Department: Arts and Sciences : Geography ![[clear]](close-x.png "Remove this limiter")
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1.
ALLEN, CHRISTIAN MICHAEL.
An Industrial Geography of Cocaine.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2002, University of Cincinnati
► Latin American cocaine trafficking organizations comprise an indigenous, globally competitive, multinational industry.…
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▼ Latin American cocaine trafficking organizations comprise an indigenous, globally competitive, multinational industry. Their business operations are deeply integrated within the economic and political systems of countries throughout the region. Because the drug trade confers clear economic benefits to parts of Latin America, local authorities are often reluctant to attack the industry at its roots.The widespread adoption of market-oriented economic reforms has re-drawn the region's economic, political, and social landscape. Drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) have responded to these challenging conditions far more successfully than the region's licit firms, which have had little success to date in international markets. Expanded international flows of goods and capital offer DTOs numerous opportunities to exploit licit channels to move product and profits across borders. Such opportunities reflect a fundamental tension between economic liberalization and drug prohibition, the policy regimes most deeply influencing the cocaine trade.The model of the cocaine industry presented in this research is schematic and conceptual rather than formulaic. It is inspired by a catholic view of modeling that sees them as structured syntheses of data, rather than as formal laws or equations. The schema developed here reflects the contextual landscape within which traffickers operate. The proximate environment (both geographic and industrial) of a DTO poses opportunities and challenges that require strategic responses. While criminal enterprises operate in a more complex and uncertain setting than licit firms, their competitive success is determined in fundamentally similar ways. Models developed by geographers to explain the spatial behavior of licit multinational firms are profitably applied here to the operations of DTOs. No single model can account for the dynamism and variability found in economic systems. Accordingly, this research uses a variety of conceptual tools and research methods that reflect the broad scope of economic geography. The mode of analysis applied here recognizes that the development of economic systems in time and space does not result simply from 'geographic' processes like the friction of distance, but also from wider economic, political, and cultural contexts.
Advisors/Committee Members: South, Dr. Robert B.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: economic geography; cocaine; Latin America; Multinational firm; industrial geography
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2.
ARELLANO-NERI, OLIMPIA.
AN IMPROVED METHODOLOGY FOR LAND-COVER CLASSIFICATION USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS AND A DECISION TREE CLASSIFIER.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2004, University of Cincinnati
► Mapping is essential for the analysis of the land and land-cover dynamics,…
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▼ Mapping is essential for the analysis of the land and land-cover dynamics, which influence many environmental processes and properties. When creating land-cover maps, it is important to minimize error, since error will propagate into later analyses based upon these land cover maps. The reliability of land cover maps derived from remotely sensed data depends upon an accurate classification. For decades, traditional statistical methods have been applied in land-cover classification with varying degree of accuracy. One of the most significant developments in the field of land-cover classification using remotely sensed data has been the introduction of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) procedures. In this research, Artificial Neural Networks were applied to remotely sensed data of the southwestern Ohio region for land-cover classification. Three variants on traditional ANN-based classifiers were explored here: 1) the use of a customized architecture of the neural network in terms of the input layer for each land-cover class, 2) the use of texture analysis to combine spectral information and spatial information which is essential for urban classes, and 3) the use of decision tree (DT) classification to refine the ANN classification and ultimately to achieve a more reliable land-cover thematic map. The objective of this research was to prove that a classification based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and decision tree (DT) would outperform by far the National Land Cover Data (NLCD). The NLCD is a land-cover classification produced by a cooperative effort between the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). In order to achieve this objective, an accuracy assessment was conducted for both NLCD classification and ANN/DT classification. Error matrices resulting from the accuracy assessments provided overall accuracy, accuracy of each class, omission errors, and commission errors for each classification. The overall accuracy for the ANN/DT classification was 85.13%. This accuracy fulfills the United States Geological Survey standards for Anderson classification (Anderson et al. 1976). The overall accuracy for the NLCD was 67.97%.
Advisors/Committee Members: Frohn, Dr. Robert C.
Keywords: Land-Cover Classification; Artificial Neural Networks; Decision Tree Classifier; Southwestern Ohio Land-Cover
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3.
Baker, Jonathan B.
Examining Spatial Patterns of Primary Health Care Utilization in Southern Honduras.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2005, University of Cincinnati
► Primary health care utilization is poorly understood in many parts of the…
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▼ Primary health care utilization is poorly understood in many parts of the developing world. This is especially true in rural places, such as Santa Lucia, Intibuca, Honduras, where there are only three primary health care facilities servicing almost 12,000 people, where the people are poor, and generally speaking access to health care services is limited. This research project focuses on trying to understand primary health care utilization patterns in this part of Southern Honduras. Specifically, this research project examines the utilization of three health clinics operating in and around Santa Lucia. The delivery of health care is dependent on many factors, including the availability, cost, and capacities of the providers; the needs, resources and decisions of the patients; and the characteristics of the region within which the patients live. This research focuses primarily on the patients, and tries to understand their health seeking behavior. A better understanding of utilization can be used by health service planners to improve primary health care delivery in this and similar locations. The findings of this research indicate that utilization patterns can be explained, to a large extent, by factors relating to walking (travel) time, economic status, and the combined affect of health service type and proximity to care. These findings are consistent with findings from prior research: Both travel time and economic status are important factors in determining primary health care utilization. In addition, a new variable is created to examine health decision-making. This new variable has not been considered in previous research, and is found to very significant determinant of health facility utilization in the study area. A modified gravity model is used to estimate the level of utilization, and is tested through the use of log linear transformation and multi-variate regression techniques. The results here, an R-square of .644, for a model combining three different health clinic service areas, clearly indicate a relationship between these independent variables and utilization.
