Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Using Digital Elevation Models Derived From Airborne Lidar And Other Remote Sensing Data To Model Channel Networks And Estimate Fluvial Geomorphological Metrics, Noah Slovin

Masters Theses

Recent advances in remote-sensing technologies and analysis methods, specifically airborne-LiDAR elevation data and corresponding geographical information system (GIS) tools, present new opportunities for automated and rapid fluvial geomorphic (FGM) assessments that can cover entire watersheds. In this thesis, semi-automated GIS tools are used to extract channel centerlines and bankfull width values from digital elevation models (DEM) for five New England watersheds. For each study site, four centerlines are mapped. LiDAR and NED lines are delineated using ArcGIS spatial analyst tools with high-resolution (1-m to 2-m) LiDAR DEMs or USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) DEMs, respectively. Resampled LiDAR decreases LiDAR DEM …

Impacts Of Three-Dimensional Non-Uniform Groundwater Flows For Quantifying Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions Using Heat As A Tracer, Jonathan M. Reeves

Masters Theses

Heat-as-a-tracer has become a common method to quantify surface water-groundwater interactions (SW/GW). However, the method relies on a number of assumptions that are likely violated in natural systems. Numerical studies have explored the effects of violating these fundamental assumptions to various degrees, such as heterogeneous streambed properties, two-dimensional groundwater flow fields and uncertainty in thermal parameters for the 1-dimensional heat-as-a-tracer method. No work to date has addressed the impacts of non-uniform, three-dimensional groundwater flows on the use of heat-as-a-tracer to quantify SW/GW interactions. Synthetic temperature time series were generated using COMSOL Multiphysics for a three-dimensional cube designed to represent a …

A High-Resolution Paleoenvironmental And Paleoclimatic History Of Extreme Events On The Laminated Sediment Record From Basin Pond, Fayette, Maine, U.S.A., Daniel R. Miller

Masters Theses

Future impacts from climate change can be better understood by placing modern climate trends into perspective through extension of the short instrumental records of climate variability. This is especially true for extreme climatic events, such as extreme precipitation and wildfires, as the period of instrumental records provides only a few examples and these have likely have been influenced by anthropogenic warming. Multi-parameter records showing the past range of climate variability can be obtained from lakes. Lakes are particularly good recorders of climate variability because sediment from the surrounding environment accumulates in lakes, making them sensitive recorders of climate variability and …

Urban Agriculture And Ecosystem Services: A Typology And Toolkit For Planners, Kathleen Doherty

Masters Theses

This thesis makes the connection between urban agriculture and a specific suite of ecosystem services and lays out a typology and toolkit for planners to take advantage of these ecosystem services. The services investigated here are: food production, water management, soil health, biodiversity, climate mitigation, and community development benefits. Research from a variety of fields was aggregated and synthesized to prove that urban agriculture can be beneficial for human as well as environmental health.

A set of urban agriculture typologies was generated to illustrate best practices to maximize a particular set of ecosystem services. The typologies are: production farm, stormwater …

Niche-Based Modeling Of Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium Vimineum) Using Presence-Only Information, Nathan Bush

Masters Theses

The Connecticut River watershed is experiencing a rapid invasion of aggressive non-native plant species, which threaten watershed function and structure. Volunteer-based monitoring programs such as the University of Massachusetts’ OutSmart Invasives Species Project, Early Detection Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) and the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) have gathered valuable invasive plant data. These programs provide a unique opportunity for researchers to model invasive plant species utilizing citizen-sourced data. This study took advantage of these large data sources to model invasive plant distribution and to determine environmental and biophysical predictors that are most influential in dispersion, and to identify …

Assessing Kiln-Produced Hardwood Biochar For Improving Soil Health In A Temperate Climate Agricultural Soil, Emily J. Cole

Doctoral Dissertations

Soil quality has become a major factor used in assessing sustainable land management and the overall environmental quality, food security, and economic viability of agricultural lands. Recently, biochar has been touted as having many potential uses as a soil amendment for improving soil quality, specifically improving cation exchange capacity, pH and nutrient availability. However, soil biology also plays a significant role in biogeochemical processes that influence soil health and should be included in a more comprehensive study of soil health. This dissertation describes 4 projects within the same 3-year field study with the cumulative purpose of better understanding the effect …

