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Geography

Western Washington University

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Open Source Mapping To Improve Data Sharing: Environmental Response Management Application, Amy Merten, Ben Shorr May 2014

Open Source Mapping To Improve Data Sharing: Environmental Response Management Application, Amy Merten, Ben Shorr

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

The Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®) is an online mapping tool that integrates both static and real-time data, such as Environmental Sensitivity Index maps, ship locations, weather, and ocean currents, in a centralized, easy-to-use format for environmental responders and decision makers. ERMA enables a user to quickly and securely upload, transform export, and display spatial data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) map. This allows for high-impact and fine-resolution visualization of data for solving complex environmental response and resource issues. ERMA was used to support the USCG’s “Arctic Shield” drill, September 2013. Through this exercise, ERMA was able to incorporate …

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Groundwater And Surface Mangement In The Fraser Lowlands: Policy And Rights, Ryan Anaka Mar 2008

Groundwater And Surface Mangement In The Fraser Lowlands: Policy And Rights, Ryan Anaka

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Development and urban growth within the Fraser Lowlands in both Canada and the United States, is putting increased pressure on shared water resources. The transboundary nature of surface watersheds and aquifers creates a dynamic management situation. Mismatched responsibility between levels of government in British Columbian B.C. and Washington State (WA) and different policy regarding management of watershed and aquifer use and protection can lead to conflict between watershed users at local and international levels. For example, a lack record of surface and groundwater withdrawal rates for private individuals in B.C has led to an information void. This has implications for …

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Eco-Palms: Providing A Sustainable Commercial Alternative To Palms For Palm Sunday., Deidre Marine Peroff Mar 2008

Eco-Palms: Providing A Sustainable Commercial Alternative To Palms For Palm Sunday., Deidre Marine Peroff

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

There is a widespread view that commercialization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in the tropical forests of Mesoamerica is both economically and environmentally sustainable in rural communities. Despite this belief, research shows that the harvesting and commercialization of NTFPs alone do not necessarily alleviate poverty or maintain biodiversity within rainforests. This paper describes the eco-palm program, a program which serves to sustainably harvest and export Chamaedorea palm fronds from Southern Mexico and Northern Guatemala. The eco-palm program works with churches in the United States to charge a five cent premium on palm fronds that are imported from Mexico and Guatemala …

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Residential Wildfire Mitigation In Alberta, Canada., Hilary Flanagan, Bonita Lynn Mcfarlane, Tara Mcgee Mar 2008

Residential Wildfire Mitigation In Alberta, Canada., Hilary Flanagan, Bonita Lynn Mcfarlane, Tara Mcgee

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Much research on property owner participation in wildfire mitigation activities has been done in the USA and Australia but knowledge of Canadian property owner participation in wildfire mitigation activities is limited. This research aims to reduce this gap, by examining what mitigation activities wildland-urban interface residents in Alberta are adopting and factors that contribute to adoption. A mail survey collected data from a random sample of residential property owners in six Alberta communities during 2007 (n = 1,209). The survey assessed respondents' wildfire risk perceptions and factors influencing their adoption of wildfire mitigation activities. The results were examined among communities …

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Sustainable Development In The Retail Sector: Rei's Stewardship Efforts., Martina Michalek Mar 2008

Sustainable Development In The Retail Sector: Rei's Stewardship Efforts., Martina Michalek

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

In recent decades, many corporations have implemented sustainable development techniques and tactics into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments theoretically devoted to promoting environmental and humanitarian ideals. The broad principles guiding firm's CSR activities are directly related to stakeholder expectations and demands. The diversity of business stakeholders further complicates a firm's CSR principles, as representatives are required to determine proper socio-environmental actions while upholding the ethical ideology related to CSR. Utilizing stakeholder theory, correlations between stewardship efforts and economic gain illustrate the marketability of strong CSR principles. An analysis of REI's individual store stewardship programs and level of outreach within their …

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Stalingrad: Decisions Under Fire., Todd Eastman Mar 2008

Stalingrad: Decisions Under Fire., Todd Eastman

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Conflict analysis is used to evaluate the potential options players could be expected to use to settle disputes. When compromise is not possible, the options for settling disputes become limited. The Battle of Stalingrad is studied using basic conflict analysis based on an historical summary.

