this monitoring program next year. |
12/15/2014 - 8:15pm to 8:35pm | |
A Web-Based Evacuation Status Map System for Santa Cruz County, Arizona Emergency ManagementAuthor: M. Gwynn Harlowe, harlowe@email.arizona.edu emergency management; evacuation; National Incident Management System; Incident Command System; Common Operating Picture Emergency events that necessitating building evacuation can easily turn chaotic and disorganized, resulting in a negative impact on public safety. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) developed the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) to provide an organizational framework for various agencies to work together seamlessly during an emergency situation. This framework enables various departments and agencies from the federal, state, and local governments as well as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to work together by describing the protocols that allow them to communicate with each other. This communication depends on adherence to Common Operating Picture methodology. A web-based evacuation status map created in this study greatly enhances the common operating picture of an incident. This map provides the various agencies secured web-based access to the status of an evacuation zone, and provides detailed evacuation status of individual buildings within the zone. Although this information is presented via the internet, access is restricted to emergency operation center personnel. Providing an up to date picture of the evacuation status will allow for a more efficient evacuation resulting in lives saved. |
12/15/2014 - 7:00pm to 7:20pm | |
Distribution of Sahara Mustard (Brassica tournifortii) at the Barry M. Goldwater RangeAuthor: Brett A. Stauffer, stauffer.brett@gmail.com Barry M. Goldwater (BMGW); chi-square; logistic regression; releve; invasive species Since first appearing in the Coachella Valley of California in 1920, Sahara mustard (Brassica tournifortii) has spread throughout the Southwest adversely effecting desert ecosystems. Studies have shown that fire becomes more prevalent in desert ecosystems with Brassica present. From 2010 to 2013 at Barry M Goldwater West (BMGW), Dr. Jim Malusa collected information for over 600 releves (small vegetation plots) of which 205 have Brassica present. This study determines whether there is a correlation between the location of Brassica and vegetation communities as well as environmental variables. Chi-square analysis determines whether a spatial relationship existed with vegetation communities. Logistic regression determines correlation with environmental variables. Chi-square results for BMGW demonstrate there it is a very high likelihood that Brassica is associated with certain vegetation types. Logistic regression illustrates very little statistical significance for four variables: total relief, distance to wash, distance to road, and elevation. These results will help field crews decrease the amount of land needed to survey for Brassica and increase efficiency for native species restoration in the Southwest. |
12/15/2014 - 6:00pm to 6:02pm | |
Identifying Conflict Between Renewable Energy Opportunity and Conservation Goals in Pima County, ArizonaAuthor: Jamie L. Velkoverh, jamievelkoverh@email.arizona.edu Arizona has one of the greatest photovoltaic resource potentials in the United States. Identifying suitable sites to install solar facilities can be difficult, however, due to zoning restrictions and the presence of ecologically critical areas scattered throughout the state. Using previously published complex suitability analysis, the renewable energy opportunity for solar facilities was incorporated into an ArcOnline web application. The application interactively illustrates the results of the renewable energy opportunity analysis model. Critical habitat, ecologically important areas, and protected areas were identified for Pima County, Arizona using publically available data. A multiple utility assignment (MUA) using a weighted sum combined all environmentally relevant data into one grid to identify areas in Pima County not suitable for renewable energy development. These areas are considered conservation goals. The Land-Use Conflict Identification Strategy (LUCIS) integrates environmental analysis with renewable energy development opportunity analysis to produce a conflict surface. The result of the analysis assists solar developers, communities, and decision-makers to target suitable areas for renewable energy development while considering conservation goals and environmental concerns. |
12/15/2014 - 7:35pm to 7:55pm | |
The Impact of Sea Level Rise and Subsidence on the Barrier Islands of Mississippi and Southeastern Louisiana in the Gulf of MexicoAuthor: Janice L. Mock, Jmock727@gmail.com sea level rise; subsidence; barrier islands; Gulf Islands National Seashore; beach restoration As atmospheric temperatures climb, glacial melt and thermal expansion are causing global ocean levels to rise significantly; recent climate change projections indicate that sea level will rise between one foot and six feet by the year 2100. This phenomenon, combined with the rapid rate of subsidence along the central Gulf Coast, has led to a dramatic loss of land and habitat on the region’s barrier islands. These losses pose an increasing threat to the mainland coasts that the islands protect and to the wildlife that rely on the island habitats for survival. In response, land managers have engaged in beach restoration and renourishment programs where feasible. This study examines the rate of change in land surface area and habitat of the barrier islands of Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana between 1992 and 2014. Using GIS applications and remotely sensed satellite data, the island systems were digitized, measured, and analyzed. An Iso Cluster Classification tool was used to assess the habitat change for a single island that was representative of non-restored islands in the area. The results demonstrate a cumulative loss of nearly seventeen square miles of surface area since 1992, along with the decrease of open sandy beach and dune habitat critical to wildlife. The only islands that have not lost surface area are those that have had active beach restoration. The study concludes that active island restoration and management is necessary for barrier island conservation. Land managers will use this information to balance conservation priorities. |
