Geography Commons^™

Geospatial Machine Learning Approaches For Studying Urbanization Impact, Surface Reflectance Patterns, And Groundwater Health Risks, Bibhash Nath

Theses and Dissertations

Geospatial machine learning techniques have been used to study: the impact of urbanization on land use and land cover change, surface reflectance patterns in boreal regions, and groundwater health risks from arsenic in India. These studies combined spatial data, remote sensing, and predictive models to gain valuable insights for sustainable living and protecting human health.

Using Spatial Network Analysis To Explore Migration Of Extended Families In Historical Research, Rock Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This project proposes a geoinformatics approach for understanding the migration of extended families in historical contexts. It uses full-count longitudinal census data (developed by the Minnesota Population Center) and graph methods to define multi-generational extended family relationships and to model the locational structures of these families as a spatial network. Graph algorithms and mapping methods are used to interrogate these structures as reflections of the patterns of family outmigration and extension over time. The study is based on a set of extended families resident in a 15-county study area in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky in 1870, and their evolution …

Forest Above-Ground Biomass Estimation Using Nasa Gedi Lidar Waveforms And Global Tree Allometry, Ian Grant

Theses and Dissertations

Above-ground forest biomass plays a crucial role in global carbon cycles, yet accurately estimating biomass at global scales remains challenging. This thesis addresses two key challenges in processing NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) space-borne lidar data to estimate above-ground biomass density (AGBD): accounting for global variation in forest structure and developing robust physical interpretations of lidar returns. The first component of the thesis analyzes global patterns of tree allometry using the Tallo tree allometry dataset, examining relationships between tree dimensions across biomes, continents, and plant functional types. This analysis reveals consistent allometry across continents for some biomes (e.g., tropical …

Understanding The Nexus Between Food Insecurity And School Readiness: A Comprehensive Analysis In Ghana, Michael Atuahene Djan, Emmanuel Yeboah, Isaac Sarfo, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Abraham Okrah, Desmond Nii Ayitey Mettle-Nunoo, Ben Emunah Aikins, Asante Vincent Antwi, Clement Issaka Anaba, Clement Kwang

School of Global Integrative Studies: Faculty Publications

This study delves into the multifaceted challenges of food insecurity and its profound impact on school readiness among children in Ghana. Utilizing data from the Ghana Statistical Service and the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis, and employing ArcGIS for spatial analysis, the research maps high food insecurity areas and overlays population density to prioritize interventions. Findings reveal a stark concentration of food insecurity in northern Ghana, worsened by adverse weather conditions, underscoring the urgency for targeted interventions. The study highlights how food insecurity extends beyond nutritional deficits, affecting socio-economic structures and family dynamics. Children in food-insecure households face significant …

Devising Optimized Maize Nitrogen Stress Indices In Complex Field Conditions From Uav Hyperspectral Imagery, Jiating Li, Yufeng Ge, Laila A. Puntel, Derek M. Heeren, Geng Bai, Guillermo R. Balboa, John A. Gamon, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Yeyin Shi

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen Sufficiency Index (NSI) is an important nitrogen (N) stress indicator for precision N management. It is usually calculated using variables such as leaf chlorophyll meter readings (SPAD) and vegetation indices (VIs). However, no consensus has been reached on the most preferred variable. Additionally, conventional NSI (NSI_uni) calculation assumes N being the sole yield-limiting factor, neglecting other factors such as soil water variability. To tackle these issues, this study compared various variables for NSI calculation and evaluated two new N stress indicators in minimizing the impact of confounding water treatment. The following ground- and aerial-derived variables were compared …

Coffee Farmgate Price And Post-Harvest Processing In Honduras., Isaac Desouza

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Volatile commodity markets and changing climate expose coffee farmers to price and production risk. Proponents recommend specialty coffee as a strategy to combat price risk, because its unique attributes differentiate it from commodity coffee. Extrinsic and intrinsic attributes define specialty coffee and affect prices at many levels of the supply chain. Despite much work on extrinsic attributes, little is known about how intrinsic attributes relate to farmgate price. Post-harvest processing is itself an intrinsic trait and driver of coffee quality. In 2024 we surveyed 261 coffee farmers from La Paz, Honduras, to uncover relationships between capital, post-harvest processing, and farmgate …

Humboldt Geographic Issue 3

Humboldt Geographic

This collection of maps showcases the exceptional cartographic work produced by students at Cal Poly Humboldt over the past decade. At the core of the geospatial curriculum, cartography is not just a technical skill but a creative, analytical, and communicative practice that empowers students to visualize data, tell meaningful stories, and engage with the world through spatial thinking. The work featured in this journal represents various styles, formats, and topics, reflecting the rigor and innovation embedded in the department's cartographic training.