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Voronoi Diagram Approach To Defining Surface Hydrography Using Lidar-Generated Bare Earth Sample Points., Gerald B. Gabrisch Mar 2008

Voronoi Diagram Approach To Defining Surface Hydrography Using Lidar-Generated Bare Earth Sample Points., Gerald B. Gabrisch

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) typically rely on raster grid data structures to define surface hydrography and define watershed boundaries. The interpolation of grids from sample points and the algorithms used to define flow directions introduce error and compromise data quality, especially in areas of low relief. This research proposes a new approach in hydrographic geomorphometry, using Voronoi diagrams generated from airborne laser altimetry data points to determine flow direction and define watershed boundaries for the Lummi Indian Reservation in Whatcom County, Washington State. In theory, the Voronoi diagram approach will bypass the errors introduced by the raster grid by constructing …

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Disrupting And Building A 'Sense Of Community': A Case Study Of The Northern Medical Program., Laura Ryser, Greg Halseth, Neil Hanlon Mar 2008

Disrupting And Building A 'Sense Of Community': A Case Study Of The Northern Medical Program., Laura Ryser, Greg Halseth, Neil Hanlon

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Since the early 1980s, stresses associated with health care restructuring have led to concerns about long-term access to physicians in northern BC communities. The Northern Medical Program at UNBC was established to enhance the supply of physicians who want to live and work in northern BC. Previous research suggests that a strong sense of community among care providers can improve the efficiency and provision of health care services. However, it is unclear how changes associated with the implementation of the NMP have impacted the sense of community, through relationships and networks, of those physicians currently practicing in northern BC. Using …

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Proximity Ae Doublets Analysis For Subsurface Fracture Measurement., Koji Nagano Mar 2008

Proximity Ae Doublets Analysis For Subsurface Fracture Measurement., Koji Nagano

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Proximity Acoustic Emission (AE) doublets analysis is used for subsurface fracture measurement. AE is a microseismic event. Location and shape of subsurface fracture is estimated from distribution of AE sources. Measurement of subsurface fracture is important in many areas of human activities associating with the Earth. Motion of subsurface fracture causes earthquakes. Geothermal energy is extracted from subsurface fracture reservoirs in which steam and hot water are stored. Carbon dioxide is also stored in tiny spaces of subsurface fracture. Proximity AE doublet analysis is a new method in which fine structures of subsurface fracture can be estimated. Proximity AE doublets …

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Transboundary Surface Water Management Framework Forcooperation, Ryan Anaka Mar 2008

Transboundary Surface Water Management Framework Forcooperation, Ryan Anaka

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Differing governmental organization and management strategies between Canada and the United States concerning watershed management is a cause for variance in resource management strategies. This paper discusses ongoing research investigating past transboundary watershed initiatives and current management schemes involved in transboundary watershed management. Individual stakeholders, Non-governmental organizations and all levels of government should collaborate to promote cooperation when designing and implementing transboundary watershed policy. Population expansion and urban development in Aldergrove and Abbotsford, British Columbia (B.C.) are impacting the Canadian portions of Bertrand and Fishtrap Creeks watersheds. As a result, flows have been altered from historical norms. Both watercourses and …

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Development Of A Sense Of Community In An Instant Town., Jennifer R. Herkes Mar 2008

Development Of A Sense Of Community In An Instant Town., Jennifer R. Herkes

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Currently, resource towns in British Columbia are facing changes and are dealing with the challenges of restructuring, diversification, and sustainability. In order to overcome these challenges, communities must demonstrate capacity: the ability to come together to overcome challenges and change. Community capacity depends on the development of social cohesion among other things. Social cohesion, in turn, is developed through interaction. However, interaction is structured by many factors including place and social characteristics, either of which can inhibit or encourage interaction. This presentation outlines work for my master's thesis. Through a triangulated approach using focus groups and interviews, supplemented by GIS …

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Beaches Response To Sea-Level Rise In Northern Puget Sound, Washington., Michael Grilliot Mar 2008

Beaches Response To Sea-Level Rise In Northern Puget Sound, Washington., Michael Grilliot