Advisors/Committee Members: Liu, Dr. Lin.
Keywords: Health Care Services; Geography; Utilization; Honduras
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4.
Bee, Shazia.
Seasonal and Annual Changes in Water Quality in the Ohio River Using Landsatbased measures of Turbidity and Chlorophyll-a.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2009, University of Cincinnati
► The aim of this research was to study the seasonal and annual…
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▼ The aim of this research was to study the seasonal and annual changes in the water quality based on the landsat measures of turbidity and chlorophyll-a. The indices were applied to a 95 km segment of the Ohio River where the USEPA had collected actual turbidity and chlorophyll-a samples the same day as the Landsat-7 overpass. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the chlorophyll-a and turbidity indices, which was -0.938. A regression model was also developed to quantify chlorophyll-a (dependent variable) from turbidity (independent variable). The regression model had R2 value of 0.879, indicating a good fit. For the annual analysis of water quality, only the turbidity index was taken into consideration. The turbidity level is constant in the years 2000 and 2001. There has been a significant decrease in the concentration of turbidity from the year 2002 indicating improvement in the water quality. Efforts taken by the government and other agencies to improve the water quality could be the reason for constant turbidity index.
Advisors/Committee Members: Frohn, Robert C.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Remote Sensing; turbidity; chlorophyll-a; Landsat; Ohio River; Regression
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5.
BELL, JULIANNE.
Characteristics of the Urban Heat Island in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio: June 25, 2002 to June 24, 2003.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2004, University of Cincinnati
► A study of the urban heat island (UHI) was conducted using air…
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▼ A study of the urban heat island (UHI) was conducted using air temperature data acquired from in-situ temperature loggers located along a transect that extends ~70 km southwest to northeast, primarily covering the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio area. The period of record extends from June 25, 2002 to June 24, 2003 and data were collected at 15-minute intervals. Near-surface air temperature data from selected sites is examined with respect to the annual record, seasonal variations, variations within the urban heat island, weather patterns, and wind data. It was possible to classify sites into rural, suburban, and urban based on the medians calculated from the data. Seasonal variability in the UHIM exists, with the summer period exhibiting the greatest UHI magnitudes, particularly with respect to the urban area. The urban site best representing the UHI, located at the side of an interstate highway, was found to have a summer UHI magnitude of ~2.2 °C, and a weaker winter magnitude of ~1.6 °C. Variability exists within the UHI even within short distances, as is illustrated by comparison of an urban site situated in a courtyard to the urban site located along side the interstate highway. This variability can be seen in the difference of the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded at the sites for the summer season. The difference between the summer season mean maximum daily temperatures for the courtyard and the highway site is ~ 2.3 °C, even though the sites are only ~ 2 km apart. Weather patterns affect the UHIM as weather fronts from the southwest cross the study area, cooling the baseline rural site and leading to an unusual temperature differential between the baseline rural site and the northern-most rural site on the transect. Low wind speeds and increased baseline temperatures result in greater UHI magnitudes. The use of remote sensing in examining the spatial and temporal extent of the urban heat island is also discussed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hinkel, Dr. Kenneth.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: urban heat island; air temperature
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6.
Blewett, Joanne E.
The Geography of Marian Shrines in the United States: A Preliminary Comparison With Western Europe.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2005, University of Cincinnati
► From the beginnings of human history, people have designated particular locations as…
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▼ From the beginnings of human history, people have designated particular locations as sacred and traveled to them in a pilgrimage. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in 314 CE, Christian shrines emerged very soon at martyrs’ tombs and other places of historical importance in development of this religion. The distribution of physical relics created many of the Christian shrines in Western Europe. Popular belief concerning Mary began to evolve upon Jesus’ death; and in turn, most of these beliefs were adopted into Roman Catholic doctrine and became Mariology or Marianism, the veneration of Mary. In Western Europe, a number of shrines were created from an apparition of Mary to local people, and with any shrine’s approval by the institutional Church, it gained an international reputation and following; shrines not granted this approval by the Church have remained less internationally well-known and mostly locally based. This study contrasts the process of Marian shrine development in Western Europe with the United States. A typology is created for Marian shrines in the United States based primarily on the occurrence of an apparition. The distribution of each types is shown and possible explanations are presented. Not a single apparition location has received the approval of the Church. Since the majority of Marian apparition sites in Western Europe have been approved, it was possible to use a classification system based on the reason for their founding. Whereas none of the United States sites have been approved, it was necessary to construct another typology. Thus, this study finds a somewhat different rationale for development of Marian shrines in the United States when compared to Western Europe.
Advisors/Committee Members: Selya, Dr. Roger M.
Keywords: Mariology, Roman Catholic shrines, apparition, United States, Western Europe
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7.
BRUINS, CONNIE KING.
