Geography Commons^™

World Food Programme/Country Comparison, Julia Swallow

Open Educational Resources

The student will use data from websites given to study hunger crisis locations, country statistics, and political conditions in needy regions. Students will organize and compare data, using results for debate.

An Immigration Debate, Geographic Alliance Of Iowa

Open Educational Resources

Students will understand that the needs of a nation may conflict with the needs of an individual or group.

Bangladesh Through The Alphabet, Geographic Alliance Of Iowa

Open Educational Resources

Students will understand the difficulties of Bangladesh and possible solutions to those difficulties.

I'Ll Trade You Dollars For Taka, Geographic Alliance Of Iowa

Open Educational Resources

Students will convert currency from USD (United States Dollars) to BDT (Bangladesh Taka) and vice versa. Students will familiarize themselves with common prices in BDT and make comparisons costs of similar items in USD.

Social Realities In Chile, Sarah Lerdal

Open Educational Resources

Students will be able to identify differences in Chilean and American societies. Students will be able to explain why and how societies develop different laws and customs. Students will be able to debate the pros and cons to current Chilean societal situations.

Geography Newsletter, 2011-2012, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Student/Community engagement
-- New Internship with Aerial Services
-- Spotlight on Research - Dennis Dahms finds evidence of climate change in Rocky Mountain Sediments
-- 2012 Awards Banquet
-- Scholarships
-- UNI Geography Outstanding Alumnus Award
-- Thomas Fogarty Retires after 23 years of service
-- Dr. Henry Owusu Publishes a new book
-- Student Publications and Presentations

Introduction To The Five Themes Of Geography, Mike Garnica

Open Educational Resources

Students will understand and be able to give examples of the 5 themes of geography: Location, Place, Human-Environment Interaction, Movement, and Regions. Throughout the school year as we learn about ancient civilizations, students will be able to apply the 5 themes of geography to the ancient civilizations that we study.

Space, History And Law: Rethinking Canadian Territorial Claims In The Arctic, Michael Graham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The aim of this thesis is to assess the Canadian territorial claims in the Arctic in relation to the UNCLOS III, by linking this contemporary legal framework for managing change in the Arctic region with historical processes pertaining to the "use" of the Arctic space by the Canadian society. Canada has a long history of association with its Arctic territory and recent Russian claims over the rights to extract resources of the North Pole area have stirred new tensions around the region. The receding Arctic ice pack has opened up the possibility of the Northwest Passage becoming a viable trading …

Geography News, V34n2, Fall 2011, Geographic Alliance Of Iowa.

Geography News

Inside This Issue:
--Coordinator's corner
--Stategic (sic) Planning
--A Geographer’s view of RAGBRAI
--Planned 2012 Workshops

Geography Newsletter, 2010-2011, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Student Research - AAG Student Presenters
-- Department News - Department Pride Day
-- Student Experiences
-- GTU Inductees
-- Scholarships
-- 2011 Awards Banquet
-- UNI Geography Outstanding Alumnus Award

Pce Groundwater Quality Assessment Of The University Of Northern Iowa Campus Area, Brian Gedlinske

Graduate Research Papers

Perchloroethylene (PCE), is a colorless, nonflammable, and relatively insoluble chlorinated solvent once widely used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing operations. Because of its past widespread use, poor solvent management practices, and environmental persistence, PCE is a common contaminant found in groundwater supplies. Potential health concerns include liver problems and increased cancer risk.

This research paper presents the findings of an effort to better characterize the spatial, temporal, and transport attributes of a PCE groundwater plume that exists within the Devonian aquifer underlying the University of Northern Iowa campus and the surrounding area in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Findings reveal the …

A Survey Of Lidar Use By Iowa Professionals, William G. Burkett

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A combined quantitative and qualitative study was done to assess use and adoption of State of Iowa obtained lidar data by Iowa mapping professionals. A 47- question online survey had 106 respondents from throughout Iowa and neighboring states. Eleven follow-up interviews assessed adoption successes, challenges and attitudes toward the Iowa Lidar project. The data were analyzed using the theory of adoption of innovations as a theoretical framework. Results from the online survey indicate lidar is being adopted most quickly in the government sector, but private and academic users are readily adopting as need arises. Linear regression produced a model of …

Post-Graduate Settlement Patterns: Tuition Reciprocity And Its Impact On Graduate Retention In Iowa, Minnesota, And Wisconsin, Andrew Miles Duggan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research project sought to discover the potential role participating in a tuition reciprocity program had on affecting a state's ability to stem the impact of brain drain. In order to do this, alumni records were analyzed from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Minnesota State University-Mankato (MSU), and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC). They were chosen because these schools serve as regional institutions, and realistically would be expected to compete for the same prospective students. Datasets were collected for general locations (ZIP codes), gender, and degree majors for those who graduated in 1999 and 2004 - five and …

Geography News, V34n1, Spring 2010, Geographic Alliance Of Iowa.

