Ecosystem Services of TCU Campus Trees

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Megan Boneck Environmental Sciences Audrey Haffner Environmental Sciences Gisela Pacheco Environmental Sciences Zoey Suasnovar Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Bredan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 12, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Urban trees provide a variety of ecosystem services to an area that allows both humans and animals to thrive in their vicinity. The ecosystem services provided are able to be determined through specific aspects of a tree and their location in relation to buildings and ground cover. These ecosystem services include carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, avoided runoff, and energy effects. Texas Christian University (TCU) was designated a tree campus by the Arbor Day Foundation meaning they commit to making sure that they are planting and preserving the trees that are in their care. This study’s purpose was to determine the ecosystem services provided by the trees in TCU’s care, including the costs of each tree and the services that they provide. By surveying the diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, crown base height, species, crown health and exposure, canopy size, ground cover, and health we are able to determine what services are being provided by the TCU trees. Determining the services is possible through the service iTree Eco where the data was inputted allowing its use in the estimation of the services that the trees provide.

Mapping Tree Removal and Changes in Land Surface Temperature in Austin, TX

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Hannah Buckhalter Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 3, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

As of the year 2022, over half of the world’s population lives in cities.​ Large-scale movement into urban environments has inevitable effects on the urban landscape, and in turn has negative effects on the environment. Central Texas is home to the state’s capital city of Austin. With the Colorado river running though the city and an estimated 300 days of sunshine a year, Austin has become a hotspot for urban growth ​.​ Since the 2020 census, Austin’s population has increased by 12,547 residents, with a growth rate of 1.3%, making Austin the 10th largest city in the country. The greater metropolitan Austin area gained nearly 63,000 residents between the years of 2021 and 2022​. In the face of tree removal due to development and climate hazards, cities are losing vital ecosystem services provided by urban forests. For this project, I will be studying how tree removal in the city of Austin affects Land Surface Temperature (LST). The purpose of this research is to examine the influence of tree removal on urban heat. Given the importance of trees to human health in highly urbanized areas, understanding how forest loss impacts urban heat and affect local microclimates will help urban planners, foresters, developers, and municipalities implement sustainable urban forest programs to safeguard human health. By exploring the relationship between urban deforestation and heat, this research contributes to the growing body of literature on urban forests and microclimates and provides information to support the conservation of urban trees.

Assessing populations vulnerable to the urban heat island effect in Dallas County, Texas

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Adam Buckmeier Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 8, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

Urbanization disrupts local climates by replacing natural land cover with impervious surfaces. These surfaces such as concrete and asphalt retain more heat than vegetated cover, therefore, putting these areas at risk for the urban heat island effect. This is when urban areas become significantly hotter than outlying areas and exhibit high temperature anomalies, therefore, putting its residents at risk. Another contributing factor is anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases from industries and automobiles. The purpose of this research is to assess areas vulnerable to the urban heat island effect in Dallas County, Texas by looking at the heat severity index (The Trust for Public Lands) and land cover data (NLCD 2021). This study aims to provide insights for planning and policies that enhance resilience to urban heat island risks in Dallas County.

PERCEPTIONS OF CONSERVATION EDUCATORS ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS: A MIXED METHODS STUDY

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Camden Butterworth Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 9, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

Environmental education is gaining popularity and recognition as a critical strategy to reduce environmental harm, biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation. Education has been identified as a top factor contributing to people’s willingness to engage in environmentally positive conservation behaviors. Non-formal learning institutions such as zoos and aquariums have the unique ability to create and engage learned in species specific education programming. Species-specific education programs can generate high public appeal and contribute to overall environmental conservation outcomes. Research on nonformal environmental education is limited, but most often reports that short-term or single experiences may not be successful in increasing knowledge or contributing to behavior changes. The purpose of this research is to assess the perceptions of educators at non-formal institutions about the success of their conservation education programs. To do this, we conducted a mixed-methods study with educators at marine conservation centers to report on their perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of education programming as well as on how they define and measure their program success. Our results revealed that educators believe their short-term education programs can be impactful and report on the factors that must be considered to maximize successful program outcomes.

Water availability for winged residents: geospatial analysis of drinking water for bats in the Lower West Fort Trinity watershed of Fort Worth

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Katherine Davis Biology
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Environmental Sciences Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 7, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Although bats are extremely important ecosystem service providers, they face challenges accessing suitable drinking resources in urban environments. The objective is to conduct a comprehensive geospatial analysis to assess water sources within Tarrant County. Factors such as tree cover, surface area, and proximity to roads will be evaluated and mapped to determine the suitability of these water sources for bats. The resulting data will contribute valuable insights into the spatial distribution of drinking resources for local bat populations, aiding in conservation efforts and habitat management in the region.