BORROWING FROM HEAVEN AND EARTH: CONTEMPORARY BALCONY GARDENS OF WUHAN, CHINA IN THEIR HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2005, University of Cincinnati
► Gardening has a long tradition in China. Developing though successive dynasties, gardens…
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▼ Gardening has a long tradition in China. Developing though successive dynasties, gardens were common among the ruling elite, designed to reflect social and economic status. In urban China today, the gardening tradition is being resurrected as part of the social transformation of urban lifestyles. Apartment dwellers in Wuhan have added ornamental houseplants to their balconies, a practice largely absent a few years ago. This study follows theoretical frameworks of humanistic and feministic geography, and relies on the perspective of landscape architecture. It documents the use of guanxi, or relational networks for conducting social science field research. By conducting a large-scale survey and intensive interviews in Wuhan, China, this effort yielded findings that describe contemporary urban gardeners engaged in the vernacular activity of cultivating houseplants within the context of domestic space. The most involved gardeners were older and more likely to be retired, giving them time to engage in gardening. They had disposable income to spend on plants and gardening accessories. They also had space for their gardens. The location of these gardens was primarily on apartment balconies, or in ‘borrowed’ space, an historically significant link for the placement of potted plants. This study adds to the understanding of contemporary urban Chinese society by highlighting the largely overlooked activity of container gardening, carried out by people with the necessary means to connect to nature within the confines of their urban homes. This activity is largely similar to the gardening behavior of the ancient elites.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dunning, Dr. Nicholas P.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: balcony gardens; Wuhan, China; borrowed space
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8.
BUTLER, DAVID LAWRENCE.
DEREGULATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND THE CHANGING LOCATIONAL DYNAMICS OF THE U.S. AIRLINE INDUSTRY.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2002, University of Cincinnati
► The focus of this dissertation is the examination of how the US…
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▼ The focus of this dissertation is the examination of how the US airline industry adopted advanced information technologies (IT) post-deregulation (1978). In particular this dissertation examines the interactions between information technologies (IT) and three processes: organization, labor, and location. Specifically the dissertation highlights how airlines, by leveraging IT, created spatial concentrations of airline functions due to organizational, labor and locational changes. The final chapter examines how IT has helped enable the development of the multinational airline alliances.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dunning, Nicholas.
Subjects: Geography; Transportation
Keywords: airlines, deregulation, information technology, location, labor, organization, call centers
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9.
CALCUTTAWALA, ZOHRA.
KNOWLEDGE STORES: THE SPATIAL DYNAMICS OF PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY AND CONSUMPTION IN CALCUTTA.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2004, University of Cincinnati
► This study is an empirical investigation of the evolution, spatial distribution and…
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▼ This study is an empirical investigation of the evolution, spatial distribution and changes in spatial patterns of public libraries in Calcutta for the period 1850 to 1991. It seeks to demonstrate the provision of information services, accessibility and consumption of public libraries at the intra urban scale thereby extending research of urban service delivery to a non-western city, which has previously remained confined to the availability of basic services. Within the context of urban service delivery – who benefits and why, the location of libraries of different types are compared to the location of actual and potential patrons and spatial equity patterns are analyzed. The study finds that the urban morphology of the colonial city continues to exert a strong influence on the growth and spatial distribution of public libraries. Empirical evidence suggests the lack of locational bias based on physical accessibility in the distribution of public libraries. No progressive or regressive spatial arrangement based on socio economic variables is indicated.
Advisors/Committee Members: Stafford, Dr. Howard A.
Subjects: Geography; Library Science
Keywords: spatial structures, urban service delivery, public libraries, accessibility, spatial equity, Calcutta.
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10.
Carr, Christopher.
Variation in Environmental Impact at Rock Climb Areas in Red River Gorge Geological Area and Adjacent Clifty Wilderness, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► Rock climbing surged in popularity in the 80’s and 90’s, leading to…
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▼ Rock climbing surged in popularity in the 80’s and 90’s, leading to ecological impacts. This study developed a procedure manual and measured the impact at 16 climb areas, totaling 241 climbs. Mapping showed the impact at the base of the cliff is composed of lines and nodes. The lines are the access trails; the nodes are areas of impact that form at the base of climbs. Because the process is similar to campsite formation, the cliff base nodes are called climbsites. A model to predict climb impact was developed using multiple regression. Sport climbs had nearly three times as much impact as traditional climbs, as well as a different set of predictive factors. Overall, climbing impacted 0.01% of the area and 0.4% of the cliffline of the study area. Climbing causes little avoidable damage; so impact reduction efforts should focus on site hardening and actions to spatially concentrate climbing activities.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dunning, Dr. Nicholas.
Keywords: recreation ecology; impact assessment; multiple regression; climbsites; rock climbing; Red River Gorge; Daniel Boone National Forest
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11.
Cavello, Seth M.
The Expansion of Chinatown in New York City.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2009, University of Cincinnati
► The spatial extent of New York City’s Chinatown has expanded since changes…
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▼ The spatial extent of New York City’s Chinatown has expanded since changes to immigration laws were instituted in 1965. As a direct result, Chinatown is experiencing an increase in population where the northern boundary of the enclave has moved across the traditional defining line, Canal Street, and into neighboring enclaves. By examining the population of Chinese per census tract, and using a preordained threshold, a block group can then be deemed Chinese or non Chinese and the expansion of the enclave can be mapped. The implications of this are not only felt in New York City, but provide an example as to how legislation can be crucial to changing the spatial layout of an urban setting.
Advisors/Committee Members: McTague, Colleen.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Chinatown, New York City, Urban Geography
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12.
CHAUDHARY, NAVENDU.
