Browsing by Subject "GIS"
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Item 1920-1995 Twin Cities State Highway Network(2014-03-21) Chen, Wei; Levinson, David M; dlevinson@umn.edu; Levinson, David M.Illustrates the development of the highway network in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. GIS maps of the state highway network were created for 1920-1995 (these were not previously digitized). These were used to build Markov Chain Cellular Automata models of land use change and network growth.Item Acquiring Bulk Compositions of Spinel Peridotite Xenoliths Using GIS and Digital Image Processing Techniques(2022-12) Roberts, AmberThis study investigates the viability of using GIS techniques to estimate modal abundances of minerals in thin sections of peridotite and uses this data to calculate bulk chemical compositions of peridotitic mantle xenoliths from Oahu, Hawaii to determine their provenance. To answer these questions, I performed classifications using ArcGIS on nine xenolith samples to determine their modal abundances, which were then used to calculate their bulk chemical compositions. My results show that GIS has the potential to be a useful tool for non-destructive analysis of modal abundances. They also support a role for melt-rock reaction occurring between migrating melts and peridotite in the oceanic lithospheric mantle, resulting in the production of dunites. This study is a first step in utilizing GIS to assist with thin section analyses and fills a gap in existing chemical data for Hawaiian mantle xenoliths.Item Anthropogenically-intensified erosion in incising river systems.(2012-07) Day, Stephanie S.Anthropogenic alterations to landscapes, such as agriculture, can lead to accelerated erosion in incising (or incised) rivers threatening infrastructure and property, and causing unnaturally high sediment loads, which threaten ecosystems. Steep bluffs and ravines are characteristic landforms in incising river systems, and by understanding erosion on these landforms we can begin to mitigate the impacts of the altered landscape. The Le Sueur River watershed, in southern Minnesota, provides an ideal location for studying the impacts of agricultural land-use on erosion in an incising river. Agriculture in this watershed is made possible through the use of tile drains, which remove water from the uplands and route it directly into ravines or the river, reducing the water that pools on the landscape and increasing flows in the river. Using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and aerial photographs, bluff erosion rates in the Le Sueur River were measured and used to develop a watershed scale sediment budget. In the Le Sueur River bluffs account for 56 ± 12% of the 2000-2010 average measured total suspended solids load. These data were also used to interpret how changes in land-use and climate have accelerated bluff retreat in this watershed. The data collected paired with field observations show that over-steepening at the bluff toe drives bluff retreat, yet weakening due to groundwater seeps and freeze-thaw also contributes to erosion. The increases in flow rates and volumes brought on by tile drainage in this watershed have resulted in increased bluff erosion. To study ravine response to changing overland flow hydrology, brought on by tile drainage, small physical experiments were used to measure how changing the delivery rate of a fixed volume of water impacts erosion. The results of these experiments showed that regardless of flow rate the volume of sediment removed remained the same, suggesting that the tile drains installed in the Le Sueur River watershed may have decreased ravine growth. Results of each of these projects independently improves our understanding of bluff erosion and ravine growth processes, yet combined they provide insight into how changing hydrology impacts erosion throughout an incising watershed. While agricultural landscape alterations, especially tile drains, have decreased ravine growth they have resulted in increased bluff erosion. Because bluffs in the Le Sueur River watershed account for more than half of the total sediment load, there is a net increase in sediment loads as a result of anthropogenic landscape alterations.Item Assessing the accuracy of GIS-derived stream length and slope estimates(2012-12) Kocian, Matthew JamesStream slope is a critical component in lotic systems research. It is commonly associated with fish and invertebrate distribution, and is prominently used in many stream classification schemes. Stream slope is also required to compute other stream variables, such as stream power, a fundamental component in stream sediment dynamics. Due to its importance, stream slope is regularly estimated remotely using a Geographic Information System (GIS). However, the accuracy of GIS-derived stream slope estimates is not well established, especially in low-slope regions. Additionally, little is known about variables that may influence the accuracy of GIS-derived slope estimates. In this