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

The threat of global sea-level rise and beach recession is an important issue that coastal managers all over the world must address. Sea-level rise in northern Puget Sound is estimated by the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group to be between 8 and 55 cm by 2050. Close to unrestricted development along much of the coast of Puget Sound has left a large number of developments susceptible to changing beach conditions. To better understand beaches response to sea-level rise I intent to apply a model, developed by Bruun (1962) and modified by Nicholls (1998) which predicts the coastlines response to …

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Importance Of Place: Addressing Community-Company Relationships Within The Global Economy., Alex G. Martin Mar 2008

Importance Of Place: Addressing Community-Company Relationships Within The Global Economy., Alex G. Martin

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

The process of economic restructuring within the forestry sector has had dramatic impacts on BC's forest-dependent communities. As a result, the involvement of communities in resource extraction and processing activities has changed. As the forestry sector changed, the nature of the relationship between the resource company and the community changed. While literature on forestry sector restructuring and the resulting community impacts has grown since the 1980s, there has been little focus on community-company relationships and on resource peripheries in geographic theory. To gain a better understanding of these relationships, geographers must account for the uniqueness of resource peripheries while accounting …

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Mapping Migration Patterns In The Upper Fraser Region, British Columbia, Kyle Kusch Mar 2008

Mapping Migration Patterns In The Upper Fraser Region, British Columbia, Kyle Kusch

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

In 2000 and 2005, two sets of oral history interviews were conducted with current and former residents who lived in the Upper Fraser region of British Columbia 1945 and 1975 (the peak years of sawmill operations in the region). Many of the questions posed revolved around issues of migration, including why residents migrated to the area, where they came from, and reasons for their departure. This research presents results of the two sets of interviews and displays the results using data-intensive descriptive mapping techniques. Results indicate that most residents arrived from the Prairie Provinces and Scandinavia in search of employment, …

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Challenge Of Defining A National Urban Strategy In The Context Of Divergent Demographic Trends In Small And Large Canadian Cities., Gilles Viaud Mar 2008

Challenge Of Defining A National Urban Strategy In The Context Of Divergent Demographic Trends In Small And Large Canadian Cities., Gilles Viaud

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Once forgotten as an object of research, a growing literature dealing with various aspects of small cities has emerged since the new millennium. The answer to the question "does size matter?" has so far received positive empirical support on both sides of the Atlantic. Using the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) three quality of life studies as backdrop, this paper offers further evidence that small Canadian cities are worth our attention. Since 1999, FCM has extrapolated results from its series of quality of life studies carried out on a sample of large and medium sized cities to monitor key changes …

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Clayburn Creek Watercourse Assessment: Development And Stream Management In An Urban Residential Area, Shawna M.T. Erickson, Steven Marsh Mar 2008

Clayburn Creek Watercourse Assessment: Development And Stream Management In An Urban Residential Area, Shawna M.T. Erickson, Steven Marsh

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

The Clayburn Creek watershed, Abbotsford, British Columbia has undergone numerous changes in the recent past. These changes have dramatically increased the number of high water flow events. High flow events on this fish bearing stream are causing increased erosion along the stream channel increasing the sediment load of the stream. These events can be correlated to increasing development and population growth upstream from Clayburn Village within the Clayburn Creek watershed. Mapping of the stream course with a Trimble GPS along with the plotting of numerous cross sections across the stream channel will allow the researchers to determine if any changes …

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Imagining The Future Of Cross Border Management Within The Fraser Lowland: A Delphi Analysis Of Environmental Issues., Patrick Buckley, John Belec Mar 2008

Imagining The Future Of Cross Border Management Within The Fraser Lowland: A Delphi Analysis Of Environmental Issues., Patrick Buckley, John Belec

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Fraser Lowland, a unified bio-region divided between Whatcom County, Washington and lower mainland British Columbia, challenges development of consistent and effective environmental resource management. The recent impasse over a proposed power plant on the US side is a case in point. The main stumbling block was expected trans-border air-shed stress levels. In the absence of established cross-border institutional structures for air quality, the issue has evolved in an apparently makeshift and somewhat chaotic manner. This research drawing upon recent literature involving cross border regions [CBRs] and new forms of governance engendered in them will investigates current cross border perceptions on …

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