12/15/2014 - 6:40pm to 7:00pm |
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Designing Web-Based MapsAuthor: William Beaver, wjbeaver@gmail.com web mapping; springs research; design patterns; annotation; Springs Stewardship Institute Application design is a broad concept that uses design at three levels: layout and style; user interface and experience; and code design patterns. In this paper the author describes these design concepts with respect to web applications, in particular web mapping applications. Web mapping design concepts are used to develop the application called SeepApp for the Springs Stewardship Institute. SeepApp allows a user to verify existing springs and to add newly found springs to a map. The application includes the ability to annotate photos and video and to upload spatial tracks associated with the springs and/or the video. The application reads jpeg image metadata (EXIF data) from the photos to capture UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) date/time, GPS coordinates, and orientation of the camera. The photos are tiled and a drawing program allows for markup of large resolution photos. The project accomplishes the following tasks: development of a working web application; a template which others can use; and a body of working knowledge which can be applied to future projects. All source code for this project is available at https://github.com/wjbeaver/Hide-Seep. The application currently resides at http://overtexplorations.com/seepApp.html. |
12/17/2014 - 6:00pm to 6:20pm | |
Does the United States Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Consider Diné Cultural Values and Intervisability in the Placement of Communication Towers?Author: Judy Begay-Taylor, jbegay@email.arizona.edu Intervisibility; NEPA; Sec. 106; Traditional Cultural Landscape The impacts of cultural assets in the siting of visual infrastructure, such as communication towers, on tribal landscapes has not been extensively addressed in federal environmental policy. Examples of this infrastructure include cell towers, lattice towers, monopole towers, guyed towers, and stealth towers. The National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA) cultural policies differ from those of the tribal community’s interpretation of the implicit and explicit definition of “cultural”. Specifically, the Navajo Nation Policy to Protect Cultural Properties includes the NEPA definition of culture, however, it also defines how the Diné value the landscape. This study uses the concept of intervisibility to understand the possible conflict between the siting of cell towers and its effect on traditional Dine cultural values and the landscape. Using the location of towers, Dine culturally significant features, hogans, significant landscapes, and sacred mountains and rivers a viewshed analysis was performed on the entire Najavo reservation. The analysis illustrated that eighteen cell towers impede visual communication of three primary Diné traditional cultural properties and significant landscapes. This project demonstrates how basic GIS analysis can be used as a tool in understanding the impacts of communications siting with policy and cultural values. |
12/17/2014 - 8:15pm to 8:35pm | |
Does the United States Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Consider Diné Cultural Values and Intervisability in the Placement of Communication Towers?Author: Judy Begay-Taylor, jbegay@email.arizona.edu Intervisibility; NEPA; Sec. 106; Traditional Cultural Landscape The impacts of cultural assets in the siting of visual infrastructure, such as communication towers, on tribal landscapes has not been extensively addressed in federal environmental policy. Examples of this infrastructure include cell towers, lattice towers, monopole towers, guyed towers, and stealth towers. The National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA) cultural policies differ from those of the tribal community’s interpretation of the implicit and explicit definition of “cultural”. Specifically, the Navajo Nation Policy to Protect Cultural Properties includes the NEPA definition of culture, however, it also defines how the Diné value the landscape. This study uses the concept of intervisibility to understand the possible conflict between the siting of cell towers and its effect on traditional Dine cultural values and the landscape. Using the location of towers, Dine culturally significant features, hogans, significant landscapes, and sacred mountains and rivers a viewshed analysis was performed on the entire Najavo reservation. The analysis illustrated that eighteen cell towers impede visual communication of three primary Diné traditional cultural properties and significant landscapes. This project demonstrates how basic GIS analysis can be used as a tool in understanding the impacts of communications siting with policy and cultural values. |
12/17/2014 - 8:15pm to 8:35pm | |