study, the accuracy of eight GIS methods for estimating stream slope was evaluated by comparison to "true" field-surveyed values. Several novel GIS methods for estimating stream slope are presented. Five stream variables were assessed for their contribution to error in GIS-derived stream slope estimates. To demonstrate practical applicability, GIS-derived stream slope estimates were used to calculate stream power. GIS-derived stream slope estimates produced using 1:24,000 USGS topographic maps and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were most accurate. Estimates derived from 1- and 1/3-Arc Second National Elevation Dataset DEMs were less accurate. The application of a focal statistics tool to LiDAR-derived DEMs improved stream slope estimate accuracy. Consistent sources of error in GIS stream slope estimates were not identified. The utility of GIS-derived stream slope estimates was demonstrated by presenting an association between stream power and depth of fine sediment.Item Assessment of the demographics and network structure of swine populations in relation to regional disease transmission and contro.(2011-06) Wayne, Spencer RCommercial swine production has steadily evolved the into interconnected multi-site production systems of today. As a result, large numbers of growing pigs and breeding animals move from one location to another on a daily basis. The health of the national swine herd has improved dramatically, due in large part to this new production structure; but the increased network size and the long distances travelled pose obvious threats to swine health. As animal agriculture has become more sophisticated, our government resources have not kept up. Available datasets are inaccurate, fragmented, and offer limited definition of the population at risk and its nature. National efforts to improve livestock population data have met considerable public resistance, and as a result, progress has been limited. Knowledge of the populations at risk is of primary importance when trying to define the potential for disease to spread within and between these populations. Disease spreads by non-mechanical means (as in aerosol transmission of PRRS virus) potentiates the need for knowledge of the neighborhood. Given the dynamic and transient nature of our swine populations, the neighborhood's health status is constantly challenged by the most recent delivery of pigs into the neighborhood. The following dissertation seeks to expand the knowledge of swine populations. Current geographic datasets were assessed for accuracy and reliability. In the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak the usefulness of these datasets would be of prime importance, as they will dictate the distribution of resources. Additionally, the use of satellite-derived thermal imagery to verify the presence of commercial swine is described, along with its estimated sensitivity and specificity. Any regional disease elimination program must consider all swine populations, therefore non-commercial populations (specifically, 4H exhibition pigs) are analyzed. Population size, seasonality, caretaker knowledge, presumed and measured health status, and relationship with commercial swine are defined. The physical movement of infected animals across the landscape allows rapid spread of a pathogen to occur. Volume, frequency, and geographic scale of movements will dictate how quickly and thoroughly an epidemic will proceed. For this reason, these are defined and displayed for pig producing areas at different scales.Item Assessment of the demographics and network structure of swine populations in relation to regional disease transmission and control.(2011-06) Wayne, Spencer R.Commercial swine production has steadily evolved the into interconnected multi-site production systems of today. As a result, large numbers of growing pigs and breeding animals move from one location to another on a daily basis. The health of the national swine herd has improved dramatically, due in large part to this new production structure; but the increased network size and the long distances travelled pose obvious threats to swine health. As animal agriculture has become more sophisticated, our government resources have not kept up. Available datasets are inaccurate, fragmented, and offer limited definition of the population at risk and its nature. National efforts to improve livestock population data have met considerable public resistance, and as a result, progress has been limited. Knowledge of the populations at risk is of primary importance when trying to define the potential for disease to spread within and between these populations. Disease spreads by non-mechanical means (as in aerosol transmission of PRRS virus) potentiates the need for knowledge of the neighborhood. Given the dynamic and transient nature of our swine populations, the neighborhood's health status is constantly challenged by the most recent delivery of pigs into the neighborhood. The following dissertation seeks to expand the knowledge of swine