Department: Geography ![[clear]](close-x.png "Remove this limiter")
21 matches in the database.
These are records: 1 - 21.
1.
Chappell, Darian Edward.
Prisons Used as Economic Development in Rural Communities.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2012, University of Toledo
► Analysis of economic and other effects of prison hosting has been slow…
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▼ Analysis of economic and other effects of prison hosting has been slow in coming and results are mixed. The present study gathered community perceptions and compared Ohio rural communities with prisons to themselves, the state, and their urban counterparts on three select indicators of economic benefits: unemployment, population, and per capita personal income. Qualitative data was collected from key informants for a subset of rural communities with prisons to identify community perceptions regarding prison hosting and its perceived impact on the communities. Themes were identified, analyzed, and presented for discussion. Quantitatively, it was hypothesized that jobs would grow, thereby lowering unemployment in hosting counties. In addition, it was hypothesized that people would follow the jobs and that the jobs would reduce outmigration, thus stabilizing or increasing populations of the hosting counties. Further, it was hypothesized that the prison-hosting jobs would replace income people lost in the dismantled manufacturing and farming industries, thereby increasing per capita personal income in hosting counties. Trend data and statistical analyses painted the typical picture of rural, including lack of population growth and lower per capita personal income. However, rural communities with prisons did experience a significant reduction in unemployment, lowering it from pre to post hosting. No differences were observed in comparisons to the state or their urban counterparts. Conclusions include lessons learned as well as caveats for researchers examining economic benefits of replacement industry such as prisons.
Advisors/Committee Members: Shetty, Sujata.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: prisons, rural, Ohio prisons, economic development
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2.
Chen, Xueying.
An Analysis of the Pattern of Mortgage Foreclosures in Lucas County, Ohio.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2010, University of Toledo
► Many factors lead to mortgage default and foreclosure; however, few scholars have…
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▼ Many factors lead to mortgage default and foreclosure; however, few scholars have systematically examined how different characteristics contribute to mortgage foreclosure. This research uses multiple datasets from Lucas County, Ohio to examine some of these previously omitted or understudied aspects of the issue. Particular attention has been paid to each census tract’s housing and loan characteristics like housing prices and subprime loan counts, as well as to the socio-economic characteristics like, income level and other demographic characteristics. The study begins with descriptive statistics analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and comparison of foreclosure patterns in the different time periods. OLS model, H-Robust model, and spatial regression models are used to explain the interaction between housing foreclosure and socio-economic characteristics, housing characteristics and loan characteristics. The study finds that foreclosures cluster in low to moderate income communities and inner-core cities, although suburban areas have seen an increase in recent years. As expected, loan characteristics are closely related to foreclosure patterns in Lucas County. Besides, average residential property values, median household income, and other factors also contribute to foreclosures in the Lucas County. The use of spatial models and H-Robust OLS has reduced some errors related to spatial dependence and heteroscedasticity between foreclosure and the selected variables. This study not only contributes to the literature and methodology in related topics, but also provides a better understanding of the relationship between socio-economic, housing and loan characteristics and foreclosure, and will assist in the creation of better policies to deal with the problem of foreclosure. At the end of the study, future studies of the issue are also discussed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hammel, Daniel J.
Subjects: Geographic Information Science; Geography; Urban Planning
Keywords: mortgage foreclosure; spatial statistics; housing; Lucas County, Ohio
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3.
Chohaney, Michael L.