Geography News

Inside This Issue:
--Coordinator’s Corner
--Rail Roads Under and Over
--�� ��������� in Russia
--Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad
--Iowa, Agriculture and Geography in the Iowa Core Curriculum

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Potential West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Species In Iowa, Scott R. Larson, John P. Degroote, Lyric C. Bartholomay, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Work

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) algorithms, Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling (Maxent) and Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP), were used to develop models in Iowa for three species of mosquito – two significant, extant West Nile virus (WNV) vectors (Culex pipiens L and Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae)), and the nuisance mosquito, Aedes vexans Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae), a potential WNV bridge vector. Occurrence data for the three mosquito species from a state-wide arbovirus surveillance program were used in combination with climatic and landscape layers. Maxent successfully created more appropriate niche models with greater accuracy than GARP. The three Maxent species’ …

Improving The Instruction And Learning Of Topographic Maps Through The Use Of Geospatial Technologies, Troy Dean Schwemm

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Geographic information technologies (GIT) are spatially based technologies that include geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS). Though GIT has been used in society for decades, and has grown tremendously in the last 10 years as advancements in technology have become available, its inclusion into the K-12 curriculum has not kept pace. As the educational reform movement places an ever increasing amount of pressure on schools to produce technologically literate, workforce ready graduates, school districts are scrambling to find creative, innovative ways to accomplish this task. Rather than learning passively, GIT allows students to construct their …

A Late-Quaternary Record Of Environmental Variability From Lake Sediment Cores, Wind River Range, Wyoming, Tyler Johnson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sediment cores from two alpine lakes in Wyoming's Wind River Range were collected and analyzed to establish a record of depositional and mineralogical variability. Due to the hydrologic setting and isolation of Fiddlers and Louis lakes, these cores yielded the longest continuous limnological record in the region that extends back nearly 20,000 years to full-glacial conditions, a rarity for alpine lakes in the western United States.

To develop a paleolimnological record for Fiddlers and Louis lakes, the sediment cores were analyzed using four laboratory techniques. These techniques included particle size analysis, x-ray diffraction, heavy mineral analysis, and loss-on-ignition. Radiocarbon ages …

Spatio-Temporal Cluster Analysis Of County-Based Human West Nile Virus Incidence In The Continental United States, Ramanathan Sugumaran, Scott R. Larson, John P. Degroote

Faculty Work

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is a vector-borne illness that can severely affect human health. After introduction on the East Coast in 1999, the virus quickly spread and became established across the continental United States. However, there have been significant variations in levels of human WNV incidence spatially and temporally. In order to quantify these variations, we used Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic and Anselin's Local Moran's I statistic to uncover spatial clustering of human WNV incidence at the county level in the continental United States from 2002– 2008. These two methods were applied with varying analysis thresholds in order …

Think Like A Mountain : The Need For Nature For Increased Mental Health, Erin M. Mclaughlin

Graduate Research Papers

Nature has been an integral part of the human life for thousands of years. Only in the most recent hundred years, societies have begun to view nature as a foreign concept outside of the normal realm of daily life. Along with this disconnect from nature, mental illness has increased in our societal populations. This paper identifies the correlation of the need for nature, the lack of connection to nature, and the significant increase in depression, ADHD, anxiety, and autism diagnoses, among others. It also identifies therapeutic techniques that incorporate and connect with nature, as well as provides a comprehensive reference …

Geography Newsletter, 1969-2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Alumni Newsletter 1969-2009
-- News From the Head
-- Departments Anniversary
-- Department News and Activities
-- Department Faculty
-- Student News
-- Alumni News

Development Of A Spatial Decision Support Tool For Watershed Critical Area Identification Of Soil Loss And Best Management Practices (Bmps) Evaluation, Luhua Cai

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Soil erosion has been identified as a major contributor to water quality degradation. Agriculture is historically known for accelerating soil erosion. In Iowa, with 88% of land in agriculture use, agricultural practices have became the dominant source of nonpoint source pollution and soil erosion is the leading water problem in Iowa. Controls of soil erosion are needed. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are recognized as the most efficient way to control non-point source pollution, and numerous BMPs have been developed for soil erosion control. Therefore, it is important to have a decision support tool that can identify the soil erosion problem …