populations. Current geographic datasets were assessed for accuracy and reliability. In the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak the usefulness of these datasets would be of prime importance, as they will dictate the distribution of resources. Additionally, the use of satellite-derived thermal imagery to verify the presence of commercial swine is described, along with its estimated sensitivity and specificity. Any regional disease elimination program must consider all swine populations, therefore non-commercial populations (specifically, 4H exhibition pigs) are analyzed. Population size, seasonality, caretaker knowledge, presumed and measured health status, and relationship with commercial swine are defined. The physical movement of infected animals across the landscape allows rapid spread of a pathogen to occur. Volume, frequency, and geographic scale of movements will dictate how quickly and thoroughly an epidemic will proceed. For this reason, these are defined and displayed for pig producing areas at different scales.Item C-35, Geologic Atlas of Meeker County, Minnesota [Part A](Minnesota Geological Survey, 2015) Meyer, Gary N.A County Geologic Atlas project is a study of a county's geology, and its mineral and ground-water resources. The information collected during the project is used to develop maps, data-base files, and reports. This same information is also produced as digital files for use with computers. The map information is formatted as geographic information system (GIS) files with associated data bases. The maps and reports are also reproduced as portable document files (PDFs) that can be opened on virtually any computer using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com.Item C-43, Geologic Atlas of Cass County, Minnesota(Minnesota Geological Survey, 2018) Lusardi, Barbara, A; Pettus, Margeurite, C; Chandler, Val, W; Radakovich, Amy, L; Nguyen, Maurice, K; Staley, Amie, E; Hamilton, Jacqueline, DA County Geologic Atlas project is a study of a county's geology, and its mineral and ground-water resources. The information collected during the project is used to develop maps, data-base files, and reports. This same information is also produced as digital files for use with computers. The map information is formatted as geographic information system (GIS) files with associated data bases. The maps and reports are also reproduced as portable document files (PDFs) that can be opened on virtually any computer using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com. Due to errors identified during work on the Part B portion of the atlas, new strat lines and sand/till rasters have been added to this site to address the issues (Revisions to sand model data 2022).Item C-46, Geologic Atlas of Kandiyohi County, Minnesota(Minnesota Geological Survey, 2019) Hamilton, Jacqueline D; Bauer, Emily J; Chandler, V.W.; Steenberg, Julia R; Staley, Amie EA County Geologic Atlas project is a study of a county's geology, and its mineral and ground-water resources. The information collected during the project is used to develop maps, data-base files, and reports. This same information is also produced as digital files for use with computers. The map information is formatted as geographic information system (GIS) files with associated data bases. The maps and reports are also reproduced as portable document files (PDFs) that can be opened on virtually any computer using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com. Due to errors found when working with Part B, hydrogeology, revised sand/till rasters have been added to this site in 2022 (Revisions to sand model data 2022).Item C-51, Geologic Atlas of St. Louis County, Minnesota(Minnesota Geological Survey, 2022) Bauer, Emily J; Jirsa, Mark A; Block, Amy R; Boerboom, Terrence J; Chandler, V.W.; Peterson, Dean M; Wagner, Kaleb G; McDonald, Jennifer M; Dengler, Elizabeth L; Meyer, Gary N; Hamilton, Jacqueline DA County Geologic Atlas project is a study of a county's geology, and its mineral and ground-water resources. The information collected during the project is used to develop maps, data-base files, and reports. This same information is also produced as digital files for use with computers. The map information is formatted as geographic information system (GIS) files with associated data bases. The maps and reports are also reproduced as portable document files (PDFs) that can be opened on virtually any computer using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com.Item C-52, Geologic Atlas of Aitkin County, Minnesota(Minnesota Geological Survey, 2022) Bauer, Emily J; Chandler, V.W.; Boerboom, Terrence J; Knaeble, Alan R; Nguyen, Maurice K; Lively, R. S.; Setterholm, Dale R; Steenberg, Julia RA County Geologic Atlas project is a study of a county's geology, and its mineral and ground-water resources. The information collected during the project is used to develop maps, data-base files, and reports. This same information is also produced as digital files for use with computers. The