Unlocking Organizational Potential For Gis Collaboration In Higher Education, Charidy Paige

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Hardware, performance, and complex interface issues are just a few barriers that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) instructors must overcome when collaborative efforts extend beyond their classrooms. As GIS technologies evolve, instructors must adapt quickly to new tools and methods to maintain effective collaboration and ensure students achieve positive learning outcomes. Successful cooperation between departments, institutions, and other organizations requires preparation and sustainability throughout the semester to foster meaningful partnerships and support institutional goals. This dissertation applies the Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) to identify and define the challenges faced by GIS instructors, examining how they navigate these barriers by leveraging internal …

Predictive Analysis Of Arizona Dust Storms (1996–2023): Gis, Artificial Intelligence (Maxent), And Spatiotemporal Data, Soheil Bouzari

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation looks at how well Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model can predict duststorms in Arizona, United States. MaxEnt is a machine learning tool that was first developed to predict where different species might live. MaxEnt uses presence-only data which makes it especially useful in environments where reliable absence data is hard to find or unavailable. This study analyzes if the combination of MaxEnt within Geographic Information Systems (ArgGIS Pro) and spatiotemporal data can provide data-driven and reliable predictions of dust storms susceptibility in Arizona. The framework that was used for this study is Design Science Research because of its problem-solving …

Temporal And Spatial Dynamics Of Urban Heat In The City Of Córdoba, Argentina, Florencia Sangermano, María Lila Asar, Andrés M. Visintin, Elisabet Benítez, Francisco F. Ludueña-Almeida, Elizabet L. Estallo

Geography

Introduction: Climate change is expected to exacerbate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in the coming decades by altering the structure and function of urban ecosystems and impacting human health. Methods: This research assesses the dynamics of the UHI effect in the city of Córdoba, Argentina, by analyzing temperature trends over the past 19 years. Urban areas were classified into five classes using satellite imagery. Monthly average daytime and nighttime MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) were used to assess thermal differences across urban classes and temporal trends. Results: Daytime urban cooling occurred during the winter and heating during the summer, …

Complexity Machines: New Histories Of North American Automobile Production, 1900-1950s, Kevin A. Moskowitz

History Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation examines the design and manufacture of the mass-produced automobile in North America from its inception at the start of the twentieth century through the height of production in the late 1950s. This network of producers constituted the single largest industry in North America. The success of this market required producing a product that was desirable to consumers in design, affordable to purchase, and could be built in high enough quantities to justify the realignment of the rest of North American society to serve this new method of transportation. This dissertation is a shift away from demand studies concerned …

Dataset Supporting The Manuscript Fire Spread, Intensity, And Emissions Observations By Multiple Satellites: The Southern California Wildfires Of January 2025, Fangjun Li, Xiaoyang Zhang, Mark Cochrane, Shobha Kondragunta, Shuai An

Global Land Surface Season Data Sets

The data is for the paper "Fire Spread, Intensity, and Emissions Observations by Multiple Satellites: the Southern California Wildfires of January 2025" which has been submitted to the journal AGU Advances.