Secrets Beneath the Soil: A Mixed Methods Necrogeographic Investigation of Romany (“Gypsy”) Memorial Sites.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2012, University of Toledo
► While American Romanies live a notoriously secretive cultural existence, their grave locations…
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▼ While American Romanies live a notoriously secretive cultural existence, their grave locations and memorial stones offer accessible inferential lore and knowledge about their active on-going communities. Building upon earlier observations in the field reported by Dr. David J. Nemeth, this methodological piece outlines how to gather and analyze Romany cemetery data without necessitating the exhausting and intrusive task of first locating and building rapport with local Romany informants. My case study identifies Romanichal and Rom memorial sites located in Toledo, Ohio’s Historic Woodlawn Memorial Park and Calvary Cemetery, respectively. I gathered my data after devising a qualitative ranking system to accompany my efforts to quantitatively categorize the grave sites, which I also spatially cataloged using a GPS device. Additionally, I collected genealogical data on the families whenever available. This allowed me to build a social network to analyze via social network analysis (SNA) tools. The network was also spatialized using GIS software to visualize family relations across the earth’s surface. The results of the coupling of social network theory with the gathered spatial data reveal promising evidential connections between the nature and location of an individual’s grave site and local family and community structure. I also applied GIS-driven spatial statistics techniques to the dataset to highlight the potential for promoting spatial-quantitative Romany research. My case study and mixed methodology exemplify the value of Romany memorial site and monument data as an effective source for discovering heretofore deliberately obfuscated spatial/social relationships among local Romany populations. My discoveries have the potential to advance Romany studies as I have demonstrated—by applying modern analytic tools, including GPS, GIS and SNA hardware and software to reveal hidden knowledge.
Advisors/Committee Members: Nemeth, David J.
Subjects: Ethnic Studies; Geographic Information Science; Geography
Keywords: necrogeography; Romani People, GIS, social network analysis; mixed methods
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4.
Chung, Jaerin.
A Quantitative Assessment of the HOPE VI program from 1993 to 1998.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2010, University of Toledo
► The most important issue for urban low income families is securing decent…
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▼ The most important issue for urban low income families is securing decent housing in a stable community. Public housing could be one of the most fundamental solutions to this enduring problem, although the method used to provide the housing could be quite diverse. In the past, most of the problems of public housing were approached with simple structural solutions, but there was some consensus that a more comprehensive approach was needed. The HOPE VI program represents an attempt at this type of approach; it aims to address not only physical redevelopment of public housing, but also the social issues in public housing communities. HOPE VI has been the subject of self analysis and starting in the late 1990s of academic investigation, but a comprehensive analysis of the changes that the program created in urban neighborhoods is still lacking. This thesis poses two major questions. How has the HOPE VI program been evaluated? What changes has it created in urban neighborhoods? I analyzed this program with basic quantitative techniques and mapping technology. The findings suggest that HOPE VI has made public housing neighborhoods less populated, less poor and somewhat more racially and ethnically diverse. Other research is reviewed that suggests these changes were the result of significant displacement of the poorest public housing residents. This study also suggests what the HOPE VI program could do to avoid the failure of former public housing policies.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hammel, Daniel.
Subjects: Geography
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5.
Dean, David B.
An Application of Geospatial Technology to Geographic Response Plans for Oil Spill Response Planning in the Western Basin of Lake Erie.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2009, University of Toledo
► Petroleum products are crucial to the function of our society. Hydrocarbons provide…
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▼ Petroleum products are crucial to the function of our society. Hydrocarbons provide the fuel, lubricants and are the raw material for many products we use in our daily lives. However, these organic chemical compounds in their many forms, when released into the environment, can cause serious environmental and economic damage. Passed as a result of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 mandated the development of contingency plans for response to future spills of varying magnitude. Area Contingency Plans, prepared by local Area Committees, are part of the response structure established by the OPA 90. Their function is to define the steps to be taken in the first hours after a spill to protect resources areas that may be threatened. In the period since the establishment of the current response structure, geospatial technologies have matured into useful tools for oil spill planning and response. Each Area Contingency Plan has protection strategies, also referred to as geographic response plans, which contain the spatial and attribute data needed in a response effort. This research examines the application of geospatial technology to the development of geospatially enabled protection strategies, also known as Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) for ecologically and economically sensitive areas in the western basin of Lake Erie, including part of the states of Ohio and Michigan. It reviews existing plans and proposes a development process for geospatially enabled protection strategies in the Western Lake Erie basin. Geospatially enabled protection strategies take advantage of existing data and the capabilities of a GIS to develop variations of protection strategies to allow for strategic changes to plans as a result of seasonal or meteorological conditions. It also allows the analysis, display and distribution of geospatial data in a manner that meet the different needs of planners, responders and incident managers. Data distribution options are discussed, including multiple paper and electronic publication options including, but not limited to Adobe Acrobat, GEOPDF, ArcReader, Google Earth and ArcIMS to make data available in the appropriate format to all personnel who require it.