map information is formatted as geographic information system (GIS) files with associated data bases. The maps and reports are also reproduced as portable document files (PDFs) that can be opened on virtually any computer using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com.Item C-54, Geologic Atlas of Lake County, Minnesota(Minnesota Geological Survey, 2022) Bauer, Emily J; Jirsa, Mark A; Block, Amy R; Boerboom, Terrence J; Chandler, V.W.; Peterson, Dean M; Wagner, Kaleb G; McDonald, Jennifer M; Dengler, Elizabeth L; Meyer, Gary N; Hamilton, Jacqueline DA County Geologic Atlas project is a study of a county's geology, and its mineral and ground-water resources. The information collected during the project is used to develop maps, data-base files, and reports. This same information is also produced as digital files for use with computers. The map information is formatted as geographic information system (GIS) files with associated data bases. The maps and reports are also reproduced as portable document files (PDFs) that can be opened on virtually any computer using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com.Item C-65, Geologic Atlas of Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota(2023) Bauer, Emily J; Hirsch, Aaron C; Steenberg, Julia R; Severson, Allison R; Boerboom, Terrence J; Radke, Angela J; Lively, R. S.A County Geologic Atlas project is a study of a county's geology, and its mineral and ground-water resources. The information collected during the project is used to develop maps, data-base files, and reports. This same information is also produced as digital files for use with computers. The map information is formatted as geographic information system (GIS) files with associated data bases. The maps and reports are also reproduced as portable document files (PDFs) that can be opened on virtually any computer using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com.Item Coastal Area Impervious Surface Assessment.(Duluth, MN: Center for Community and Regional Research, University of Minnesota at Duluth., 2005) Stark, Stacey L; Schomberg, JesseItem The Components of Transit Time and Their Effects on Trip Mode Choice(2017-05) Chien, RyanTravelers consider a tradeoff between the components of transit time when choosing between driving and taking the bus. These components are In-Vehicle Transit Time for driving, and Out-of-Vehicle Walk Time, Out-of-Vehicle Wait Time, and In-Vehicle Transit Time for taking the bus. Transit data often uses revealed preferences surveys, therefore the components of the nonselected alternative must be ignored or estimated. The result is either a reduced understanding of the components in the former case, or due to computing constraints, the imposition of limiting assumptions in the latter. To better understand the relative values of the components, this paper presents a novel estimation method, tests previously applied assumptions, and estimates their true values. Results indicate that travelers value each component differently, and previous assumptions are not justified. Furthermore, results indicate that the value of IVTTbus varies across market definitions.Item Construction of a Geographic Information System for Wildlife Refuge Planning: Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge(University of Minnesota, 2003-02) Walker, Karen V.; Burk, Thomas E.; Bolstad, Paul V.; Shomaker, John H.Item Emerging, 2008: Spring, vol. 2, no. 2(University of Minnesota, College of Design, 2008) University of Minnesota, College of DesignItem Enabling Neighborhood Health Research and Protecting Patient Privacy(2021-08) Krzyzanowski, BrittanyMaps and spatial analysis offer a more comprehensive understanding of complex neighborhood health relationships, and yet there is a remarkable lack of maps within the literature on neighborhood health. Review of the literature confirmed that only a small proportion of articles on neighborhood health (28%) contained maps. Despite this, our subsequent survey showed that the majority (63%) of investigators created maps, worked with maps, or used mapping software to explore their data at some point during their study. Neighborhood health investigators are not neglecting to explore the spatial nature of their data, but rather, they are just not publishing the maps that they are using. One of the major barriers identified by our survey was privacy regulations, such as HIPAA law, which stood as a direct barrier for 14% of survey respondents who created maps but did not share them. Many researchers find core elements of the HIPAA privacy provision specific to map data ambiguous or difficult to understand, which is reflected in disagreement and uncertainty in research and policy circles on how to enact this provision. This dissertation provides a thorough examination of the safe harbor provision and elucidates the ambiguity within the law to encourage safe and effective sharing of mapped patient data. Moreover, many scholars and policy makers have challenged this rule, saying that it is