Digital Commons Network^™

Challenging Rust: Race And Rightsizing In Detroit, An American Post-Industrial Context, Andrienne Palchick

Geography Honors Projects

Cities in the American Rustbelt face the considerable challenges of depopulation and economic decline, but they are also increasingly viewed as places ripe with opportunities for innovation and an exciting re-imagination of urban space. This paper examines the Detroit Works Project, a re-envisioning and revitalization initiative in Detroit, to explore larger questions of accessibility and inclusion in U.S. post-industrial cities. It is an investigation of how to structure these revitalization efforts within cities where networks of actors, who invested in urban industrial growth, created policies which built the geographies of unequal access, racial segregation, and systemic marginalization that persist today.

Using Participatory Scenarios To Stimulate Social Learning For Collaborative Sustainable Development, Kris A. Johnson, Genya Dana, Nicholas R. Jordan, Kathy J. Draeger, Anne Kapuscinski

Dartmouth Scholarship

Interdependent human and biophysical systems are highly complex and behave in unpredictable and uncontrollable ways. Social and ecological challenges that emerge from this complexity often defy straightforward solutions, and efforts to address these problems will require not only scientific and technological capabilities but also learning and adaptation. Scenarios are a useful tool for grappling with the uncertainty and complexity of social-ecological challenges because they enable participants to build adaptive capacity through the contemplation of multiple future possibilities. Furthermore, scenarios provide a platform for social learning, which is critical to acting in the face of uncertain, complex, and conflict-laden problems. We …

Use Of Environmental Isotope Tracer And Gis Techniques To Estimate Basin Recharge, Abdulganiu A.A. Odunmbaku

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The extensive use of ground water only began with the advances in pumping technology at the early portion of 20th Century. Groundwater provides the majority of fresh water supply for municipal, agricultural and industrial uses, primarily because of little to no treatment it requires. Estimating the volume of groundwater available in a basin is a daunting task, and no accurate measurements can be made. Usually water budgets and simulation models are primarily used to estimate the volume of water in a basin.

Precipitation, land surface cover and subsurface geology are factors that affect recharge; these factors affect percolation which invariably …

The Management Of Feral Pig Socio-Ecological Systems In Far North Queensland, Australia, Gabriela Shuster

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The development of management programs for socio-ecological systems that include multiple stakeholders is a complex process and requires careful evaluation and planning. This is particularly a challenge in the presence of intractable conflict. The feral pig (Sus scrofa) in Australia is part of one such socio-ecological system. There is a large and heterogeneous group of stakeholders interested in pig management. Pigs have diverse effects on wildlife and plant ecology, economic, health, and social sectors. This study used the feral pig management system as a vehicle to examine intractable conflict in socio-ecological systems. The purpose of the study was …

Error Propagation In Raster Data Integration: Impacts On Landscape Composition And Configuration, Zachary J. Christman, John Rogan

Geography

Integrating raster-based categorical maps from multiple sources necessitates the transformation of geometric characteristics to compare maps, as in land change analyses. By projecting maps to a new geographic reference framework and scaling pixel values to a new size, distortions of map information are introduced that can affect the proportion and arrangement of thematic classes across the landscape. Using a sample land cover dataset depicting a heterogeneous landscape, this paper examines these impacts using three common raster-based transformation methods and introduces a new vector-based method that minimizes error propagation. While relative class area was best preserved by a nearest-neighbor resampling method, …

Heterogeneity In Residential Yard Care: Evidence From Boston, Miami, And Phoenix, Edmund M. Harris, Colin Polsky, Kelli L. Larson, Rebecca Garvoille, Deborah Martin, Jaleila Brumand, Laura Ogden

Geography

The management of residential landscapes occurs within a complex socio-ecological system linking household decision-making with ecological properties, multi-scalar human drivers, and the legacy effects of past management. Conventional wisdom suggests that resource-intensive turf grass yards are the most common landscaping outcome, resulting in a presumed homogeneous set of residential landscaping practices throughout North America. We examine this homogenization thesis through an interview-based, cross-site study of residential landscape management in Boston, Phoenix, and Miami. Counter to the homogeneity thesis, we find that yard management practices often exhibit heterogeneity, for example, in groundcover choice or use of chemical inputs. The degree of …