AN OBJECT ORIENTED APPROACH TO LAND COVER CLASSIFICATION FOR STATE OF OHIO.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► The purpose of this research was to develop an object oriented approach…
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▼ The purpose of this research was to develop an object oriented approach to land cover analysis and evaluate this approach along with five other classifiers for accuracy in classifying Level II land-cover categories in Ohio. These methods consist of (1) USGS National Land Cover Data; (2) the spectral angle mapper; (3) the maximum likelihood classifier; (4) the maximum likelihood classifier with texture analysis; and (5) a recently introduced hybrid artificial neural network; The segmentation object-oriented processing (SOOP) classifier outperformed all others with an overall accuracy of 93.8% and Kappa of 0.93. SOOP was the only classifier to have by-class producer and user accuracies of 90% or higher for all categories. An artificial neural network (ANN) classifier had the second highest overall accuracy of 87.6% and Kappa of 0.85. The four remaining classifiers had overall accuracies less than 85%. The SOOP classifier has been applied to Landsat-7 data to perform a level II land-cover classification for the state of Ohio.
Advisors/Committee Members: Frohn, Dr. Robert.
Keywords: Remote Sensing, Land-cover mapping, Image Segmentation, Landsat
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13.
CHEN, KE.
BIOTECHNOLOGY CLUSTER ANALYSIS ACROSS METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2006, University of Cincinnati
► This dissertation explores the spatial distribution of biotechnology industry activities across fifty…
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▼ This dissertation explores the spatial distribution of biotechnology industry activities across fifty major metropolitan areas in the United States in 2002. The biotechnology industry is composed of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry and the physical, engineering, and life science research and development industry. When measured by the number and density of establishments, employment amount and density, and specialization, metropolitan areas where the majority of biotechnology industrial activities are clustered in the United States in 2002 include New York City, Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Raleigh. Using Porter’s (1990, 1998) cluster theory as analytical framework, this study finds out that local input factor conditions, represented by local life science research base, local biotechnology innovation capability, local supply of life science PhDs, and local entrepreneurship are very important for biotechnology industry development. A local atmosphere of creation and networking among biotechnology professionals is important as well. Also, biotechnology industry is generally located close to its buying, related, and supportive industries at metropolitan level. However, there is no clear agglomeration effect from biotechnology anchor establishments, and anchor impacts may depend on individual anchor’s business culture.
Advisors/Committee Members: Selya, Dr. Roger.
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14.
DE SOCIO, MARK.
ANCHORING THE CITY? RETAIL LOCATION AND THE POLITICS OF DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2005, University of Cincinnati
► The purpose of this study is to understand variations in the municipal…
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▼ The purpose of this study is to understand variations in the municipal use of subsidies to attract and / or retain traditional department stores to CBDs in cities in the United States. The approach taken is urban regime theory, which claims that local policy is shaped by particular regimes or political coalitions. Two hypotheses are proposed. First, it is hypothesized that cities whose governing regimes or political coalitions reflect characteristics commonly referred to as “developmental” are more likely to offer subsidies for attraction / retention of department stores than other regime or political coalition types. Second, it is hypothesized that the composition of corporate communities in cities influences the types of regimes or political coalitions that cities are likely to develop. The study covers twenty-four cities across the United States. Utilizing lists of boards of directors across three major sectors, each city’s composition of business and community elites are profiled. Utilizing factor analysis for sectoral categories, prototype profiles are generated for three major regime typologies identified in the literature. Each city’s profile is then correlated with each of the three regime prototypes through scatter plots. Concerning the first hypothesis, eight of the twenty-four cities are identified as having provided subsidies for the attraction or retention of a ddepartment store to their respective CBD. All but one of these are identified as having developmental-type regimes by previous case studies, confirming the first hypothesis. The second hypothesis likewise appears to be confirmed by the results of the study. Correlations of sixteen of the twenty-four cities with the markers for regime prototypes strongly match their expected regime type. This study demonstrates the utility of fleshing out the corporate structures of cities to determine whether or not different mixes of economic activities predispose cities towards different regime types and policy agendas. Business elites afforded positions of influence may be biased in their expertise regarding urban development, thereby affecting urban policymaking in ways that could prove detrimental to the city.
Advisors/Committee Members: South, Dr. Robert.
Keywords: regime theory, urban politics, retail location, location incentives
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15.
Dhanotiya, Manoj.
Geographical Knowledge Management System Application in Virtual Earth Environment.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2008, University of Cincinnati
► Geography as a discipline had been revolutionized with the advent of modern…
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▼ Geography as a discipline had been revolutionized with the advent of modern technologies and especially in the field of GIS. We aim to use high end modern technologies and programming language to create an interoperable Geographical Information Management Model in a Virtual Earth Environment where we can record history in an innovative and exploratory way. The first year graduate students at the Department of Geography at the University of Cincinnati have been taking a walking tour to Downtown Cincinnati from the campus since the 1980s. These tours have witnessed the continuing change of the city along the route, and these changes have only been documented in the essays written by students. This research aims to develop an online application in virtual environment that can show the current, historical, and future observations along the route. With the rapid development of online tools such as Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth, it is now possible to create a geo-referenced archive of urban changes in a virtual geographic environment. In this study, Microsoft Virtual Earth SDK (Software Development Kit) and KML (Key Hole Markup Language) are used to develop a GIS application which will facilitate the development of content overlays featuring a detailed virtual tour of Cincinnati Down-Town Area plus any other area in whole world subject to the availability of satellite imagery. Satellite Imagery from Navteq is used to show the historical monuments and places of geographic importance. Geo-tagged videos of professors and student discussions on the “place-marked” locations are added in the content overlay for real time experience. A virtual geographic environment like this has the potential of being an effective teaching tool and perhaps attracting more high school students to the discipline of geography.
Advisors/Committee Members: Liu, Lin.
Keywords: Virtual Earth; Virtual; Virtual Earth Environment; Earth Environment; Earth; GIS; tour
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16.