Risk Management Of Commercial Overland Food Transport And Distribution, Lucas Charles Hartman Geadelmann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this research was to study the contemporary safety issues related to the overland transport of perishable food items via semi-truck and trailer. An anonymous survey instrument consisting of 20 questions was developed in order to examine semi-truck driver habits. The questions pertained to truck driver safety and subsequent food safety matters related to the perishable food items contained within the trailers. The paper surveys were distributed to the semi-truck driving employees of two food distributors located in the upper Midwest, which had agreed to voluntarily participate in the study. A total of 90 surveys were completed and …

Geography Newsletter, 2007-2008, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Alumni Newsletter
-- News From the Head
-- Department News and Activities
-- Notes from the Geographic Alliance of Iowa
-- Student News
-- Faculty News
-- Alumni News
-- University of Northern Iowa GeoInformatics Training, Research, Education and Extension

Surface Temperature Mapping Of The University Of Northern Iowa Campus Using High Resolution Thermal Infrared Aerial Imageries, Alexander Savelyev, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Work

The goal of this project was to map the surface temperature of the University of Northern Iowa campus using high-resolution thermal infrared aerial imageries. A thermal camera with a spectral bandwidth of 3.0-5.0 µm was flown at the average altitude of 600 m, achieving ground resolution of 29 cm. Ground control data was used to construct the pixelto-temperature conversion model, which was later used to produce temperature maps of the entire campus and also for validation of the model. The temperature map then was used to assess the building rooftop conditions and steam line faults in the study area. Assessment …

Surface Temperature Mapping Of The University Of Northern Iowa Campus Using High Resolution Thermal Infrared Aerial Imagery, Alexander Savelyev

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The goal of this study was to produce and analyze a heat loss map of the University of the Northern Iowa campus using thermal infrared remote sensing data. Aerial data with the spatial resolution of 0.29m and radiometric resolution of 14 bit was collected. A model for the pixel to radiance and temperature conversion was developed with its parameters estimated with an R² of 0.78. Temperature imagery was shown to be consistent over the time of the survey and accurate to within 12°C. The temperature map then was used to assess the conditions of the rooftops and steam pipelines …

Geography Newsletter, 2006-2007, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- 2006-2007 UNI Geography Faculty
-- Our New Home
-- Undergraduate Spotlights
--University of Northern Iowa GeoInformatics Training, Research, Education and Extension
-- Geography Graduate Program
-- Department News and Activities
-- News from Alumni

Tree Species Identification In An Urban Environment Using A Data Fusion Approach, Matthew A. Voss

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis explores a data fusion approach combining hyperspectral, LiDAR, and multispectral data to classify tree species in an urban environment. The study area is the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.

In order to use the data fusion approach, a wide variety of data was incorporated into the classification. These data include: a four-band Quickbird image from April 2003 with 0.6m spatial resolution, a 24-band AISA hyperspectral image from July 2004 with 2m spatial resolution, a 63-band AISA Eagle hyperspectral image from October 2006 with lm spatial resolution, a high resolution, multiple return LiDAR data set from April …

Geography Newsletter, Spring 2005, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Geography Faculty 2004-05
-- Dr. Philip W. Suckling Resigns After 14 Years as Geography Head
-- Dr. Dave May to Serve as Interim Head
-- Dr. Ramanathan Sugumaran Promoted to Associate Professor
-- Alex Oberle Appointed to Geography Faculty
-- GeoTREE Center to be Established at UNI's Department of Geography
-- Iowa Map Room
-- National Science Foundation Equipment Grant
-- Midwest Transportation Center's UNI Transportation Scholars Program
-- Geographic Information Science B.A. Major Underway
-- New Geography Secretary: Mrs. Janette McCulley
-- 2004 M.A. Geography Graduates
-- 2004 B.A. Geography Graduates
-- Alumni Album
-- …

Push And Pull: Using Regression Models To Study The Influence Of Economic Variables On Net Migration In Iowa Counties, Andrea White

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Migration is an intensely personal decision, but mathematical models are useful for quantifying the larger, economic aspects of it. The goal of this research is to use spatial and multiple regression models to study the influence of economic variables on net migration rates in Iowa counties. To achieve this data for many variables was collected from several sources and centered on the year 2000. S-plus software was used to create neighborhood structures, run spatial correlations and regressions, and run multiple regressions and residual diagnostics. The results showed that it is possible to develop a good regression model of migration using …

Russian Immigration To The Usa, 1990-2003, Alexandra Mikhailovna Bozheva

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The last decade of the 20th century was marked by an important event on the European political map, the USSR's disintegration and the formation of new states. The collapse of the Soviet Union and consequent changes in the economic and social lives of its former population caused an increase in migration between former republics, and migration flow abroad. Regarding the Russian Federation, international emigration from its territory was directed mostly toward three countries: Germany, Israel and the USA. The period 1990-1991 can be called the starting point of a new wave of Russian emigration, and this is true in relation …