An Evaluation of Water and Sediment Quality in a Mine-impacted Watershed: Case Study of Elm Creek, Picher, Oklahoma

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Colin Dixon Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Michael Slattery Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 6, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Across the U.S. there are 1335 Superfund sites that range from abandoned mines to old military bases that pose serious risk to the public if not remediated properly. The Tar Creek Superfund site, located in Picher, OK, is one example which could contaminate downstream water supplies via contaminated water and sediment due to the heavy metals, such as Cd and Pb, left behind from the mining activities. This study seeks to determine if the ongoing remediation is effective at Tar Creek which is located within the Tar Creek Superfund site, and whether contaminated sediment is migrating downstream through the watershed.

The Human Impact on Deer: Integrating Spatial Analysis technology to help sustain White-Tailed Deer populations in the Southern United States

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Jackson Galloway Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences

Whitetail-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a crucial component of the Southern United States Ecosystem. 5.5 million deer live in the southern regions of the country, and all are impacted by human activity. Hunting and suburban development have created a rift on the species population distribution. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of creating suburban communities and hunting practices in the Southern regions of the United States. Establishing sustainable habitats for white-tailed deer populations using spatial analysis techniques will allow for populations to remain stable. Implementing strategies for property owners and public land attendants to tend for vegetation growth and clean water sources will be crucial for the species' ability to thrive. The objective is to create a distribution map of the white-tailed deer population throughout the southern regions of the United States on data collected from the variability of the land and the physical soil composition for potential vegetation growth.

Using Socio-economic Status and Greenspace to Locate Potential Survey Sites for Bat Foraging

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Elizabeth Hargis Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 5, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

Urbanization refers to the process of converting natural habitats into human-friendly areas, consisting of concrete structures like buildings and roads that are not typically conducive to wildlife. Despite this, many animals, including bats, are able to adapt to urban landscapes and even provide crucial ecosystem services. Bats, in particular, play a vital role in controlling pests in both agricultural and urban areas. Thus, it is imperative to understand the factors that affect their foraging activity. The aim of this project is to identify potential survey sites that can provide insight into the factors that influence prey availability and abundance.

Investigating Bat Drinking Activity in Response to Variability in Water Surface Area

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Peyton Harper Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 3, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

With species facing extinction due to human-induced disturbances, conservation efforts aim to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Urban areas, despite their modifications, can provide essential ecosystem services and support biodiversity. However, ensuring wildlife presence requires understanding resource availability and accessibility. Accessibility, defined by an individual's ability to locate and utilize resources, is influenced by landscape features such as permeability and connectivity, which can impede movement. Species-specific traits, including ecology and mode of locomotion, also play significant roles in resource access. For instance, volant species like birds and bats rely on flight to forage and drink, with their ability to maneuver affecting whether they can access a water source or not. Moreover, access may not only be dependent on the size of a water source but also by clutter (i.e., vegetation, exposed rocks and litter), which can reduce the amount of surface area that is actually available. Additionally, seasonal variations in precipitation and evapotranspiration rates can alter water levels, affecting both the size of the water source and the amount of clutter (i.e., exposing more rocks and enabling more aquatic vegetation to grow). Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of water surface area is crucial for effective resource management aimed at making urban environments more suitable for wildlife. Thus, we investigated the influence of variation in water surface area on bat drinking activity in an urban environment. Our study focused on six water sources in Tarrant County, Texas, using drone surveillance, thermal technology, and acoustic monitoring from March to September 2023. We hypothesized that as surface area decreased during summer, bat drinking activity would decline. By addressing one potential aspect of water resource availability and accessibility, our study contributes to to more accurate assessments of urban water resource availability and the development of sustainable conservation practices for wildlife.

Assessing Urban Wildlife Water Availability: Investigating Runoff and Evaporation Dynamics in Fort Worth Ponds

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Peyton Harper Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 3, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

Water is an essential resource for urban wildlife, but this water needs to be available and accessible. Fort Worth is an urban area that gets hot and dry during the summer months which can cause many water sources to dry up, making them unavailable for wildlife. However, some water sources in Fort Worth may be more susceptible to drying up than others. This may be affected by runoff which in turn can be a function of different variables such as soil type, impervious surface cover, vegetation cover, elevation, and more. Additionally, differences in location-specific weather may affect evaporation rates of bodies of water. This study aims: (1) to determine the variations in six different pond sites across Fort Worth, (2) to identify the factors that potentially affect runoff and evaporation, and correlate the variables with the rate of changes of the ponds to determine their significance, and (3) use this established relationship to evaluate the susceptibility of other ponds in the area to drying up during summers.