The downloadable file contains:

• README file that provides an overview of all all supporting files and scripts.
• 12 files folders containing the data and scripts

File type : zip/application
File size :  1.2GB

Military Forensic Archaeology: The Process And Recovery Of U.S. Missing-In-Action (Mia) Service Personnel, William Belcher, Luann Wandsnider, Ella N. Axelrod, Finn Kennison, Alicia Lawson

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

The United States (U.S.) Department of Defense's (DoD) Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is the largest skeletal identification laboratory in the world and receives several hundred cases per year for identification related to Missing-in- Action (MIA) U.S. service members. While there are various sources for these accessions, by far the largest source is through unilateral or bilateral (done in cooperation with another governmental entity or nongovernmental organization) as well as public-private partnership excavations. While the DPAA-style military forensic archaeology follows archaeological principles and recording standards, the work is goal-oriented, evidence/trace-driven, and time-constrained— a common occurrence with cultural resource management sites …

Letter From The Editor, Christopher F. Meindl

Florida Geographer

No abstract provided.

Examining Short Term Drainage Impacts To Soil Health In Hydric And Non-Hydric Soils Of Waseca County, Minnesota, Ely Hartl

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Subsurface drainage is implemented throughout the Midwest United States to remove excess moisture from soil to enhance crop growth. Hydric soils are ubiquitous throughout Minnesota and are commonly drained due to their historically saturated conditions. Changing a soil's hydrology can impact its formation and properties. The alteration of physical, biological, and chemical soil properties can occur to both hydric and non-hydric soils, impacting overall soil health. The purpose of this study is to examine the short-term effects of tile drainage on the soil health of hydric and non-hydric soils in southern Minnesota. Research methods include: 1) collect soil-sediment cores to …

About The Journal, Christopher Meindl

Florida Geographer

No abstract provided.

Satellite And Uas Synergy For Large-Scale Crop Canopy Cover Mapping With Deep Learning, Muhammad Ali Irshad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Iucn Wcpa Technical Note No.21: Utilizing Protected And Conserved Areas For Human Health And Well-Being: A Technical And Methodological Framework, Simon King, Christopher J. Lemieux, Catherine E. Reining, Marco Garrido Cumbrera, Peter Rawcliff, Eliseth Ribeiro Leão, Denise Hewlett, Jo Hopkins, Robyn Molsher

Geography and Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

In recent years, social prescribing—particularly green prescribing and nature prescriptions—has rapidly gained popularity as a holistic approach to improving health and well-being by connecting individuals with nature-based activities and community support. Due to the unique qualities of protected and conserved areas, they provide irreplaceable benefits to humans. This has prompted many to quickly identify, define, and measure their positive impacts on human health and well-being. As exciting as this potential may be, it is imperative to consider that health is the terrain of another sector. Just as ecosystem management may be unfamiliar to health professionals, health is a field that …

Issue Paper No. 7: Strengthening Sustainable Tourism’S Role In Biodiversity Conservation And Community Resilience, Ante Mandić, Thiago Beraldo Souza, Anna Spenceley, Kelly Bricker, Paul F. J. Eagles, Megan Epler Wood, Ronda Green, Karim Haggar, Glen Hvenegaard, Christopher J. Lemieux, Yu-Fai Leung, Stephen F. Mccool, Joseph K. Muriithi, Carol Ritchie, Paul Rogers, Brooklyn Rushton, Jim Sano, Daniel Turner

Geography and Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Tourism, defined widely to include all types and forms of permitted outdoor recreation and visitation to Protected and Conserved Areas (PCAs) including by local, national and international visitors, plays a complex and often contested role in PCAs. While a significant share of global tourism depends on the ecological richness of these areas, their conservation value does not automatically translate into sustainable financial returns. Nonetheless, when effectively managed, tourism in PCAs can generate conservation funding, support local livelihoods, and provide infrastructure investment, particularly in under-resourced landscapes (Leung et al., 2018). Beyond economics, public use of PCAs contributes to building social license …

A Big Data Approach To Modelling Urban Population Density Functions: From Monocentricity To Polycentricity, Cehong Luo, Yujie Hu, Fahui Wang

Faculty Publications

Urban studies have a long tradition of examining the regularity of urban structure by modelling urban population density functions and probing the theoretical or behavioural foundation behind it. Previous studies commonly used census data in areal units such as census tracts or census block groups, which varied a great deal in area size and shape and led to the zonal and scale effects, commonly referred to as the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP). This study uses big data of individual vehicle trips in Tampa, Florida, to define the precise population and employment distribution locations, and then aggregates them with uniform …