FINK, NISSA.
GATEWAY TO HEAVEN? AN EXAMINATION OF MUSLIM BURIALS IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► In 2004, land was purchased by the Muslim community in Memphis, TN…
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▼ In 2004, land was purchased by the Muslim community in Memphis, TN with the express purpose of establishing an Islamic cemetery. Due to opposition by the local community, that plan was never carried out. Opposition to similar cemetery projects has also surfaced in Charlotte and Atlanta. While the reason for such opposition may be questioned, so may the reason for why a specifically Islamic cemetery is needed. What are the requirements of a Muslim burial? Can these requirements be performed in a mainstream cemetery? What happens in locations where no Islamic cemetery is available? This research examines the burials of Muslims in Southwest Ohio, with the purpose of examining both the locational and cultural attributes of these burials. The location of Muslim burials were obtained through interviews with local Muslim leaders; site surveys were used to examine the location of Muslim burials within the cemetery as well as demographics and cultural attributes of the individual burials. Cultural attributes examined included the existence of a cult of piety, burial markers, inscriptions and grave orientation.
Advisors/Committee Members: Selya, Dr. Roger.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Necrogeography, cemeteries, Muslim, Islam, burials
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17.
GOMERSALL, CLAIRE ELIZABETH.
ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES: AN ANALYSIS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TIMES IN CINCINNATI.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2003, University of Cincinnati
► Fire station location models use distance from demand nodes to measure service…
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▼ Fire station location models use distance from demand nodes to measure service accessibility and to make fire station siting decisions. In addition, the Insurance Services Office and the National Fire Protection Agency set response standards for Fire Departments in units of distance and set home insurance rates based upon adherence to these distance standards. This analysis shows that straight-line distance and shortest network path distance are only weakly correlated with actual response time (R2=0.22 and R2=0.37 respectively). Instead, response time variation is shown to result largely from the number of corners an emergency vehicle must turn to reach an incident. Together, corner incidence and journey length account for 92% of the variation in response times. These findings call for a review of existing distance-based location models and indicate a need to develop an algorithm to efficiently detect corners on a network in a GIS. This paper also explores the influence of socio-demographic (e.g., racial composition of neighborhood, wealth of neighborhood) and behavioral (e.g., 911 call frequency, false alarm frequency) variables on the speed at which emergency services respond. The analysis indicates that the influence of such variables on response time is insignificant; that the Fire Department in Cincinnati responds equitably without regard for the socio-demographic or behavioral characteristics of a neighborhood. Implications of these results are presented for policy and future research.
Advisors/Committee Members: Stafford, Dr. Howard A.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: response time; emergency services; access; equity
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18.
GRADY, CASEY PATRICK.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY INDIAN RESTAURANTS ON LUDLOW?.
Degree: MS, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio: a business and entertainment district described as “bohemian”…
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▼ Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio: a business and entertainment district described as “bohemian” or “eclectic,” caters not only to University of Cincinnati students, but also to the Greater Cincinnati population. Ludlow Avenue is also the location of a curious phenomenon; within a two block segment of this district, three Indian restaurants operate. Does this suggest a significant Asian Indian population in the vicinity? Baseline research into the spatial relationship between Asian Indians and Indian restaurants in Cincinnati was conducted to give the field of geography a better understanding of ethnic immigrant population’s spatial relationship to their representative cuisine. Spatial autocorrelation and cluster analysis on Asian Indian populations and Indian restaurants were conducted for Hamilton, Warren, Butler and Clermont counties in Ohio to better understand the spatial relationship.
Advisors/Committee Members: McTague, Dr. Colleen.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Indian restaurant, ethnic restaurant location
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19.
Grove, Alan J.
Drawing a Line in the Snow: the Geopolitical Place-making of Canadian Security Policy.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2009, University of Cincinnati
► Critical geopolitics has grown to be one of the more vibrant sub-disciplines…
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▼ Critical geopolitics has grown to be one of the more vibrant sub-disciplines in geography through the implementation of theories and techniques of postmodernism and poststructuralism. These theories and techniques have opened new questions and subjects to the scope of inquiry of critical geopolitics. Fundamental to the discipline is the notion that discourses of power are crucial to shaping the understanding of objects and concepts. This notion can be applied to geography in the scripting of global spaces as a political construct: spaces are defined in a political manner. Rather than spaces existing as they are described, spaces are constructed and produced by the discourses surrounding them. Similarly, security is a discursive subject such that its definition and formation are based upon the discourses that imply vague notions of what security means. Key to understanding security as a construction is the notion of terrorism, which is a signifier to the construction of security. Because notions of terror and terrorism are products of discourses, security can be established in a similar constructive form as it operates to mitigate the threat from terrorism. This thesis focuses on the concept of security as a geographic and geopolitical construct. Through an examination and deconstruction of Canadian security policy, I argue that the conceptualization of security is an act of geopolitical place-making as spaces are defined as secure and insecure through a discourse dominated by those in power. This argument is developed through an example of the notion of terrorism, itself a political construct, which highlights the geopolitical nature of constructing security and insecurity.
Advisors/Committee Members: McTague, Colleen.
Subjects: Geography; International relations; Political science
Keywords: Geography; Critical Geopolitics; Security; Terrorism; Canada
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20.
Hall, Davin.