Advisors/Committee Members: Lawrence, Patrick.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: GIS; Geospatial; Emergency Response Planning; Oil Spill; western Lake Erie; Contingency Planning; Geographic Response Plans; Emergency Management
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6.
Eckert, Jeanette Elizabeth.
Food Systems, Planning and Quantifying Access: How Urban Planning Can Strengthen Toledo’s Local Food System.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2010, University of Toledo
► Local food systems are often overlooked by urban planners, as the prevailing…
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▼ Local food systems are often overlooked by urban planners, as the prevailing belief is that the private market is responsible for delivery of this system. This thesis examines the strengths and weaknesses of the food system in Toledo, Ohio, a mid-sized Rustbelt city, and identifies areas of concern as well as opportunities. This thesis uses geographic information science to measure accessibility of each block group to retailers selling a selection of fresh foods to determine whether spatial accessibility to food outlets carrying nutritious and healthy choices is a concern in Toledo, and if so, is it based upon demographic factors or spatial location alone? The results indicate that one’s race, level of income, or other demographic characteristics cannot predict the likelihood of residing in an area of lower than average access. However, maps visualizing measurements of access spatially depict clustered areas of lower than average access near the central city, and identify a handful of block groups with lower than average access, lower than average auto ownership, and above average rates of poverty. Thus, socioeconomic factors are not good indicators for where accessibility is hindered in Toledo, however, several neighborhoods have both low income and low accessibility rates.
Advisors/Committee Members: Shetty, Sujata.
Subjects: Geography; Public health; Urban planning
Keywords: local food systems; food accessibility; GIS; urban planning; urban geography
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7.
Jiang, Yitong.
Identification of Sewage Sludge Injection Application on Harvested Agricultural Fields Using Landsat TM Data.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2010, University of Toledo
► Application of sewage sludge to agriculture fields is used by farmers to…
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▼ Application of sewage sludge to agriculture fields is used by farmers to improve the soil conditions, physically, chemically and organically. However, it has potential risk to public health and the environment because of the heavy metals, nutrients and pathogens that may be included in biosolids. The location of all applications of sewage sludge is not known because some records of application are missing. Remote sensing technology has been shown to be an effective way to detect surface application of sewage sludge on agricultural fields for different times of year over large areas. The main objective of this study is to determine if Landsat TM data can be used to identify harvested agricultural fields that have had sewage sludge applied through injection. The spectral characteristics were compared between sewage sludge injection applied fields and control fields, including the following spectral ratios: R(7,5), R(5,4) and R(3,2). Landsat TM images from path 20, row 31 from 2003 to 2007 were selected in this study, and the sewage sludge injection application data in Oregon, Ohio were mapped with the images. The results show that there are spectral differences between fields that had sewage sludge injected and control fields that have not received sewage sludge. Band 4, band5 and band 7 show more differences than other bands. The differences are detectable up to 10 to 18 days after sewage sludge injection. The ratio combinations of R(7,5), R(5,4) and R(3,2), respectively, in blue, green and red can be used to identify sample sewage sludge application fields through injection. The fields with sewage sludge injected appear gray, and the control fields appear yellow. A pixel from a ratio combination image is representing a spot in sewage sludge injected fields, when it meets all the three conditions: R(3,2) value is in the confidence interval of 1.651 to 1.665, R(5,4) value is in the confidence interval of 1.941 to 1.981, and R(7,5) value is in the confidence interval of 0.561 to 0.569, at 95% confidence level.
Advisors/Committee Members: Czajkowski, Kevin.
Subjects: Agriculture; Environmental Studies; Geography; Public Health
Keywords: Landsat TM, remote sensing, sewage sludge, biosolids
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8.
Kusek, Weronika A.