Exploratory Analysis of Violent Crime Using Spatial StatisticsAuthor: Manny Lizarraga, mannylizarraga@gmail.com violent crime; spatial statistics; Tucson; Arizona; Pima County Violent crime is a hazard to public safety. The application of spatial statistics is useful for making informed decisions and allocating resources such as police presence. Spatial statistics can also be a tool for intelligently recommending and applying strategies for remediation, such as community based programs for preventing violent crime in areas of need. This project explores the spatial patterns and distribution of violent crime in Tucson, Arizona during January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2013. It tracks the mean center of incidents per year to show that the center concentration moves south, then northeast over the period of the study. This analysis uses the Average Nearest Neighbor statistic to determine that the global distribution of incidents is clustered, but also that the intensity of clustering is steadily decreasing. Additionally, this analysis examines local distributions to identify areas of statistically significant clustering and dispersion of violent crime, violent crime in proportion to all crime, and violent crime in proportion to population. |
12/17/2014 - 7:35pm to 7:55pm | |
Urban Fire: An Exploration of Brushfire Incidents from 2000 to 2013 in Tucson, Arizona.Author: Nathan R. Wasserman, nrw1@email.arizona.edu urban brushfire; geographically-weighted regression (GWR); Tucson, Arizona; US Census; population Brushfires are a health and safety hazard to the citizens Tucson, Arizona. Brushfires can cause ecological and plant community change in the fire-sensitive Sonoran Desert, damage property, and potentially lead to loss of life. This study examines the spatial distribution of brushfires within Tucson city limits by US Census tract. Tucson Fire Department recorded all brushfires from January 2000 to December 2013. All years of brushfire records, as well as brushfires within 500 feet of washes, are illustrated utilizing choropleth mapping. This study shows intriguing trends involving brushfire locations. Because most brushfires occurred in northern Tucson, it might appear that areas with greater population and number of housing units would show a higher frequency of brushfires. However, a geographically-weighted regression (GWR) and a Global Moran’s I Spatial Autocorrelation report show no significant pattern between areas that had greater population and a greater number of housing units when compared to the number of bushfires by census tract in Tucson in 2000 and 2010. |
12/17/2014 - 7:00pm to 7:20pm |
Projects | Date and time | |
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Evaluation of the Potential Impact of Energy Development Projects on the Size and Distribution of Vertebrate Species in ArizonaAuthor: Pankaj Jamwal, panjamwal@gmail.com Vertebrate species; potential habitat impact; Amphibians; Birds; Mammals; Reptiles; biodiversity; Arizona Extinction of vertebrate species due to habitat fragmentation is a major focus among wildlife biologists and is a worldwide problem. Conservation planning for these vertebrate species requires information regarding species population status and distribution. Geographic information systems (GIS) technology and its application in conservation biology opens doors to exciting new synthetic analyses. GIS technology assembles and analyzes diverse biodiversity data and develops robust and reliable predictions of species geographic distributions. In this study 380 species listed as occurring in the state of Arizona are used in a conservation assessment focused on renewable energy development. This includes 21 Amphibians, 183 Birds, 86 Mammals and 90 Reptiles species. The study determines the size of vertebrate and other species distributions in Arizona that are identified as high priority evaluation species. This project evaluates the potential for habitat impact from development for species and also determines areas that are more vulnerable to potential habitat impact than others. The vertebrate species models are acquired from the Gap Analysis Program and Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project website. All the vertebrate models are reprojected, analyzed, and processed using ArcGIS software. The total size of distribution for each vertebrate species and the area that could be impacted is determined in square kilometers. Overall, the methods and design of the study could be a stepping stone for conservation planning, particularly in determining the size of species and the areas that could be impacted from development projects in different states. |
12/16/2014 - 7:35pm to 7:55pm | |
Exploring Variability in Hydrologic Responses in the Bonita Creek WatershedAuthor: Emilie Brill Duisberg, emilie@email.arizona.edu KINEROS; AGWA; Bonita Creek; riparian; hydrology Bonita Creek is a tributary of the Gila River and a primary source of potable water for the town of Safford, Arizona. Bonita Creek’s watershed, which encompasses portions of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Bureau of Land Management holdings, and Arizona State Trust lands, is home to some of the most significant riparian biodiversity remaining in the Southwest. The lower 15 miles of the creek form a part of the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. Given the significance of this area, this project explores the potential impacts of changes in land cover and storm patterns on hydrological responses, with implications for the quantity and quality of Safford’s water supply, the integrity of its infrastructure, and the health of the natural systems within the watershed. This analysis uses the kinematic runoff and erosion model KINEROS2, within the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA) tool, to examine the effects of riparian vegetation loss, upland vegetation loss, and high soil saturation resulting from successive high-intensity storms on runoff, peak flow, and sediment yield in Bonita Creek and its watershed. Based on model outputs, the strongest driver of increases in runoff, peak flow, and sediment yield over the watershed as a whole is high soil saturation, followed by upland devegetation, followed by riparian devegetation. Fire, invasive species, increasingly common high-intensity storms attributed to climate change, or other disturbances in the watershed have important hydrological impacts and ramifications for Safford and the natural areas which rely on Bonita Creek. |