Cops and Robbers in Cincinnati: A Spatial Modeling Approach for Examining the Effects of Aggressive Policing.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► Aggressive policing tactics have been frequently examined in crime prevention studies, both…
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▼ Aggressive policing tactics have been frequently examined in crime prevention studies, both in their effectiveness at reducing crime as well as possible problems of displacement of crime. This study examines robberies in the city of Cincinnati following a major increase of arrests for minor offenses in a small neighborhood of the city. A modified version of the Weighted Displacement Quotient test (WDQ), termed the Spatio-Temporal Weighted Displacement Quotient (STWDQ), is used to determine possible displacement of crime or a diffusion of benefits. Directly surrounding the treatment area, a diffusion of benefits is found to be taking place; however, at a greater distance from the treatment area, displacement of crime has occurred. For the overall study area, the displaced crime out-weighs the decreases in robberies within the treatment area and its immediate neighboring areas. Future study is required to clarify the relationship between the observed increases in crime and police actions.
Advisors/Committee Members: Liu, Dr. Lin.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Aggressive policing; Weighted Displacement Quotient
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21.
HAO, YONGPING.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL SCALE EFFECTS ON LANDSCAPE PATTERN METRICS IN A DEFORESTED AREA OF RONDONIA, BRAZIL.
Degree: PhD, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2003, University of Cincinnati
► Scale effects on the performances of landscape metrics have attracted a lot…
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▼ Scale effects on the performances of landscape metrics have attracted a lot of concern recently. Most studies have focused on two scale effects: changes in spatial resolution and changes in spatial extent. So far, little empirical analysis has been done on the effects of spatial aggregation (filtering) on landscape metrics. This research analyzed the effects of three types of changes in scale on the performances of eighteen commonly used landscape metrics. These changes include (1) varying spatial aggregation, (2) varying spatial resolution, and (3) varying spatial extent. Six time series Landsat images of Ariquemes (path/row: 232/67), Rondonia, Brazil were used in the analysis. A subset of relatively homogeneous area of 1024 x 1024 pixels (30.72 x 30.72 km) was used for testing effectiveness of eighteen landscape metrics for varying spatial aggregation and varying spatial resolution. For effects of spatial extent, this area serves as a maximum extent. The texture analysis with a window size of 15 x 15 pixels was used to distinguish naturally barren areas, which were subtracted from images of 1984 - 2000 before further image processing. Results show that PPU (NumP), ED (TE) and MNN are good indicators of landscape fragmentation, with PPU (NumP) the most sensitive to slight changes. Similarly, Sq and LSI are good indicators of landscape shape irregularity or complexity, with Sq the most sensitive to slight changes. Results also showed that LPI, which has been commonly used as an indicator of patch aggregation, should not be used to indicate landscape fragmentation, though it is a good index of landscape composition. The analysis of the time series images show that the most dramatic landscape fragmentation in the study area occurred from 1984 to 1989. However, since 1984, deforestation in the urban area tended to occur around urban centers, which was characterized by aggregation with more regular patch shapes. Conversely, rural area experienced increasing trends in landscape fragmentation from 1984 to 2000. This study has demonstrated the importance of using landscape metrics that have little sensitivity to scale effects and most sensitivity to the actual landscape pattern changes for examining time series changes in deforestation on the landscape.
Advisors/Committee Members: Frohn, Dr. Robert C.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: scale effects; landscape metrics; time series images; deforestation; Rondonia
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22.
HASAN, KHALID.
STUDY OF SPATIAL/TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF RADON RELEASES FROM THE K-65 SILOS, USING DISPERSION MODELING AND GIS: A CASE STUDY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S FERNALD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT, CINCINNATI, OHIO.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2001, University of Cincinnati
► This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of radon at the…
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▼ This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of radon at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Fernald Environmental Management Project (FEMP), located in southwest Ohio for year 1999. It employs United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Industrial Source Complex Short Term 3 (ISCST3) dispersion modeling code, existing monitoring data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as tools in an effort to develop an integrated, practical, radiological monitoring, assessment and protection technique. Radon formed by decay of radioactive wastes stored in the K-65 Silos 1 and 2 at FEMP, is continuously escaping from cracks and fissures from the concrete silos domes. A quantitative, analytical decision-making tool is developed using ISCST3 for simulating spatial and temporal patterns of FEMP radon releases. Developed framework / methodology is quite helpful in observing pollutant variations at finer spatial and temporal scales, providing a very useful and needed additional dimension to the existing Integrated Environmental Monitoring Plan (IEMP) at FEMP. Observed spatial and temporal patterns of radon releases and their variations with meteorological factors is also deduced and documented. The suitability of ISCST3 model at various temporal scales is tested and constraints are identified for the case study. ISCST3 model predicted radon concentrations at year, month and day scales are comparable and in reasonable orders of magnitude compared against actual observations at existing fence line receptors. Real time radon measurements at discrete receptors can be supplemented by predictions from this model for estimating radon concentrations at any given location, or time, for any given (real or projected), emissions, meteorological, or modeling scenarios. Especially, the spatial dimension of analysis for compliance to various Federal, DOE, EPA, air quality or other environmental laws / standards is enhanced. This model has great potential for improvement through better emission inputs by either estimation or direct observations and further research in calibration and evaluation. Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI) Arcview GIS is used to simulate "pollution hot spot" maps and digital surfaces from ISCST3 predictions. Multiple digital, vector pollution contour, raster grid surfaces and hard copy pollution thematic maps can be generated now for FEMP and vicinity for any given circumstances.
Advisors/Committee Members: Liu, Dr. Lin.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: RADON; DISPERSION MODELING; GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS); INDUSTRIAL SOURCE COMPLEX 3 (ISC3) MODEL
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23.
HERBERT, WILLIAM J.