COASTAL EROSION: INTEGRATING GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY TO AID IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EROSION DUE TO RISING SEA LEVELS ALONG US COASTLINES

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Tristan Knowlton Environmental Sciences Miki Nisbet Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 4, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

Along the coastlines of America, specifically along the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, rising sea levels are causing great levels of coastal erosion, leading to the loss of coastal homes and ecologically valuable land. Climate change affects the rate at which sea levels rise, which in turn determines how quickly coastlines are eroded. The objective is to analyze coastal maps of California and the Gulf of Mexico to determine which coastal factors facilitate or hinder the degradation of coastlines.

Sustainability Progress of Global Companies Using GRI Standards

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Maria Pertz Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 5, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

In a recent survey by IBM, 51% of respondents from 10 major global economies stated that sustainability is more important to them today than it was 12 months ago (Emeritus, 2022). Historically, influential corporations have disregarded the triple bottom line and have ignored the effects their supply chains have on the environment, people, and the economy, and in turn, made negative contributions to sustainable development. To reduce and eventually eliminate the harm, many companies are now creating sustainability plans to monitor their progress. Sustainability planning and reporting have gained traction in the last decade given the push for standardization, the need for transparency from consumers, and improved environmental social governance metrics within their business operations. Today, there are over 600 different sustainability reporting standards, industry initiatives, frameworks, and guidelines that have improved the transparency, consistency, and interoperability of sustainable practices (Brightest, 2024). One of the most widely adopted frameworks is the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). GRI created the first global sustainability and social impact measurement standards in 1997, and they help businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing them with a global common language to communicate those impacts (Global Reporting Organization, n.d.).

The purpose of this research is to examine the contents of 10 sustainability reports across five industries and document their actions towards sustainable development. I will focus on how companies are not only reducing their environmental impacts but also protecting workers and contributing to society. Understanding the degree to which companies are addressing these challenges is crucial to measuring their progress and determining if they are advancing toward sustainability.

Product testing the next generation Song Meter Mini Bat acoustic detector for Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Kaitlyn Roussel Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Tory Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: First Floor, Table 1, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Analyzing the calls a bat emits is one of the main ways to identify a species. We use bat acoustic detectors to filter these ultrasonic sounds produced. As technology advances, so do these detectors. Wildlife Acoustics Inc. produces bat acoustic detectors constantly. These detectors are then tested with older models to see if they produce the same results. We, therefore, conducted a study to test the next generation of bat acoustic detectors to the older models by Wildlife Acoustics Inc. We tested all three detectors at the same site, over the same period, and analyzed the results to see if the newest model was. This study took place in the flight room on Texas Christian University's campus between the dates of 03/01 - 03/08/2024, in Fort Worth Texas.

An Assessment of the Connectivity of Parks as Pollinator Habitats in Tarrant County, Texas at Multiple Spatial Scales

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Maddie Rzucidlo Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 10, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Pollinators are essential to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Approximately 87.5% of flowering plants rely on animal pollination for reproduction (Ollerton, 2017) Due to this, pollinators are vital to the production of human consumed crops and the health of ecosystems. Urbanization drives decreases in pollinator biodiversity, species richness and abundance due to loss of habitat and fragmentation (Turo et al., 2021). Urban characteristics such as densification and impervious surfaces can cause pollinator declines and loss of pollinator services (Wenzel et al., 2020).

Tarrant County has a population of 2,110,640 and encompasses 865.2 square miles in of land north central Texas (United States Census Bureau, 2020). It is also the 15th-most populated county in the United States (United States Census Bureau, 2024). Tarrant County is also located in a major pollinator migratory pathway (National Park Service, 2019). Studies show that both population density and city size impact pollinator populations (Norton et al., 2016; Sivakoff et al., 2018). Such rapid population growth has the potential to impact pollinators and their habitats. Urban green spaces such as parks can be beneficial pollinator refuges (Serret et al., 2022). Connectivity of pollinator habitats is important for species richness and abundance (Graffigna et al., 2023). Due to the rapid population growth, land use change, and densification occurring within Tarrant County and the existence of major pollinator habitats within the area, Tarrant County parks are a compelling place to conduct landscape connectivity research on pollinators. The objective of this project is to assess the connectivity of pollinator habitats in the highly urbanized Tarrant County area. This project strives to understand how urban parks as pollinator habitats connect to one another at a range of distances for pollinator travel.

