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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
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- Environmental Sciences (9)
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- School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications (3)
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Articles 1 - 10 of 10
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Sliding Markov Decision Processes For Dynamic Task Planning On Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, Trent Wiens
Sliding Markov Decision Processes For Dynamic Task Planning On Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, Trent Wiens
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Mission and flight planning problems for uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) are typically large and complex in space and computational requirements. With enough time and computing resources, some of these problems may be solvable offline and then executed during flight. In dynamic or uncertain environments, however, the mission may require online adaptation and replanning. In this work, we will discuss methods of creating MDPs for online applications, and a method of using a sliding resolution and receding horizon approach to build and solve Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) in practical planing applications for UASs. In this strategy, called a Sliding Markov Decision …
Students’ Civic Engagement Self-Efficacy Varies Across Socioscientific Issues Contexts, Jenny Dauer, Amanda E. Sorensen, Jena Wilson
Students’ Civic Engagement Self-Efficacy Varies Across Socioscientific Issues Contexts, Jenny Dauer, Amanda E. Sorensen, Jena Wilson
School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications
In STEM learning focused on science literacy, socioscientific issues instruction is often proposed as a way to bolster students’ civic engagement, however few studies in science education have explicitly examined this connection. We define civic engagement as the work of influencing legitimately public matters using means within the existing political structure. In this work we investigate students’ feelings of self-efficacy for this type of civic engagement in the context of four socioscientific issues (prairie dog conservation, food insecurity, biofuels and water conservation). This study was in the context of a large enrollment introductory science college course, where students used a …
Assessing The Value Extension Adds To Decision Making Among Natural Resource Leaders, R. Rimsaite, M. Kreye
Assessing The Value Extension Adds To Decision Making Among Natural Resource Leaders, R. Rimsaite, M. Kreye
School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Undergraduate Students Scientifically-Informed Decision-Making About Socio-Hydrological Issues, Jaime L. Sabel, Tina Vo, Ashley Alred, Jenny M. Dauer, Cory Forbes
Undergraduate Students Scientifically-Informed Decision-Making About Socio-Hydrological Issues, Jaime L. Sabel, Tina Vo, Ashley Alred, Jenny M. Dauer, Cory Forbes
School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Exploration Of Student Biodiversity Knowledge And Decision-Making For A Wildlife Conservation Socioscientific Issue, Ashley R. Alred
Exploration Of Student Biodiversity Knowledge And Decision-Making For A Wildlife Conservation Socioscientific Issue, Ashley R. Alred
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Global biodiversity, a foundation for ecosystem function, is diminishing at a rate unprecedented in the last 50 years. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem services deterioration is linked to increased food insecurity, reduced water quality and availability, decreased energy security, higher economic losses and human suffering (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). Consequently, educators should invest in supporting students in their development of ecological understanding and formal decision-making skills so they are equipped with meaningful tools they can use as scientifically literate citizens. To contribute to that mission, this study seeks to explore student 1) comprehension and explanation of biodiversity concepts and 2) decision-making …
Using Ecological Production Functions To Link Ecological Processes To Ecosystem Services, Randall Jf Bruins, Timothy J. Canfield, Clifford Duke, Larry Kapustka, Amanda M. Nahlik, Ralf B. Schäfer
Using Ecological Production Functions To Link Ecological Processes To Ecosystem Services, Randall Jf Bruins, Timothy J. Canfield, Clifford Duke, Larry Kapustka, Amanda M. Nahlik, Ralf B. Schäfer
United States Environmental Protection Agency: Staff Publications