Antarctic Surface Melting Dynamics: Enhanced Perspectives From Radar Scatterometer Data, L. D. Trusel, K. E. Frey, S. B. Das

Geography

Antarctic ice sheet surface melting can regionally influence ice shelf stability, mass balance, and glacier dynamics, in addition to modulating near-surface physical and chemical properties over wide areas. Here, we investigate variability in surface melting from 1999 to 2009 using radar backscatter time series from the SeaWinds scatterometer aboard the QuikSCAT satellite. These daily, continent-wide observations are explored in concert with in situ meteorological records to validate a threshold-based melt detection method. Radar backscatter decreases during melting are significantly correlated with in situ positive degree-days as well as meltwater production determined from energy balance modeling at Neumayer Station, East Antarctica. …

Impacts Of Urbanisation On The Native Avifauna Of Perth, Western Australia, Robert A. Davis, Cheryl Gole, J Dale Roberts

Research outputs 2013

Urban development either eliminates, or severely fragments, native vegetation, and therefore alters the distribution and abundance of species that depend on it for habitat. We assessed the impact of urban development on bird communities at 121 sites in and around Perth, Western Australia. Based on data from community surveys, at least 83 % of 65 landbirds were found to be dependent, in some way, on the presence of native vegetation. For three groups of species defined by specific patterns of habitat use (bushland birds), there were sufficient data to show that species occurrences declined as the landscape changed from variegated …

Environmental Change And Place-Based Identities: Sponge Fishing In Tarpon Springs, Florida, Michael Suver

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

As the environmental consequences of urbanization and climate change become apparent in coastal communities, it has become important to understand how residents of these communities experience and approach their changing environments. This becomes especially significant in places where nature-based livelihoods constitute a major part of the economy. This thesis focuses on the city of Tarpon Springs, located along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, where sea sponge fishing is an important contributor to the local economy while also being central to place-based tourist and ethnic identities. It seeks to understand how environmental changes in the sea sponge economy will …

Assessing Urban Environmental Management Practice With A Scalar Approach: The Case Of Shanghai, Wei Tu

Earth, Environment & Sustainability: Faculty Publications

Shanghai’s urban environmental management in the past three decades has been focused primarily on the environmental problems at the intra-urban level. While this ‘end of pipe’ approach greatly mitigated domestic and industrial pollution, progresses were much slower in dealing with environmental impacts both at a smaller (i.e., those related to people’s daily activities) scale and at a larger (i.e., those related to inter-urban/regional or global issues) scale. Urban environmental management policies in Shanghai and China should prioritize and address urban environmental impacts at continuous geographic scales to achieve long-term ‘triple bottom line’ sustainability.

The Potential For Orbital Public Transport Services In The Greater Dublin Area, David O'Connor, Colin Broderick

Conference Papers

Orbital routes are often considered a costly idea that is unpopular with transport users. Yet many cities provide them in a successful, often revenue-generating context. Those that do take a Network Effect approach to service design. The idea of orbital routes within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) transport network has been around for some time, referenced for example in the 2002 Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) “Platform for Change” Strategy, the 2006 MVA “Dublin Bus Network Review” consultants’ study and most recently the National Transport Authority (NTA) Greater Dublin Area Draft Transport Strategy 2011-2030, where two notional orbital Quality Bus Corridors …

Mangroves, Mudbanks And Seawalls: Political Ecology Of Adaptation To Sea Level Rise In Suriname, Ravic Nijbroek

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to understand how global discourses of sea level rise (SLR) and mangrove ecology influence national climate change adaptation policy to reduce coastal vulnerability in Suriname. A majority of the Surinamese population lives along the low elevation coastal zone and is highly exposed to projected SLR. Failure by the international community to reach agreement on climate change mitigation means that vulnerable coastal communities must adapt. The Suriname coast is predominantly shaped by mudbanks and mangroves which together provide protection against coastal erosion and trap sediments resulting in coastal accretion. Knowledge claims of mangrove ecology and utility in SLR …

Absolute Vs. Relative Location, Anthony Boggs

Open Educational Resources

Students will be able to identify the terms absolute and relative location. Students will be able to discern which method of description is best used to pinpoint a particular location, dependent on context.