The Possibility for Spatially Clustered Developments of LGBT Neighborhoods in Poznan, Poland.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2010, University of Toledo
► Poland's significant economic and political success, crowned by the 2004 membership in…
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▼ Poland's significant economic and political success, crowned by the 2004 membership in the European Union, can be contrasted with many social issues which remain a heated subject in the public forum. One of these issues is the social situation of the LGBT community in Poland. Through an analysis of the possibility of creating a dedicated LGBT district in Poznan, Poland, this study attempts to provide a new, utilitarian perspective on the LGBT debate.This research is based on a non-statistical survey distributed among representatives of the LGBT community in Poland. The survey, a substitute for individual interviews, provides insight about this group's support for a dedicated LGBT district in a Polish city, as well as a general picture of the characteristics such a district would have. This research demonstrates that there is significant approval for a LGBT district in Poland among the Polish LGBT which could provide a variety of services targeting a well educated, relatively prosperous, and currently dispersed group of consumers. Simultaneously, a LGBT district in Poznan, Poland could also further strengthen the city's business community, and increase its global attractiveness. However, existing level of homophobia in Poland causes some concern about the viability of an openly gay district.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hammel, Dr. Daniel J.
Subjects: Geography; Social research; Urban planning
Keywords: Urban Planning; LGBT; GLBT; gays; lesbians; neighborhoods; Poland
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9.
Li, Han.
Modeling Gentrification on Census Tract Level in Chicago from 1990 to 2000.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2012, University of Toledo
► Gentrification refers to the changes that appear when wealthier people acquire property…
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▼ Gentrification refers to the changes that appear when wealthier people acquire property in low income and working class communities. My thesis uses decennial data sets from in the City of Chicago to examine some of these previously omitted or understudied aspects of this issue. Particular attention has been paid to each census tract’s gentrification situation and the socio-economic characteristics such as income level and other demographic characteristics. The study begins with statistical analysis, identifying gentrified census tracts in Chicago in different time periods. Classification models and stepwise discrinminant analysis are used to explain the interaction between the likelihood of gentrification and socio-economic characteristics. The intent is to discover the socio-economic characteristics are closely related to gentrification patterns in the city. The variables used in the study falls into three categories: social and economic data, such as median household income for each census tract, population data; such as the percentage of population who has a professional job; and the housing data, such as the occupied housing units. The result shows how gentrification has spread in Chicago from 1990 to 2000, and distinguishes which variables have the most significant influences on identifying gentrification. The model is evaluated by comparing the statistical results to the real world events. The most interesting part is to discover the evidence in real world that supports the results of the discriminate model. This study not only contributes to the literature and methodology involved in indentifying gentrification, but also provides a better understanding of the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and gentrification, and will assist making more appropriate policies to deal with the problems of gentrification.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hammel, Daniel J.
Subjects: African American Studies
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10.
Li, Xuan.
Planning for Spatial Analysis of Links between Parkinson Disease and Pesticide Exposure.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2011, University of Toledo
► Parkinson disease is a debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system…
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▼ Parkinson disease is a debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system of patients. According to the report from The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the United States has over 500,000 people with Parkinson disease, and the number is increasing by 50,000 every year. Previous studies usually focused on risk factors of Parkinson disease, including genetic make-up and living habits. Recently, some researchers have conducted studies focusing on environmental impact issues with some reports indicating a high prevalence rate of Parkinson disease among farmers. The purpose of this research is to develop a plan for Ohio to implement the Geographic Information System with spatial analysis to explore the association between potential environmental links with Parkinson disease. The relationship between Parkinson disease and pesticide applications in previous studies was reviewed. Four methods can be used in the study: Cross-sectional, Ecologic, Cohort and Case-control study. The results indicate an ecologic study with ZIP code unit would be the most appropriate type of study given the datasets we have. The function of Geocoding cannot be used in this study, because of missing patients’ addresses. However, spatial analysis can still be implemented by using the mended GIS-based model discussed by Nuckols et al. (2007). Future directions are also discussed at the end of this thesis.
Advisors/Committee Members: Czajkowski, Kevin.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Parkinson disease, Pesticide appication, Spatial analysis, GIS
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11.
McCullough, Christina M.
