Geography Commons^™

Rural Resiliency: The Cause And Effect Of Minnesota's Maternal Health Crisis, Annabel Traudie Gregg

Geography Honors Projects

The United States is experiencing a maternal health crisis that disproportionately affects those who give birth in rural communities. Rural birthing people have higher maternal mortality rates, increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage, non-indicated cesarean sections, and other adverse health outcomes. Despite the enhanced risks of rural birth, rural communities are losing access to hospital-based obstetric care at an unprecedented rate. Minnesota has vast rural territory, with one-fourth of its population living outside the urban sphere ­– making it a strategic area of study. As of July, 2021, 31% of Minnesota’s 91 rural hospitals were at risk of closing. The repercussions …

Unfair: Investigating The Links Between Richmond’S Air Quality Issues And Environmental Racism, Charles Miller

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

With breathable air being a resource inequitably distributed among populations based on race and socioeconomic status, this study’s objective was to analyze heat and air quality distributions in Richmond, Virginia and provide recommendations for minimizing its effects throughout the city. Richmond provided an ideal subject for this analysis as it has a lengthy history of racial segregation and discrimination and is one of the worst ranking cities for Asthma sufferers. Background was given on environmental racism as a means of systemic disproportionate pollution distribution to minorities, urban air pollution( via Fine Particulate Matter/PM 2.5) and the historical housing segregation process …

A 2020 Census Portrait Of America’S Largest Metro Areas: Population Growth, Diversity, Segregation, And Youth, William Frey

Policy Briefs and Reports

The nation’s major metropolitan areas—those with populations exceeding 1 million, which are home to nearly six in 10 Americans—have been a focal point of the nation’s economic vibrancy, politics, and racial and ethnic diversity. The 2020 census provides an opportunity to see how they fared in the 2010-2020 decade. Unlike the previous decade, major metro areas grew more sharply than their smaller-sized counterparts, and their cities showed growth surges even in a decade when the nation’s population registered historically low growth. Moreover, the increased racial and ethnic diversity that characterized the nation is especially concentrated in major metro areas and, …

Tropical Cyclone Translation Speeds In The Northern Atlantic Ocean, Marybeth Melcher

Honors Theses

Over the past 40 years, tropical cyclones have caused over $1,076.9B in damage in the United States. The fatalities from tropical cyclones are just as devastating. Hurricane Katrina of 2005 caused over 1,800 deaths; Harvey in 2017 just under 90 deaths; Ike of 2018 took 112 deaths; and horrifically, Maria of 2017 claimed nearly 3,000 lives. The destruction that tropical cyclones have caused is astronomical, and a factor of tropical cyclones that is responsible for this level of destruction is their translation speeds. Tropical cyclone translation speed (TCTS) is the speed at which a hurricane is moving--the duration of time …

International Residency & Career, Byron Fitch, Martin Johnson, Akeisha Belgrave

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

We're taking a look at the relationships between career fields and the desired location to work internationally. Chosen locations and career fields can help make various inferences about the relationship between the two. Other aspects we looked into were age, gender, and college experience, which may provide influence to various locations. (Class Project)

Economics Of Red Wolf Reintroduction, Logan West

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

In any animal reintroduction, one main component that is heavily evaluated is the economics of the reintroduction process of introducing an endangered animal to a specific area. Red wolves in specific, have a strong economic correlation between ecotourism and economics, as red wolves are an almost extinct species. In this analysis, I examined the economics of ecotourism as a benefit for red wolf reintroduction into the Delmarva. Additionally, I further examined how ecosystem services are an additional benefit to the economics in Delmarva. I used two case studies in my analysis to determine if the Delmarva Peninsula would enhance economically …

Invasive Plant Management At Huguenot Flatwater, Antonia Kempe

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

Invasive plants have become a wicked problem of the 21st century. Brought to areas outside of their native range by humans, they cause ecological and economic harm by disrupting ecosystem dynamics that in turn affect humans. Management methods include mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments, but each of these have their own advantages and limitations, which further adds to the complexities of invasive plant management. Units of the James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia are plagued by invasive plants, which are managed by the Invasive Plant Task Force. One of these units, Huguenot Flatwater, is overrun by invasive plants but …

U.S. Embassy In Bengaluru, India, Ella Hilliard

Symposium of Student Scholars

Ensuring U.S. citizens are safe while traveling to other countries is a top priority. This project helps students explore the United States' relationship with other countries and is meant to serve as a guide to find the best location for a new U.S. embassy located in Bengaluru (Bangalore), India. For this purpose, a map was created on the city of Bengaluru and incorporates data on many different factors. GIS tools are used to analyze factors such as government buildings, inclement weather, and dangerous weapons to find a new embassy that will also provide accessibility to its civilians by not being …

Us Embassy Site Selection In Vienna, Austria, Chandler T. Dixon

Symposium of Student Scholars

My project proposition is to find a suitable location for a new US embassy in Vienna, Austria. Maintaining a proper embassy in foreign cities is vital in order to protect any US citizens that may be living abroad. In order to find the most suitable location, there are a number of different demands that must be met. Maintaining distance from larger venues, hazardous areas, and other embassies that are not allies with the US has to be taken into account, along with other undesirable locations. However, the embassy will be located close to ally embassies also stationed in the city, …

Using Arcgis Pro For A U.S. Embassy Site Suitability Study: Douala, Cameroon, Derek Romanek

Symposium of Student Scholars

Using ArcGIS Pro for a U.S. Embassy site suitability study: Douala, Cameroon

Derek Romanek (Uli Ingram), Department of Geography and Anthropology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, 30144