Experimental Test Of Genetic Rescue In Isolated Populations Of Brook Trout, Zachary L. Robinson

Masters Theses

Translocations are an important aspect of the management of natural populations in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Maintaining connectivity and gene flow is beneficial for both contemporary fitness and adaptive potential in the face of environmental change. Genetic rescue (GR) can alleviate inbreeding depression, genetic load, and increase adaptive potential of populations. Here, I have translocated 10 (5 of each sex) brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) to four geographically proximate and environmentally similar fragmented stream-dwelling populations of brook trout in Virginia to test for genetic rescue. The translocated brook trout contributed to more families than would be expected under neutral …

Assessing Mammal And Bird Biodiversity And Habitat Occupancy Of Tiger Prey In The Hukaung Valley Of Northern Myanmar, Hla Naing

Masters Theses

I used results from camera traps set for tigers (Panthera tigris) during 2001-2011 in the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary of northern Myanmar to assess overall biodiversity of large mammal and bird species, and to identify differences in photo rates inside and outside of the most protected core area of the Sanctuary. A total of 403 camera stations were deployed during October-July in the dry seasons of 2001-2011, 260 inside the Core area and 143 Outside. From 10,750 trap-nights I obtained 2,077 independent photos of wildlife species and 699 of domestic animals and humans, including 35 species of wild …

Hydrogeological Control On Spatial Patterns Of Groundwater Seepage In Peatlands, Danielle K. Hare

Masters Theses

Groundwater seepage to surface water is an important process to peatland ecosystems; however, the processes controlling seepage zone distribution and magnitude are not well understood. This lack of process-based understanding makes degraded peatland ecosystems difficult to restore and problematic for resource managers developing a sustainable design. Degraded peatlands, particularly abandoned cranberry farms, often have drainage ditches, applied surface sand, and decreased stream sinuosity to artificially lower the water table and support agriculture. These modifications disconnect the surface and groundwater continuum, which decreases thermal buffering of surface water significantly. The combination of a decreased influx of thermally buffered groundwater, a naturally …

Wellspring Waste To Energy Feasibility Study, Andrew Clinton, Emily Hajjar, Frank Nakashian

School of Public Policy Capstones

This study was conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst public policy masters students for Springfield based Wellspring Cooperative, a nonprofit focused on cooperative job creation and training. The project assesses three potential scale options for Wellspring in order to use organic material to heat and/or generate electricity to power its hydroponic greenhouse. Though the greenhouse is not constructed as of yet, its source of energy is an important element for Wellspring. Motivations for utilizing organic waste to power the greenhouse are due in part to the influx of food waste sources being diverted due to the new Massachusetts Food …

Regional Bike Share In The Pioneer Valley Feasibility Study, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Bike Share Feasibility Study Advisory Committee

Sustainability Reports & Plans

The Pioneer Valley region and its member communities are committed to creating more livable communities and downtowns, as well as reducing single occupancy vehicle trips and the resulting air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The region is working to increase alternative modes of transportation, including expanding infrastructure for biking, walking, bus and rail service. The region is also seeking to establish commuter rail service along the north-south Amtrak rail line serving Springfield, Holyoke and Northampton, and a bike share program could provide a complementary “last mile” component to this service.

Umass Amherst Comprehensive Campus Energy Master Plan, Rmf Engineering

Sustainability Reports & Plans

The following Comprehensive Campus Energy Plan is intended to provide the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst Campus with a long range vision for efficient and reliable utility generation and delivery as well as effective energy conservation measures. While the plan is based upon a 50-year period, specific recommendations and upgrades are presented to address the short term needs associated with the 10-year capital plan.