Ancient Civilizations Review, Whitney Ott-­‐Zuzich

Open Educational Resources

Students will be able to correctly identify different historical sites using latitude and longitude. Students will be able to correctly locate the different historical sites on a map.

An Illustrated Monsoon, Kathy Sundstedt

Open Educational Resources

Students will understand the meaning of the word monsoon and compare their climate to Indian climates.

Are Your Electronic Products Fueling The Deadliest War In The World?, Kimberly Thielen-Metcalf

Open Educational Resources

The student will answer a series of questions applying economic reasoning to the Conflict in the Congo. The student will apply the laws of supply and demand and evaluate his or her role in the conflict.

Around The World In Five Days, Monte Dearmoun

Open Educational Resources

Students will become healthy, educated, ethical and productive citizens.

An Introduction To Child Soldiers: Causes And Effects, Jen Slagel

Open Educational Resources

The student will be able to describe the causes for the use of child soldiers and its effects on the children.

Beginnings Of The English Domination Of Ireland, Brittany Lassen

Open Educational Resources

Students will be able to describe the events that led up to the Anglo-Norman (British) invasion of Ireland.

Avoiding The Michael Scott Syndrome, Erin Nennig

Open Educational Resources

Students will practice and navigate Google Earth. Students will practice creating mental maps.

Best Crop, Bill Schwarz

Open Educational Resources

Students will match the best conditions for a crop to the existing conditions around the state of Iowa.

Climate Regions, Jeff Firsching Lawton-Bronson

Open Educational Resources

Students will use and interpret climate graphs.

Clothing Comparisons Across Countries, Kathleen Olson

Open Educational Resources

Students will be able to research the appropriate clothing used for various professions in other countries. Students will be able to prepare/locate the professional clothing using their research information with materials given. Students will be able to give an oral presentation of their clothing research.

Comparative Economic Systems And Per Capita Gdp, Darrell Burmeister

Open Educational Resources

Students will compare maps of per capita GDP and type of economic system.

Common Cents, Dawn Shattuck

Open Educational Resources

Students will be able to convert currency from USD (United States Dollars) to CLP (Chilean Pesos) and vice versa. Students will familiarize themselves with common prices in Chile and make comparisons of the costs of similar items in the United States. Students will analyze the differences in purchasing power and minimum wage in United States and Chile.

Compare And Contrast: India, Iowa, And The Usa, Kelly Davidson

Open Educational Resources

Students will research the five themes of geography and other facts about India, Iowa and the USA. Students will compare and contrast information about India, Iowa and the USA.

Comparing India And China's Population With Pasta, Kelly Davidson

Open Educational Resources

Students will discuss reasons why a country might try to limit its birth rate. Students will compare geographic data for China and India. Students will use an online database to compare other population indicators for China and India. Students will write paragraphs explaining what these population statistics reveal about China and India. Students will read and answer questions about the population situation in China and India. Students will create a visual display of population data. Students will determine whether India should adopt a one-child policy.

Comparing Folk Tales, Anne Hoeper

Open Educational Resources

Students will be similarities and differences between Indian and American folktales. Students will realize that human natures crosses country borders. Students will be able to hypothesize about culture of India.

Comparing The Wisdom Of Places: Nigerian Yoruba Proverbs And Colonial American Proverbs Of Benjamin Franklin, Kathy Sundstedt

Open Educational Resources

Students will see similarities between proverbs from Nigeria and Colonial America.

Comparing Nigerian And United States Populations, Anne Hoeper

Open Educational Resources

Students will be aware of population growth in Nigeria compared to the United States.