The Bureau of Overseas Building Operations wants to know the ideal location for a U.S. Embassy in the Douala, Cameroon. The suitability for the U.S. Embassy location will be determined from feature layer data acquired from ArcGIS Online. The ideal location will be accessed through vacant parcels and industrial sites, points of interest, vulnerabilities to natural hazards, social and economic issues, and a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. Through ArcGIS Pro, I …

Possible Location For Us Embassy In Copenhagen, Denmark, Danny Jang

Symposium of Student Scholars

The purpose of this research is for students to experience using GIS in a professional setting for a public organization. Copenhagen, Denmark hosts numerous embassies for other countries including the USA which was established nearly a century ago! After going through a couple of public opinions left by the locals (Google review), it would be nice if another location was established to assist both USA and Denmark’s bureaucratic needs. The population has surged compared to the numbers from when the building was established, which also changed the geospatial environment that was established when the building was opened. This research will …

Social Vulnerability, Diabetes, And Obesity In Georgia, Danny Jang

Symposium of Student Scholars

This project examines factors of health geography and population geography by examining the spatial correlation between diabetes and obesity prevalence among the population of Georgia. Diabetes and obesity are closely linked together, however, they are still far apart in various aspects which can be from personal to environmental impacts like geographical locations. This research attempts to investigate diabetes and obesity prevalence by examining the SVI of given counties of a state. This project uses data from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Opendata (which can be found on ESRI). Future studies can examine these health factors …

Historical And Contemporary Population Trends In New York, Thomas Gillespie

Symposium of Student Scholars

This project explores historical and contemporary population geography trends within the state of New York. New York state contains the largest city and metro area within the United States, New York City, which has served as a major immigration destination for much of its history. Today, it is still considered a major-continuous immigrant gateway metro area. Due to the city being a popular choice for immigration, it has allowed the population of New York to grow and encompass many different cultures and nationalities. This project examines these trends in further detail, by looking at various aspects on why this might …

Geography Of Covid-19 Waves In Georgia, Walker Tompkins

Symposium of Student Scholars

Geography of COVID-19 Waves in Georgia

Over the past 2 years everyone on the globe’s lives have been changed drastically after the COVID-19 virus spread across the world. This united and divided us more than any other event in most of our lifetimes. The pandemic everyone and now that there are two years of data, it is important to examine impacts at various geographic scales. As such, focusing on the state of Georgia, this project explores how the different variants, public policy, and vaccination of our population has changed the trajectory of the virus and how many deaths it has …

Best Locations For A Future U.S. Embassy In Stockholm, Sweden, Aj Sherrell

Symposium of Student Scholars

The purpose of this study is to find the best possible location for a future U.S. embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. I have gathered data about current embassy locations, demographics about place locations or points of interest that the U.S. embassy needs to be close to or a specified distance from, information about lot zoning, and demographics about the city itself such as roads, railways, and bodies of water. I will use a spatial analysis and model builder through the software, ArcGIS Pro by Esri. These analyses will allow me to determine good locations for the future U.S. embassy based on …

Teaching And Integrating Women’S Studies Into The Classroom: Perspectives Of Elementary Teachers, Thomas Lucey

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Women’s studies represent an underappreciated aspect of elementary education. Whether or how classrooms and their resources portray, present, and value women role-models informs both boys and girls about what passes for acceptable communication, treatment, and conduct towards women. Indeed, the extent to which and the basis that a young citizenry is taught to appreciate others informs the nature of the conversations engaged.

This paper describes the results of a research study that interpreted elementary teachers’ perspectives of women’s studies in elementary settings. The online survey was administered as part of the registration for two workshops that prepared teachers in the …

Designing A Tool And Cooperative Learning: A Macos Inspired Activity, Jeffrey Byford, Jennifer Cordero, Alisha Milam, Kate Chambers, Presley Shilling

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This simulation activity presents how elements of Man: A Course of Study (MACOS) can be implemented into the social studies classroom. Inspired by the Tool-Making Activity found in MACOS, this modified simulation activity prompts students to design an instrument to peel an orange as they discuss life and daily tasks related to the Great Plains settlement.

A Street-Based Simulation Approach To Evaluating Crime Theories And Deterrence Efficacy In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Shaun Edward Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Criminology of place and deterrence strategy evaluations share separate yet similar paths towards incorporating microgeographic units of analysis within deterrence strategies. These transitions have been underway since Weisburd’s 2015 criminology of place work and Kennedy’s 1997 Ceasefire publication for deterrence strategy evaluation. Rather than purely theoretical or practical challenges serving as agents of change, scale appropriateness can arguably be pinpointed as the foundation for change in both areas. Microplace offers improved insight into the study of crime and place dominated by areal designs. This status quo has hampered evaluation but has not slowed the flow of resources to support strategy …

Emotional Geographies: Head, Heart, Time, And Place, Grace C. Conroy

Montserrat Annual Writing Prize

This paper is modelled on a study and paper by Kamila Klingorová and Banu Gökarıksel which used auto-photography to examine examined emotional geographies. The author takes the position of an independent participant by selecting and describing photos of seemingly non-descript places and then offering reflections on reasons why these photos elicited strong emotions.

The Geographical (And Almost) Non-Geographical Advantages On Access To Water Resources, Clemir Abbeg Coproski

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Although water scarcity doesn’t sound like a 21st century problem, more than 1.2 million people die every year directly related to the lack of access to safe water. Malnutrition, lack of sanitation, and other diseases can bump those numbers even higher. An interesting question that very few might ask is: what are the causes for the lack of access to water? There are several answers to those questions, and some of them are related to geography and some of them are not, or maybe both.