Building a Replicable Flood Forecast Mitigation Support System to Simplify Emergency Decision-Making.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2011, University of Toledo
► When faced with an incident, emergency or hazard event, Emergency Management Practitioners…
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▼ When faced with an incident, emergency or hazard event, Emergency Management Practitioners must work collaboratively to secure the safety and security of the citizens within their jurisdiction. Mitigation, response, and recovery efforts for emergency management decision makers are a complex and difficult challenge when a natural disaster, civilian unrest or man-made event occurs. Decision makers need a geographic vision during emergencies in order to understand situational awareness of the area of operations. These decision makers require geographic intelligence to support a common operating picture which delivers accurate real-time data and communication across agencies. No two emergency events are alike and each requires different problem solving techniques. Each supporting decision maker has specific responsibilities and requires a “Cliffs Notes” version of the available data. Data overload can easily overwhelm a decision maker. During the summer of 2008, Central Indiana received up to 20 inches of precipitation on saturated soil in a short period of time. One of the responsibilities of the National Guard is to respond to these emergency events; it is considered Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). In order to provide a proactive approach for the emergency at hand, a predictive analysis was needed to identify where and how much precipitation would accumulate for the area of interest. The scientific community provided a variety of precipitation data which supported this event; however, it could not be viewed seamlessly within the Indiana National Guard’s internal common operating picture (COP). Emergency Management Practitioners need to be equipped with accurate geographic data in order to orchestrate a mission’s success. When an emergency event is imminent, decision makers need immediate results to provide answers for the required tasks at hand. There is no time to plan for a scenario when the scenario is occurring. Emergency managers are constantly relied upon to make decisions that will preserve and protect our communities during a flood event. This study will discuss how a geographic vision can reduce communication complications between scientists, geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysts and emergency management practitioners by delivering data in the form of a digital map. This project will provide an introduction into data and software solutions derived by NOAA scientists, a replicable modeling process for flood events, and simple-to-follow tutorials required to support emergency operations. And finally, this thesis shows the results of presenting these data for emergency management practitioners’ analysis in a viewer friendly geographic COP.
Advisors/Committee Members: Nemeth, David.
Subjects: Educational Technology; Geographic Information Science; Geography; Geotechnology; Hydrologic Sciences; Hydrology; Remote Sensing; Scientific Imaging; Technology; Water Resource Management
Keywords: QPF; QAPF; WEATHER; FLOOD; FORECAST; EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PRACTIONERS; GIS; REMOTE SENSING
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12.
Meyer, Eric William.
Performing Location Allocation Measures with a GIS for Fire Stations in Toledo, Ohio.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2011, University of Toledo
► The locations of fire stations are an extremely important decision for emergency…
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▼ The locations of fire stations are an extremely important decision for emergency service providers and public officials to make in order to efficiently and effectively carry out fire and EMS service coverage to a jurisdiction’s population and property. The provision of these essential services is vital and their deployment should be strategically located to allow for faster response times traveled by emergency vehicles. This study examines the current location set of all fire stations that deploy fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) services in Toledo, Ohio. The goals of this study are to improve the efficiency of coverage in terms of decreasing total travel times and employing an 8 minute travel time constraint due to National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards, in order to increase overall protection and safety. This study employs the methodologies of the MINISUM location allocation strategy and will utilize a maximum distance constraint to exclude long and unacceptable response times, increase efficiency of emergency services, reduce response times, thus increasing overall effectiveness in service delivery. The location allocation study of Toledo fire stations will be implemented with a Geographic Information System (GIS) to allow for a systematic and thorough location analysis approach. By using a GIS, the information and data collected from the relocation analysis will show that a lower objective function (z) can be achieved by decreasing total weighted aggregate travel time by fire station vehicles from its respective fire station. After choosing which fire stations in the current location set should be relocated, the study will recommend where they should be built and a comparison will be conducted of analyzing the opportunity costs associated with moving fire stations and altering the service area territories from fire station relocation.
Advisors/Committee Members: Lindquist, Peter.
Subjects: Geographic Information Science; Geography
Keywords: Travel time, location allocation, MINISUM, maximum distance constraint, response time, Geographic Information System, objective function, fire station
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13.
Moore, Michael.