UNDERSTANDING VARIANCE OF PROFICIENCY TEST PERFORMANCE IN CINCINNATI'S NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2006, University of Cincinnati
► In the 2003-04 school year, the Ohio Proficiency Test was administered to…
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▼ In the 2003-04 school year, the Ohio Proficiency Test was administered to third, fourth, sixth, and ninth grade students. The test measures third graders’ competency in reading and the competency of fourth, sixth, and ninth graders in mathematics, reading, writing, citizenship, and science. In the Cincinnati Public School District in the 2003-04 school year, performance on the Ohio Proficiency Test varied both numerically and spatially among neighborhood elementary schools (i.e., schools that draw students from attendance areas). The purpose of this thesis is to explain the variation in performance. This study uses several variables, based on previous studies, in correlation and regression analyses. The results indicate that strongly performing neighborhood schools had attendance areas with high percentages of residents enrolled in private schools, low percentages of families headed by single females, high income levels, low percentages of residents who moved between 1995 and 2000, and high percentages of white residents.
Advisors/Committee Members: McTague, Dr. Colleen.
Subjects: Geography
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24.
HUANG, SHIJING.
ESTIMATING ILLEGAL DRUG MARKET LOCATION IN CINCINNATI USING THE HUFF MODEL.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2004, University of Cincinnati
► This study estimated illegal drug market locations using the Huff Model in…
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▼ This study estimated illegal drug market locations using the Huff Model in Cincinnati. Traditionally, the Huff Model is used in legal retail markets to determine the optimal location of a proposed market. Researchers show that there is a common goal existing in both illegal drug markets and legal retail markets, that of making profits. Based on the common goal, the Huff Model was applied in this study to estimate possible locations of illegal drug markets. First, this study quantified the attractiveness of each block in Cincinnati as a potential drug market. Second, the travel time from all blocks in Cincinnati to the selected potential drug market was calculated with the Network Analysis function in ArcView. Thirdly, using the attractiveness and the travel time, the likelihood that a drug user would travel to a certain potential drug market is derived. After obtaining the likelihood, the estimated number of drug users attracted by each potential market is calculated by multiplying the likelihood by the total population in each block. The location of a drug market is determined by the estimated number of drug users attracted from every block in Cincinnati. The Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient was used to test the consistency between the estimated number of drug users and the calls for service in each potential drug market location. The coefficient shows that the rank order for the estimation and the number of calls for service in each potential drug market is highly consistent. This study also found that in illegal drug markets, the λ value, which is the parameter in the Huff Model controlling the effect of travel time, is higher than its counterpart in legal retail markets, indicating that most drug users do not travel long distances to purchase drugs.
Advisors/Committee Members: Liu, Dr. Lin.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Drug Market Locations; the Huff Model; Attractiveness; ArcView; Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient
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25.
HURD, JOHN K JR.
A GIS MODEL TO ESTIMATE SNOW DEPTH USING DIFFERENTIAL GPS AND HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL ELEVATION DATA.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► In April 2005 near Barrow, Alaska, a Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS)…
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▼ In April 2005 near Barrow, Alaska, a Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) survey was conducted along a snowdrift formed by a 2.2 km long snow fence. A snow machine pulled a sledge equipped with the DGPS, recording geographic location and elevation along transects parallel to the snow fence. Empirical measurements of snow depth were collected with a calibrated probe along transects perpendicular to the snow fence, and were used for an accuracy assessment. Five GIS models were established each using different interpolation methods to estimate snow depth. The base map was a Digital Surface Model of the snow-free surface derived from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR) data. A natural neighbor interpolation algorithm provided the most accurate snow depth estimates with an RMSE of 21.29 cm. The snow drifts cover an area of 227,150 m 2; the mean snow depth is 1.87 m and occupies a volume of 425,974 m 3.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hinkel, Dr. Kenneth M.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: GIS; Geographic Information System; Model; GPS; Arctic; Cryosphere; Snow; Digital Surface Model; Remote Sensing
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26.
Jacobs, Teri A.
Putting the Wild Back into Wilderness: GIS Analysis of the Daniel Boone National Forest for Potential Red Wolf Reintroduction.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2009, University of Cincinnati
► The red wolf (Canis rufus) is a keystone species because of its…
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▼ The red wolf (Canis rufus) is a keystone species because of its important ecological role as a top predator. Its restoration to historic ranges may help to promote ecosystem integrity, balance, diversity and health. However, as already outlined in the 2007 United States Fish and Wildlife Service Red Wolf Recovery Progress Report, at least two additional reintroduction sites within the species’ historic ranges are still required to support viable populations of red wolves. This thesis research aimed to contribute to the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan by identifying and evaluating potential sites within the Daniel Boone National Forest in eastern Kentucky for the reestablishment of red wolves. In previous wolf habitat prediction models, road density served as the criteria for suitability. Researchers calculated simple road densities; however, the logistic regression models thus derived did not accurately predict wolf occupation. Roads with higher traffic volumes and areas with greater road densities should, in theory, pose greater risks to wolf mortality, and simple road density may not be an adequate measure to such purpose. This research, therefore, ranked roads by mortality risk and utilized kernel density estimation in Geographic Information Systems as a means to weight the road density and to predict suitable wolf habitat. This method may provide a better picture of the spatial reality of road influence. By using the red wolf habitat suitability model based on the rank class and kernel density estimation, nine potential restoration sites were predicted; whereas the suitability model based only on the simple density function failed to predict any sites. However, the results of this research are not final. The human and coyote factors remain unknown, and validation of the model is impractical due to the lack of data and time constraints. Yet, efforts such as field verification have been made in an attempt to validate the model. If data are available, follow-up studies in North Carolina may be a feasible measure to further test the model.