12/16/2014 - 6:20pm to 6:40pm | |
Geographies of Mobility: Using GIS Tools to Deepen Understanding of Transit in Tucson, ArizonaAuthor: Elizabeth Burden, liz@participationink.com public transit; urban transportation; network design; mobility; social equity In the 21st century, geographic regions that want to be economically viable, ecologically sustainable, and socially just must have quality public transit. However, the concept of quality varies from community to community; it is based on specific community values, goals, and priorities, which often differ from the industry-centric performance indicators on which transit agencies rely. Literature on social equity and transit often focuses on four rider-centric indicators—coverage, proximity, mobility, and accessibility. This study uses GIS tools to assess those indicators, in order to complement a recent comprehensive operational analysis completed by the City of Tucson Sun Tran bus system. Different approaches were used to: (1) compare bus routes to travel demand corridors (so-called “desire lines”); (2) analyze and map proximity to transit stops; (3) measure ease in reaching desired destinations; (4) assess the range and type of destinations that can be reached via transit. The results indicate that for Tucson’s urban core, the bus system meets coverage and proximity needs but does not adequately fulfill mobility and accessibility needs. To be more viable, sustainable, and just, the latter two characteristics must be addressed as city leaders and residents re-examine current public transit policies and plans, and consider appropriate levels of public investment in Sun Tran. |
12/16/2014 - 6:00pm to 6:20pm | |
Probability Study of Landslides in the Seattle AreaAuthor: Rachel Feuerbach, rc4bach@email.arizona.edu Seattle, Washington; Fraser glaciation; landslides; slope stability; sediments; rainfall accumulation; hazard mitigation The city of Seattle, Washington and the surrounding metro area is located in a seismically active deep topographic basin which has experienced many landslides during the current historical period as well as in prehistoric times. Sediments deposited during and since the Fraser glaciation, particularly the Lawton Clay and Esperance Sand, are the primary units involved in landslides in the study area. Numerous slides have resulted from earthquakes on the multistrand Seattle Fault and smaller local faults, but the most common cause of landslides is rain and melting snow saturating sediment layers. The greatest numbers of landslides have been recorded during periods of rainfall accumulation greater than one inch in a one to two day period. Sediments sitting atop the impermeable Lawton Clay on over-steepened hillsides fail along the boundary of the clay or pre-Fraser sediment layers. Landslides can also be caused by human activities such as building on unstable slopes, building with insufficient drainage, or the failure to build strong retaining walls. In order to mitigate landslide damages, new geologic maps and a slope stability model are used to produce a model of the most likely areas to experience landslides. This model is then combined with census and housing data to determine population and damage costs resulting from future slides. This analysis will help the public and the Seattle government to determine areas where new construction should not occur or where hazard mitigation should be attempted. |
12/16/2014 - 6:40pm to 7:00pm | |
Tracing the Hand of Łeetso: Exposure to Uranium Mines on the Navajo NationAuthor: Cliantha V. Yasenchack, cyasench@email.arizona.edu Uranium; Navajo Nation; exposure; cancer; Linear Regression The historical impact of uranium mining on the Navajo Nation, located predominately in northwestern Arizona, has left the region pockmarked with unreclaimed uranium mines contaminating the surrounding area with radon decay products. This analysis creates an exposure map to radon decay products by utilizing standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and to test the significance of their impact via the cancer rate of the area. A model is utilized to count overlapping fifty-mile exposure buffers placed around unreclaimed uranium mines and to calculate increased environmental exposure rates. This is followed by a Linear Regression using Ordinary Least Squares and Geographically Weighted Regression. Spatial Autocorrelation is used to analyze cancer rates for Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties in Arizona. The dependent variable is cancer rate while the independent variables are total population, white population, Native American population, and degrees of exposure. The successful completion of the model revealed large areas of the Navajo Nation covered by relatively low exposure rates while areas with large populations had higher exposure rates. Nevertheless, rather than providing a definitive answer towards determining if there is a relationship between cancer rates by county and exposure, the Linear Regression acted as a preliminary process on a topic not previously studied and provided crucial information on how these processes require individualized tuning. This, in addition to the previously stated method, provides the Navajo Nation with a baseline for data requirements and applying federal and state data to appropriately understand their toxic and changing environment. |
12/16/2014 - 7:15pm to 7:35pm |