Denied: A 2006 and 2009 Comparison of Mortgage Lending in the Toledo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2012, University of Toledo
► Obtaining a home loan is a vital component to acquiring the ‘American…
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▼ Obtaining a home loan is a vital component to acquiring the ‘American Dream’. There are many factors that determine the action taken on a home loan application by a lending institution. The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) mandates publicly available data which, among other things, allows academics to study which variables are significant in determining the acceptance or denial of a mortgage application. This study examines which variables were important in the denial of a home purchase loan in the years of 2006 and 2009. These years were selected to examine the effects the housing market collapse created in home purchase denials. Binary logistic regression models were run on HMDA variables, and the outcomes suggest that certain characteristics included in the model were more significant than others in determining home purchase application denial. Some of the results suggest discrimination based on race, ethnicity and sex. HMDA variables were also analyzed for spatial autocorrelation to determine the spatial patterns associated with home mortgage lending in the Toledo MSA in 2006 and 2009. The observed patterns suggest disinvestment in inner city Toledo, with higher denial rates and subprime loans centered in the City of Toledo. Spatial changes between the two years reflects changes in lending practices as lending practices seemed to have drastically changed from 2006 to 2009.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hammel, Daniel.
Subjects: Geography
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14.
Porter, Brett.
Providing a Template for Future Commodity Flow on the Great Lakes: The Use of an Origin-Constrained Spatial Interaction Model to Estimate the Flow of Coal by Waterborne Vessel.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2011, University of Toledo
► The purpose of this study was to develop a model that best…
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▼ The purpose of this study was to develop a model that best estimates the flow of coal between origin-destination (O-D) pairs on the Great Lake. Included in this model were the values for the origin, destination, distance between each O-D pair, and the distance decay parameter beta. The scope of the study was to analyze the shipment of coal between origin and destination ports located in the United States and situated along the Great Lakes. What this research found was that the distance decay parameter when set at .01 is able to estimate shipments of coal on the Great Lakes with a high degree of accuracy. What this also indicates is that the shipment of commodities by waterborne vessel on the Great Lakes is different from that of other modes of transportation. This research identifies and utilizes sources of data used to run a model to estimate the shipment of coal on the Great Lakes.
Advisors/Committee Members: Lindquist, Peter.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Distance decay parameter, beta, coal, Great Lakes, waterborne vessel
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15.
Ren, Jie.
Mapping Cyanobacterial Blooms in the Western Basin of Lake Erie using MERIS.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2012, University of Toledo
► Toxic cyanobacterial blooms have been documented in the western basin of Lake…
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▼ Toxic cyanobacterial blooms have been documented in the western basin of Lake Erie in the last several years. An algorithm based on a non-negative linear least squares regression was developed to discriminate the cyanobacterial blooms from other harmless phytoplankton blooms and to extract relative concentrations from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) satellite data. Lee's quasi-analytical algorithm (QAA) was used to calculate total absorption and backscattering coefficients. A non-negative least square algorithm was then utilized to discern relative concentrations of Chlorophyta (green algae), phycocyanin (PC)-rich Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), and colored dissolved organic matter and suspended sediments combined in lake waters using published absorption spectra for these components. Simultaneous field samples collected from the bloom area using fluorometer and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography have been compared with MERIS-derived cyanobacterial and chlorophyll concentrations from 4 scenes acquired in the summers of 2009, 2010 and 2011. There is a significant correlation (R2=0.6625, p<0.0001) between MERIS-derived cyanobacterial concentrations and phycocyanin fluorescence concentrations on October 5, 2011 and the correlation for the whole summer is also significant (R2=0.5944, p<0.0001). These results demonstrate that this methodology could be used to develop a cost-effective practical screening method for rapid detection and monitoring of potentially toxic cyanobacterial blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie.
Advisors/Committee Members: Czajkowski, Kevin P.
Subjects: Geography
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16.
Schafer, Guy M.
Identifying Bio-Diesel Production Facility Locations for Home Heating Fuel Applications Within the Midwest Region of the United States.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2011, University of Toledo
► Amid concerns of rising oil prices, interest into researching alternative renewable energy…
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▼ Amid concerns of rising oil prices, interest into researching alternative renewable energy sources has increased in recent years. A great deal of research has been done to investigate the feasibility of liquid bio-fuels. Ethanol and bio-diesel are currently being used as substitutes for petroleum based fuels. These are primarily used for transportation related applications. Recently bio-diesel has also been used as a substitute for heating fuel in residential homes. The purpose of this study is to identify current production, raw material supply, and potential demand markets within the Midwestern United States. Based on these criteria, facility placement location is identified through the utilization of a weighted location model. The final solution was analyzed utilizing a GIS framework. The analysis demonstrates the Weberian tendency of bio-diesel refineries to be spatially oriented toward the raw material source. The results indicate that a market for bio-heat does exist in the Mid-western United States. However, the conversion of the entire heating fuel market from petroleum to bio-heat does not seem feasible or probable. Current home heating fuel consumption is approximately 96% of the total bio-diesel production in the region. Therefore total market conversion would require the diversion of bio-diesel feedstock from other uses.