Assignment: Climate Action Plan 3.0 (Sustainable Living), Lena Fletcher

Sustainability Education Resources

The UMass Amherst Climate Action Plan 2.0 lays out strategies to meet UMass’s energy goals by 2050, but many projects are still in the planning phase and have not been implemented on campus yet. It’s time for you to design the Climate Action plan 3.0!

As a team, you will create and present one solution from your Climate Action Plan 3.0 to help UMass become carbon neutral ahead of schedule. Your energy solution can be a policy, program, transportation improvement, or energy-saving technology. Research the Climate Action Plan 2.0 thoroughly to make sure your solution has not already been proposed.

Syllabus: Sustainable Living: Solutions For The 21st Century, Lena Fletcher

Sustainability Education Resources

In this innovative interdisciplinary course you will work with your peers to research and understand how sustainability in different contexts presents solutions to many problems facing modern society. You will work in teams to investigate, evaluate, communicate, and reflect on the multifaceted challenges associated with natural resource use, food systems, energy, transportation, waste, the built environment, water quality, and climate change. You will also research case studies, debate controversies, assess political and cultural contexts, investigate technological advances, and identify gaps in scientific knowledge. Using these resources, you and your peers will be tasked with developing your own sustainable solutions for …

Syllabus: Solar Energy Systems And Building Design, Ho-Sung Kim

Sustainability Education Resources

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of solar building design and energy systems. Through project based study and possible field visits, students will explore the theory, technologies, applications, and benefits of solar design of buildings and discover how to utilize solar energy systems for residential and commercial buildings. Students will be required to research and document technology and complete a semester case study project in which they will examine various energy conservation aspects and economics underlying solar energy systems.

Umass Amherst Energy Consumption, Ghg Emissions, Energy Intensity From 2002-2014, Ezra Small

Campus Data

Data spreadsheet of GHG emissions, fuel consumption, and energy intensity for UMass Amherst between Fiscal Years 2002 to 2014.

Fy 2015 Umass Amherst Electricity Data By Building, Ezra Small

Campus Data

Each year, UMass Amherst Utilities publishes this spreadsheet which has the monthly and annual building energy consumption of each metered building on campus. Cost data and production vs. purchased electricity data are also provided.

Fy 2015 Umass Amherst Water & Steam Data By Building, Ezra Small

Campus Data

Each year, UMass Amherst Utilities publishes this spreadsheet which has the monthly and annual building water and steam consumption of each metered building on campus.

Fy 2015 Umass Amherst Waste Management Report, John Pepi

Campus Data

Each year the Office of Waste Management publishes this report which totals recycling and refuse data for the campus.

Sustainability Service Learning At St. Johnsbury Academy, James Bentley

NECSC Conference 2015

St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent boarding and day school of 950 students located in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. We have created an innovative and effective service learning system involving environmental stewardship in our region. Stewardship Days at St. Johnsbury Academy happen twice a year, in December and May. On the December Stewardship Day, the school hosts a conference in which groups of sophomores rotate through stations hosted by reps from local environmental organizations, non-profits, and state agencies, who pitch local environmental projects to the student groups. Students then design projects and execute them on the second Stewardship Day, …

Collectively Developing A Framework For Sustainability External Reviews, Janet Williams

NECSC Conference 2015

As campus sustainability programs have developed and grown over the past decade, with some programs approaching relative maturity, we begin to ask an important question: how can these programs be objectively evaluated? This question was recently raised among NECSC members, and the response shows a high level of interest in and enthusiasm for the idea of an objective, external review process. An adaptable assessment process would provide a basis for programs to highlight successes, identify areas for improvement, and help to prioritize program initiatives and projects. Having a relatively standardized process for conducting the review would provide consistency and help …

Campus Sustainability Performance: Introducing Ecological Regional Analysis To Advance Meaningful Impact, Shana Weber, Julie Newman

NECSC Conference 2015

In this second session of a three-part NECSC conference series called "Bioregional Metrics, Decision Making & Assessment" the presenters will delve into the current state of bioregional assessment and analysis. Synopses of research-based understandings drawn from a bioregional assessment of AASHE-STARS data, LEED assessments, and other bioregional data will be be presented along with recommendations for how such understanding can enhance the impact of collective efforts. The STARS analysis is based on a paper current under peer review co-authored by Shana Weber (Princeton), Julie Newman (MIT), and Adam Hill (Ivy+ SOAR Collaborative).