possible to share finer-grained mapped health data without jeopardizing patient privacy. One promising strategy is regionalization, or zone design, which offers a way to build finer-grained geographical units in ways that integrate the HIPAA safe harbor requirements. This dissertation explores two existing regionalization methods (Max P Regions and REDCAP) and also introduces two novel variants of these approaches (MSOM and RSOM) which we compare and contrast in terms of fitness for analysis and display of protected health information. Each regionalization procedure has its own strengths and weaknesses, but REDCAP provides the best overall performance. In general, all of the regionalization procedures produced contiguous regions that result in a better resolution map than the current standard for sharing patient data and offer to help investigators work within the bounds of privacy provisions to share maps and spatial data.Item Establishing The Feasibility Of Making Fine-Scale Measurements Of Habitat Use By White-Tailed Deer In Northern Minnesota(2020-01) Smith, BradleyAdvances in technology enhance our ability to understand wildlife-habitat relationships. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ new statewide white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) management plan aims to enhance its ability to maintain regional deer numbers near population goals. Habitat management is acknowledged as a key component to achieving the plan’s objectives. Informed habitat management prescriptions, based on an improved understanding of optimal size, shape, and arrangement of forest stands and foraging sites, and edge relationships, will contribute to a more successful integration of long-term forest and deer habitat management strategies. The objectives of my study were to establish the feasibility of combining cutting-edge Global positioning system (GPS) collar, remote sensing, and Geographic Information System technologies to 1) classify and inventory available habitat on deer winter ranges and 2) characterize how deer use habitat at the stand level to facilitate an improved understanding of their habitat requirements in northern Minnesota. During winter 2017–2018, 20 adult female deer were captured and fitted with GPS collars on 2 study areas (10/site) in northcentral (Inguadona Lake [IN]) and northeastern (Elephant Lake [EL]) Minnesota, with an additional 40 collars (20/site) deployed during winter 2018–2019. Prior to the deployment of GPS collars on free-ranging deer, I conducted stationary tests to evaluate the location-fix-success and spatial accuracy of 48 collars placed in 4 different cover types. The overall mean location error of the GPS collars was 5.7 m (± 0.15, range = 0–189), with errors in dense conifer (10.3 ± 0.52, range = 0–189 m) being greater than in hardwood stands (6.2 ± 0.22, range = 0–91 m), browse patches (3.2 ± 0.08, range = 0–26 m), and openings (3.2 ± 0.08, range = 0–32 m). With incorporation into the collars of quick fix pseudoranging (QFP) programming, I recovered 100% of the location-fixes during the stationary tests and from 30 collars deployed on free-ranging deer. Spatially, dense conifer stands accounted for 21% and 9%, and moderately dense conifer stands for 4% and 10% of the EL and IN sites, respectively. The proportion of forage openings was 9% on both sites. The mean size (area) of available dense conifer stands was similar on both study sites (6.7, 95% CI = 4.94–8.54 ha vs 6.0, 95% CI = 4.68–7.23 ha). Available forest stands were generally circular, providing a larger core area and less edge, with a mean edge:area ratio <400 m/ha. Deer use of cover types was highly variable among individuals. Mean individual use of dense conifer stands was 23% (range = 0–79%) and 9% (range = 0–29%), and mean use of forage openings was 13% (range = 0–42%) and 24% (range = 0–70%) at the EL and IN sites, respectively. To better understand deer use at the stand level and the arrangement of cover types, I measured the distance from each location-fix to the nearest dense conifer stand and forage opening. While using forage openings, deer were a mean of 177 m (± 7, range = 0–833) and 195 m (± 4, range = 0–882) from dense conifer stands at EL and IN. Likewise, individuals using dense conifer stands were a mean of 241 m (± 6, range =0–777) and 147 m (± 8, range =0–1,030) from forage openings at the respective sites. The use of an integrated technological approach is essential to a more thorough understanding of seasonal habitat requirements of deer. The ability to retrieve 100% of location-fixes with high spatial accuracy will allow us to confidently assess winter habitat use by white-tailed deer as winter progresses and assist managers in formulating prescriptions that effectively integrate forest and habitat management strategies and activities.Item Feasibility of a Geographic Information System Approach for Monitoring Toxic Compounds in Western Lake Superior: Final Report(University of Minnesota Duluth, 1990) Mladenoff, David J; Mires, Peter B.