Advisors/Committee Members: Lindquist, Peter.
Subjects: Alternative Energy; Geography; Transportation
Keywords: Bio-Diesel; Location Model; Transportation; Home Heating Fuel
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17.
Schafer, Sarah E.
A GIS Connection between Brownfield Sites, Transportation and Infrastructure: An Economic Redevelopment Tool for Toledo-Lucas County, Ohio.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2011, University of Toledo
► This thesis documents the design and development of a web-based data distribution…
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▼ This thesis documents the design and development of a web-based data distribution system for brownfield site redevelopment in Toledo-Lucas County, Ohio. The system is designed to advance smart growth initiatives for economic redevelopment and the sustainable utilization of brownfield sites in the region. As with many Midwestern cities, industrial decline has lead to an abundance of brownfield sites in the area. A lack of data resources is one major barrier to redevelopment of these sites. The system developed here seeks to reduce that barrier by providing a user interface and information delivery system to support the identification and reuse of brownfield sites; in addition it can be replicated for use in other regions. Detailed here is the development and implementation of an interactive web-based geographic information system (GIS) designed as a user-centered decision support tool to augment policymakers’ and stakeholders’ site selection and infrastructure capital investment decisions to support brownfield redevelopment. This system thus provides not only a comprehensive data delivery tool and decision support system but also serves as a template for application in other urban regions.
Advisors/Committee Members: Lindquist, Peter.
Subjects: Geographic Information Science
Keywords: Web based GIS; brownfields; Decision support system development
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18.
Stoll, Michael Walter.
Sludge, Politics, Media and America: The Perception of Waste.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2010, University of Toledo
► The purpose of this research is to examine the perception of biosolids,…
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▼ The purpose of this research is to examine the perception of biosolids, and the use of biosolids within the United States, through utilization of media articles. As a result of the United States’ wastewater treatment system, significant amounts of waste are disposed on a daily basis across the country. Local and regional newspapers often report both the biosolid benefits and nuisances along with related policy changes and local future goals. The local media can reflect the perception of biosolids within a spatial context. This research notes that while biosolids are dealt with in every urban area across the United States, only specific areas of the country focus on and outline issues pertaining to biosolids. Local media publications often report the impacts of biosolids disposal. This research identifies sources of information utilized within biosolid articles and used the articles to project the perception of waste spatially. The information used in this research was gathered utilizing the Lexis Nexis® Academic media research utility. Lexis Nexis records over 4000 newspapers as they are published. Relevant articles were categorized, and coded for sources of information within a database. The general reflection of the article by a reader was also categorized. The study projects each article’s publication location and setting location. Hotspots of biosolid related articles identify several major issues within specific spatial locations. The hotspot locations span various urban areas across the United States, from Seattle, Washington to Roanoke, Virginia. The issues that spur the development of these hotspots varies widely, topics include, among many others, sludge power plants, mine reclamation, biosolids contaminating rivers and contaminated biosolids being applied to playground areas including baseball diamonds.
Advisors/Committee Members: Czajkowski, Kevin.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Biosolids, media perception, sources of biosolid information, spatial representation of media articles
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19.
Strauss, Michael.