The Umass Amherst Sustainability External Review Process, Ezra Small

NECSC Conference 2015

As campus sustainability programs have developed and grown over the past decade, with some programs approaching relative maturity, we begin to ask an important question: how can these programs be objectively evaluated? This question was recently raised among NECSC members, and the response shows a high level of interest in and enthusiasm for the idea of an objective, external review process. An adaptable assessment process would provide a basis for programs to highlight successes, identify areas for improvement, and help to prioritize program initiatives and projects. Having a relatively standardized process for conducting the review would provide consistency and help …

Collaborating With Your Communications/Marketing Office, Alex Davis

NECSC Conference 2015

Explore how to elevate your program’s communication strategy by developing a strong relationship with your institution’s marketing office. During this session we will cover how the relationship between the Sustainability Office and Marketing Office could be strengthened by:
-The Sustainability Office investing in the relationship, understanding the institution’s marketing goals, and learning the institution’s brand and design standards.
-The Marketing Office educating about resources and services they offer to internal departments, integrating sustainability into each marketing channel, and working to understand the Sustainability Office’s goals.
-Both Offices finding shared goals and focusing on the overall communications goals of the institution.

Penn State Sustainability Institute, Denice Wardrop

NECSC Conference 2015

Penn State's Sustainability Institute Director Denice Wardrop's keynote address.

The Western Ma Food Processing Center, Nicholette Lustig

NECSC Conference 2015

The Pioneer Valley Vegetable Venture is a project of the Franklin County Community Development Corporation focused on creating a link between local farms and schools by utilizing food processing techniques to extend the season. Learn how we are freezing foods, helping to grow farm businesses in the Pioneer Valley and supplying locally grown vegetables to schools in the winter.

The Clark University Community Thrift Store, Monica Phung

NECSC Conference 2015

The Clark Community Thrift Store is a student-run non-profit business that helps cut down on over-consumption and waste and provides inexpensive college essentials, house wares, furniture, and gently used clothing to the Clark community and the surrounding area. The Community Thrift Store has a mission of providing sustainable and affordable items to the community. Our session will workshop the process of opening a sustainable campus thrift store, and allow for an open conversation about what it means to run a sustainable business. The session will be built around the audience, and will be led by what they are interested in …

Changing The Rules: How To Get Your Green Job, Eban Goodstein

NECSC Conference 2015

The planet needs saving, and you need a job. What is your first step? Eban Goodstein, Director of the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, will discuss getting started in a green career, and discuss the “C2C Strategy” to finding the sustainability work you want, in the town where you want to live. Working in small groups, teams work through the strategy process. Each student will head home with a plan to land a job or summer internship, and lay the foundation for a career saving the planet.

Participants will be introduced to career tracks in sustainability and fundamental skills for …

Calculating The Campus Nitrogen Footprint, Allison Leach, Jennifer Andrews

NECSC Conference 2015

Many universities interested in sustainability have calculated their carbon footprint. The carbon footprint is well-established and understood: it tells us how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted to the atmosphere as a result of university activities. While important, this calculation addresses just one part of a university’s environmental impact. Universities that want to expand their approach to sustainability can now also calculate their nitrogen footprint.

Nitrogen footprints connect entities, such as individuals or universities, with the reactive nitrogen (all species of nitrogen except N2) lost to the environment as a result of their activities. While necessary to …

The Student-Led Zero Waste Movement, Alex Freid

NECSC Conference 2015

In this workshop, we have participants envision what a zero waste campus would look like. We break the room into groups and give them a limited amount of time to draw or map out how they would prevent specific forms of waste from entering campus, how they would control the collection, logistics, and flow of waste through campus, and how they would manage the process of removing waste (if any) from campus.

If time allows, we also tack on an additional step of designing innovative ideas for how students can cut down on the amount of waste produced within a …