Ecological production functions (EPFs) link ecosystems, stressors, and management actions to ecosystem services (ES) production. Although EPFs are acknowledged as being essential to improve environmental management, their use in ecological risk assessment has received relatively little attention. Ecological production functions may be defined as usable expressions (i.e., models) of the processes by which ecosystems produce ES, often including external influences on those processes. We identify key attributes of EPFs and discuss both actual and idealized examples of their use to inform decision making. Whenever possible, EPFs should estimate final, rather than intermediate, ES. Although various types of EPFs have been …
Adaptive Resource Management And The Value Of Information, Byron K. Williams, Mitchell J. Eaton, David R. Breininger
Adaptive Resource Management And The Value Of Information, Byron K. Williams, Mitchell J. Eaton, David R. Breininger
United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications
The value of information is a general and broadly applicable concept that has been used for several decades to aid in making decisions in the face of uncertainty. Yet there are relatively few examples of its use in ecology and natural resources management, and almost none that are framed in terms of the future impacts of management decisions. In this paper we discuss the value of information in a context of adaptive management, in which actions are taken sequentially over a time frame and both future resource conditions and residual uncertainties about resource responses are taken into account. Our objective …
Adaptive Resource Management And The Value Of Information, Byron K. Williams, Mitchell J. Eaton, David R. Breininger
Adaptive Resource Management And The Value Of Information, Byron K. Williams, Mitchell J. Eaton, David R. Breininger
United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications
The value of information is a general and broadly applicable concept that has been used for several decades to aid in making decisions in the face of uncertainty. Yet there are relatively few examples of its use in ecology and natural resources management, and almost none that are framed in terms of the future impacts of management decisions. In this paper we discuss the value of information in a context of adaptive management, in which actions are taken sequentially over a timeframe and both future resource conditions and residual uncertainties about resource responses are taken into account. Our objective is …
A New Process For Organizing Assessments Of Social, Economic, And Environmental Outcomes: Case Study Of Wildland Fire Management In The Usa, Randall Jf Bruins, Wayne R. Munns Jr., Stephen J. Botti, Steve Brink, David Cleland, Larry Kapustka, Danny Lee, Valerie Luzadis, Laura Falk Mccarthy, Naureen Rana, Douglas B. Rideout, Matt Rollins, Peter Woodbury, Mike Zupko
A New Process For Organizing Assessments Of Social, Economic, And Environmental Outcomes: Case Study Of Wildland Fire Management In The Usa, Randall Jf Bruins, Wayne R. Munns Jr., Stephen J. Botti, Steve Brink, David Cleland, Larry Kapustka, Danny Lee, Valerie Luzadis, Laura Falk Mccarthy, Naureen Rana, Douglas B. Rideout, Matt Rollins, Peter Woodbury, Mike Zupko
United States Environmental Protection Agency: Staff Publications
Ecological risk assessments typically are organized using the processes of planning (a discussion among managers, stakeholders, and analysts to clarify ecosystem management goals and assessment scope) and problem formulation (evaluation of existing information to generate hypotheses about adverse ecological effects, select assessment endpoints, and develop an analysis plan). These processes require modification to be applicable for integrated assessments that evaluate ecosystem management alternatives in terms of their ecological, economic, and social consequences.We present 8 questions that define the steps of a new process we term integrated problem formulation (IPF), and we illustrate the use of IPF through a retrospective case …
Drought Monitoring Using Data Mining Techniques: A Case Study For Nebraska, Usa, Tsegaye Tadesse, Donald A. Wilhite, Sherri K. Harms, Michael J. Hayes, Steve Goddard
Drought Monitoring Using Data Mining Techniques: A Case Study For Nebraska, Usa, Tsegaye Tadesse, Donald A. Wilhite, Sherri K. Harms, Michael J. Hayes, Steve Goddard
Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications
Drought has an impact on many aspects of society. To help decision makers reduce the impacts of drought, it is important to improve our understanding of the characteristics and relationships of atmospheric and oceanic parameters that cause drought. In this study, the use of data mining techniques is introduced to find associations between drought and several oceanic and climatic indices that could help users in making knowledgeable decisions about drought responses before the drought actually occurs. Data mining techniques enable users to search for hidden patterns and find association rules for target data sets such as drought episodes. These techniques …