Tropical Africa and Generation Kalashnikov: The AK47’s Role in Shaping an African Identity.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2011, University of Toledo
► Many African nations became sovereign following the Second World War. The new…
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▼ Many African nations became sovereign following the Second World War. The new African leaders were confronted by arbitrary boundaries and inherited state structures in ethnically diverse regions. Failing to realize their country’s potential, the first generation of leaders fell into kleptocratic methods of governing. Ethnic based grievances led to the quest for greed which boiled over into violence. Ethnic communities, political leaders, warlords and civilians soon discovered the most effective and efficient path to power and personal gain to be achieved with the simplicity and lethality of small arms, and in particular, the AK47. Equatorial Africa has an abundance of natural resources and raw material, and illicit arms trade. Porous borders help facilitate movement of arms, combatants, and violence. The region continues to struggle to find an identity. Young men have little to few opportunities, except those opportunities using the AK47 as a tool. Governments provide no economic opportunities for the society. Individuals, groups and organizations form in order to seek wealth, security and an identity of their own. Simultaneously, governments struggle to provide for the people while seeking personal wealth, security and identity. Grievance, greed and small arms are prolific and ubiquitous throughout Equatorial Africa. The AK47 is the tool that shapes identity in Africa’s cycle of kleptocratic semi-democracies.
Advisors/Committee Members: Nemeth, David.
Subjects: African Studies; Geography
Keywords: AK47; Tropical Africa; identity; nationalism; small arms and light weapons; political geography
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20.
Thompson, James.
Identifying Subsurface Tile Drainage Systems Utilizing Remote Sensing Techniques.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2010, University of Toledo
► The purpose of this research is to develop a method that will…
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▼ The purpose of this research is to develop a method that will identify subsurface tile drainage systems in agricultural areas. Subsurface tile drainage systems allow ground water to drain out of a field in order to control the water level but they also allow nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous to be drained into surrounding waterways, affecting the water quality in negative ways. These subsurface drainage systems are common in the Midwest because they were used as the primary land drainage strategy when developing the land for agricultural uses. Many of the tile drain locations are not known because of the age of the systems, change in land ownership, or the lack of documentation during installation. Due to research that indicates their potential impact on surface water and new developments in sustainable agriculture practices, it is important to locate and document the existence of subsurface tile drainage systems. This research project focused on Wood County which is a predominantly agricultural area located in Northwest Ohio and covers a large portion of the Maumee River Watershed. Aerial photographs of Wood County with one meter spatial resolution collected through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Imagery Program were used for this research. Moisture retained in soil that is not drained shows up as dark in the imagery while drier soil, such as that above the subsurface tile drainage lines, has a lighter reflectance. Remote sensing software was used to extract the edges between light and dark soils that indicate the presence of subsurface tile drainage systems. The results of the detection process showed the most discernable tile patterns in the 2005 imagery, with similar results in the 2006 imagery. The tile lines were detected evenly across all eleven areas of interest in Wood County which was expected. The process was only able to validate 13.5 percent of detected tile drains, leaving room for additional research to increase the accuracy. Crop cover, tillage practice, and soil classification were analyzed in relation to the presence of subsurface tile drainage systems to create a holistic perception of when and where tile drains can be detected. Soybean fields yielded the highest amount of tile drain lines with corn fields in a close second. Tile detection in relation to tillage practices was overwhelmingly biased towards fields that were not tilled. Tile line detection on soil classifications was consistent throughout the three years of imagery, matching the soil type predictions based on drainage characteristics.
Advisors/Committee Members: Czajkowski, Kevin.
Subjects: Agriculture; Environmental Science; Geographic Information Science; Geography; Remote Sensing
Keywords: Remote sensing, subsurface tile drains, aerial photographs, NAIP, GIS, subsurface tile drain detection
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21.
Zhuo, Hong.
GIS-based Spatial Accessibility Analysis to High Schools by Transit in Toledo Area in 2010.
Degree: MA, Geography, 2012, University of Toledo
► Nowadays, numerous studies examine the spatial mismatch between employment and residential areas,…
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▼ Nowadays, numerous studies examine the spatial mismatch between employment and residential areas, while only a few researches investigate the spatial mismatch between public transit facilities and school locations. By applying spatial mismatch theory and distance decay effect to this thesis, I examine the spatial distribution of high schools in Toledo Area with the assistance of Average Nearest Neighbor Analysis, and test the null hypothesis that there are not enough TRATA bus stops within the quarter mile around the high schools. Finally, I conduct accessibility analysis to high schools by public transit in the study area and provide recommendations for improvement in TARTA service for schools.
Advisors/Committee Members: Alam, Bhuiyan.
Subjects: Geography
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