Austin's Walkability: Tree Canopy Cover of Downtown Austin's Sidewalks

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Zoey Suasnovar Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 2, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

As the Capital of Texas, Austin has been a great exemplar in the protection and preservation of trees within their city limits. Austin has had a commitment to these trees for decades, but what do the trees do for the city of Austin? This poster focuses on the sidewalks of downtown Austin, and what percentage of them are covered by the canopy of these trees. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) we calculate the percentage of the canopy cover overlaying the sidewalks. Understanding the canopy cover allows us to also find the walkability score of downtown Austin. A tree's canopy provides shade, and when placed over a sidewalk, it provides an escape from the omnipresent heat in Austin in the Texas summers. People in areas of lower-socioeconomic status tend to have reduced trees (and greenspace in general) compared to those of a higher-socioeconomic status. By determining an area's walkability score, we can also find areas of desire where greenspaces and trees can benefit the people living there.

Can Passive Acoustic Monitoring Effectively Be Used To Inform The Species Diversity And Activity Patterns Of Bats In Big Bend National Park

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Justyn Wallace Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 8, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

Use of an artificial roost site by multiple bat species in Texas

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Abi Welch Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 8, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

The use of roost sites by multiple bat species is well-documented, especially in large structures where different species are partitioned by distinct microclimates within these structures; however, there is limited research on smaller roost sites, especially artificial ones, such as wooden bat houses. With such houses recommended to improve urban areas for bats or mitigation to replace natural roosts lost during construction projects, understanding species-specific roost use is imperative to ensure these conservation strategies are effective. To address this need, we compared the temporal and spatial use of an artificial roost site by bats in a residential neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas. Since 2017, we have monitored species presence, including the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) known to roost in natural roost sites such as the tree hollows, broken branches, peeling bark, and under thick-stemmed ivy, and the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), which tends to roost in caves. In addition, we monitored this roost site almost weekly for a year from 2023-2024 to determine how seasonal use in the abundance of these species varied. More specifically, we addressed whether these species displayed year-round communal roosting or species-specific roost partitioning, as well as species-specific seasonal roost use. Along with providing insights into artificial roost use by bats, this study represents the first to demonstrate multispecies use of a roost site, natural or artificial, by evening and Mexican free-tailed bats. The findings have implications for understanding interspecies competition and artificial roost use and therefore contribute to bat conservation.

Flood Risk Analysis of Anchorage Alaska

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Matthew Froehlich Environmental Sciences Andrew Campola Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 3, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Alaska is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region notorious for tectonic activity, including earthquakes and tsunamis. This, along with significant tidal fluctuations, and an increasing sea level pose a unique threat along Alaska's coastlines. Our objective is to create a map displaying potential risks and levels of risks in the city of Anchorage. In addition, we plan to analysis the potential economic costs of differing levels of flooding.

Heat Severity Influence on Median Household Income Across Fort Worth, TX

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Audrey Haffner Environmental Sciences Blake Harrison Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 13, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

This research identifies the relationship between heat severity and median household income across Fort Worth, Texas. As global temperatures continue to rise the urban heat island (UHI) effect becomes more severe, especially in low-income communities due to disparity to past discriminatory housing policies. This study utilizes the ArcGIS Pro software to create a series of maps using census data to acquire the objectives of this study.

An equity analysis of tree canopy in Fort Worth, Texas

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Adam Buckmeier Environmental Sciences Manuel de Oyarzabal Barba Environmental Sciences Peter Fahey Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: First Floor, Table 4, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Trees provide an array of benefits to urban communities, such as oxygen production, flood mitigation, air pollution reduction, increased property value, cooling effects, and cultural services. Tree distribution, however, varies across cities, impacting the delivery of these services from neighborhood to neighborhood. Research has shown that low-income neighborhoods are more likely to have less trees than wealthier neighborhoods, leaving these neighborhoods more vulnerable to health impacts, such as heat-related and respiratory illnesses. The purpose of this study is to analyze tree canopy cover in relation to a set of demographic variables at the US Census block group level to understand if inequities exist in Fort Worth, Texas. We used a geographic information system (GIS) to assess the extent to which age, race, income, and housing characteristics are related to tree canopy. We conducted a correlation analysis between percent canopy cover and the demographic variables. Preliminary results suggest that majority minority and low-income block groups possess less canopy cover than predominantly white, higher-income areas in Fort Worth.