Advisors/Committee Members: Tong, Susanna.
Subjects: Animals; Ecology; Environmental science; Geography
Keywords: red wolf (Canis rufus); keystone species; habitat suitability model; kernel density estimation; geographic information systems (GIS); Daniel Boone National Forest
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27.
JAKUBOWSKI, SUSAN L.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF TIBETAN BUDDHIST PRACTICE CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES: WHERE CAN I GET SOME ENLIGHTENMENT?.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► Tibetan Buddhism has been classified as an ethnic branch of the universalizing…
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▼ Tibetan Buddhism has been classified as an ethnic branch of the universalizing Buddhist system. It is inextricably tied to the culture, politics and people of Tibet, where it has been practiced almost exclusively for centuries. It spread beyond this region on a large scale only after the political annexation of Tibet in 1959. As of 2006, there were approximately 608 Tibetan Buddhist practice centers in the contiguous United States. This study seeks to examine whether the motivation for the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the United States is a result of a continued political agenda on part of Tibetans and their supporters or whether it is a cultural phenomenon related to the increasing popularity of non-traditional religions. An analysis of the current locations of the Tibetan Buddhist practice centers would suggest that its diffusion is a result of American demand rather than the result of any political agenda.
Advisors/Committee Members: Selya, Dr. Roger.
Keywords: Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhism, Geography of Religion
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28.
James, Ryan Douglas.
Modeling Riverboat Casino Customer Behavior in the Cincinnati Market.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2007, University of Cincinnati
► The use of casino based development as an economic development tool has…
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▼ The use of casino based development as an economic development tool has experienced a growing popularity since the mid¬1990s. With more and more states authorizing casino gaming, the importance of understanding casino customer behavior becomes an issue of great relevance, as a casino needs to have customers to be profitable, and being able to draw customers from other political jurisdictions in what allows a casino to provide the benefits of basic sector employment. Even with the growing importance of this issue, the existing literature on this topic has been quite scarce. To remedy this issue, this paper examines the nature of casino customer behavior, and determines that a gravity model based analysis is an appropriate method for modeling gaming consumer behavior. Using the Cincinnati, OH market as a study area, regressive and Huff models are used to analyze gaming consumer behavior. With travel time and casino size proving to be the most significant factors influencing casino customer behavior, the results indicate that a Huff Model proves quite adept at modeling gaming consumer behavior, with the regressive approach proving less so.
Advisors/Committee Members: Liu, Dr. Lin.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Spatial Models; Casino Gaming
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29.
Jelacic, Jessica L.
The Development of an Indigenous Knowledge Participatory GIS for an Iñupiaq Community, North Slope, Alaska.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2010, University of Cincinnati
► Recent studies suggest that climate-warming will impact the Arctic regions more so…
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▼ Recent studies suggest that climate-warming will impact the Arctic regions more so than anywhere else on Earth. Drastic and sometimes catastrophic changes have been occurring in the Arctic within the last few decades. The Iñupiat people of the North Slope of Alaska have an urgent interest in addressing potential changes to their environment. They have firsthand knowledge of these changes, and their insights can provide a level of understanding not often available through traditional scientific methods. This research explores the intersection between science, technology and indigenous knowledge. In the last five years, 53 interviews were conducted which collected a variety of information involving landscape processes, natural resources, vegetation, cultural/historical sites, life stories, and language. This information was incorporated into a GIS database; the data was then used to create an indigenous knowledge website. This research has produced a viable Web-based GIS that houses a repository of elder and community knowledge from four villages on the North Slope of Alaska. The goal of this project is to return all of the data to the community in a method that is engaging and educational and also promotes community participation and collaboration. By providing the means for the stakeholders to participate in this process, it is anticipated that the community will assume control of data collection, thereby preserving their own culture and creating a living document.
Advisors/Committee Members: Eisner, Wendy.
Subjects: Geography
Keywords: Indigenous Knowledge; Participatory GIS; Arctic; Geographic Information Systems
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30.
JONES, BENJAMIN M.
SPATIOTEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF THAW LAKES AND BASINS, BARROW PENINSULA, ARCTIC COASTAL PLAIN OF NORTHERN ALASKA.
Degree: MA, Arts and Sciences : Geography, 2006, University of Cincinnati
► The Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) of northern Alaska is characterized by 1000s…
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▼ The Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) of northern Alaska is characterized by 1000s of lakes and associated drained thaw lake basins (DTLBs). On the Barrow Peninsula, the northern portion of the ACP, they cover 22% and 50% of the land area, respectively. Since 1949, there have been 17 lakes (greater than 40 ha) that have drained on the Barrow Peninsula. Twelve of the seventeen lakes have completely drained and five of the twelve drained as a result of human activity. Thus, lakes tend to completely drain once they encounter a drainage mechanism and this tendency has implications for the consistency between radiocarbon dates obtained from a DTLB. Analysis of four different aged DTLBs has shown that intra-basin variability increases with age as evidenced by the wider range of radiocarbon dates obtained from older-aged basins. An attempt to reconstruct successional stages within an ancient DTLB was not possible due to the process of cryoturbation.
Advisors/Committee Members: Eisner, Dr. Wendy R.
Subjects: Geography; Paleoecology
Keywords: Drained Thaw Lake Basins, Thaw Lakes, Barrow, Alaska, Arctic Coastal Plain
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