Spatial Relationship Between Trees and Wildlife in Tarrant County

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Manuel de Oyarzabal Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 8, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

As urbanization continues to fragment landscapes, wildlife become more isolated and find it harder to access the necessary resources to survive. Finding ways to connect fragmented landscapes is necessary for wildlife, but it is important to know what areas wildlife currently occupy. Trees provide valuable habitat for many species, but it is important to know what tree species are the most beneficial, and where these are located. This study used point locations of five tree species, bobcats, and coyotes to identify the density of each in Tarrant County. We identified that cedar elms have the most overlap with both bobcats and coyotes. The areas with high densities of cedar elms are the best for and bobcats, which is an indicator that they will be good for other species. Therefore these areas should be targeted for conservation and restoration.

Improving urban flyways for bats: The importance of tree canopy structure.

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Manuel de Oyarzabal Barba Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Tory Bennett Environmental Sciences Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 9, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

The expansion of urban areas is a threat to wildlife because it fragments habitat and reduces the access to resources. Consequently, there is a need to improve the quality of urban habitats by increasing connectivity between habitats and resources. For volant species like bats, birds, and flying invertebrates, linear features such as tree-lines and/or connected canopies can create corridors that allow these wildlife to move along. In an urban environment, the structure of the urban forest (essentially all the trees in an urban area) can provide connectivity, if appropriate, thereby increasing access to resources and landscape permeability. Thus, in this study we used behavioral observation and acoustics surveys to monitor the commuting activity of bats in Fort Worth, Texas along 15 potential commuting routes. At each route, we measured tree height, percent canopy cover, gap distance, number of gaps, and rugosity or ruggedness of the canopy edge to identify what tree canopy features aided bat movement. Using GLM, we found that routes surrounded with more linear canopy cover and less gap distance resulted in more bats commuting. Moreover, we found that an increase in rugosity negatively influenced route use, as undulating tree canopies increased obstacles that created an inefficient commuting route (i.e., straight lines save energy). Our study demonstrates that the urban environment can be managed to increase connectivity and we provide recommendations on how to better manage the urban forest to increase commuting corridors for bats in this landscape.

Assessing contamination within Boone and Roubidoux Aquifer Recharge Zones in Northeastern Oklahoma

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Colin Dixon Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Michael Slattery Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 6, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

Currently over 1,400 households use the Roubidoux Aquifer in Northeastern Oklahoma as their main source of drinking water. Additionally, the total water demand is projected to increase 56% from 2010 to 2060. This increase in water demand is concerning due to the Boone and Roubidoux aquifers being highly susceptible to surface contamination, containing elements such as lead and zinc, from the Tar Creek Superfund site located (TCSS) in Picher, OK. This study seeks to determine, using spatial analysis tools in GIS, the contamination susceptibility of the Boone and Roubidoux aquifer recharge zones as a result of direct surface contaminants and processes that facilitate their propagation.

Flood Hazard Risk Mapping for Rowlett Creek Watershed using Remote Sensing and GIS-based Flood Hazard Index

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Binita Ghimire Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Gehendra kharel Environmental Sciences Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 6, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Flood is a major threat to many communities worldwide, despite many areas lacking flood hazard mapping due to data scarcity. Under such a scenario, remote sensing and GIS-based approaches could be a promising solution for assessing and characterizing flood hazard risk. Therefore, the objectives of this research project are to develop a flood hazard risk map for Rowlett Creek Watershed using remote sensing data and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) techniques to identify and evaluate flood risk areas over the study site. The research will involve development of complied flood hazard index (FHI) using GIS software based on flood causative factors such as slope, flow accumulation, drainage network density, distance from drainage channel, geology, land use/cover, soil moisture and rainfall intensity. Filed data of geology will be obtained from SSURGO and other data will be extracted from remote sensing product such as SRTM, NLCD, CROPCASMA and PERSIAN. The expected outcome of the research is the development of flood hazard risk thematic map and further verify it with the inundation area of a historical flood events in the study area, which will help to purpose proper mitigation and management strategies in flood-prone area. This research looks over a remote sensing and GIS-based approach for characterizing flood hazard risk, which will provide valuable information for policymakers, disaster management agencies, and other stakeholders working towards reducing the impact of floods even in data-scarce areas.

An Inside Look into how the Spatial Distributions of City Amenities Affects Household Income and Vice Versa

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Trip King Environmental Sciences Tabby Pyle Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 10, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

The present study is aimed at comparing the annual income per household to amenities in districts within the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Several datasets and analysis results including the spatial distribution of public and private schools, school ratings, proximity to health facilities, parks, and other government provided services will be combined to investigate the research question. Some of the data analysis techniques that will be implemented using ArcGIS Pro include creating buffer zones which act as visual guides to better demonstrate comparisons and communicate the findings in an interactive way.