Using GIS in Ecological Management: Green Assessment of the Impacts of Petroleum Activities in the State of Texas

Geo-information technologies are valuable tools for ecological assessment in stressed environments. Visualizing natural features prone to disasters from the oil sector spatially not only helps in focusing the scope of environmental management with records of changes in affected areas, but it also furnishes information on the pace at which resource extraction affects nature. Notwithstanding the recourse to ecosystem protection, geo-spatial analysis of the impacts remains sketchy. This paper uses GIS and descriptive statistics to assess the ecological impacts of petroleum extraction activities in Texas. While the focus ranges from issues to mitigation strategies, the results point to growth in indicators of ecosystem decline

Regional Assessment of Tsunami Hazard Management Plans: The Case of the US Pacific Northwest

The US Pacific coastal states continue to be at risk from both locally and distantly generated Tsunamis. During the past two centuries, all five states have been hit by Tsunamis which inflicted considerable causalities and damage. This susceptibility can be minimized by effective hazard management plans, better hazard mitigation practices and the construction of more hazard resistant structures such as steel reinforced concrete buildings. At the same time, no studies have been conducted to determine how local authority has incorporated Tsunami hazard management in their planning frameworks. The analysis of several costal counties in the states, indicate that most plans have a weak factual basis, unclear goals and objectives, weak policies, and a few coordination and implementation mechanisms. While the average plan quality score remains extremely low, there are counties which never mention Tsunami risks in their local plans in any way. In light of these lapses, this research focuses on the assessment of current Tsunami hazard management plans in the region. At a time of intense environmental uncertainties, regional assessment of Tsunami hazard management plans is not only vital, it offers the preamble for the design of disaster resistant measures. The research has four objectives. The first aim is to analyze the current issues in Tsunami hazard management planning. The second objective assesses the risks posed to the Pacific North West region while the third objective is centered on the evaluation of local plans. The fourth and last objective focuses on the identification of mitigation measures and the design of a decision support tool for policy makers. Preliminary finding show that Tsunami hazards are still not fully integrated into local plans in the region

Regional Assessment of Tsunami Hazard Management Plans: The Case of the US Pacific Northwest

The US Pacific coastal states continue to be at risk from both locally and distantly generated Tsunamis. During the past two centuries, all five states have been hit by Tsunamis which inflicted considerable causalities and damage. This susceptibility can be minimized by effective hazard management plans, better hazard mitigation practices and the construction of more hazard resistant structures such as steel reinforced concrete buildings. At the same time, no studies have been conducted to determine how local authority has incorporated Tsunami hazard management in their planning frameworks. The analysis of several costal counties in the states, indicate that most plans have a weak factual basis, unclear goals and objectives, weak policies, and a few coordination and implementation mechanisms. While the average plan quality score remains extremely low, there are counties which never mention Tsunami risks in their local plans in any way. In light of these lapses, this research focuses on the assessment of current Tsunami hazard management plans in the region. At a time of intense environmental uncertainties, regional assessment of Tsunami hazard management plans is not only vital, it offers the preamble for the design of disaster resistant measures. The research has four objectives. The first aim is to analyze the current issues in Tsunami hazard management planning. The second objective assesses the risks posed to the Pacific North West region while the third objective is centered on the evaluation of local plans. The fourth and last objective focuses on the identification of mitigation measures and the design of a decision support tool for policy makers. Preliminary finding show that Tsunami hazards are still not fully integrated into local plans in the region

Assessment of foveal and extra-foveal photostress recovery time in primary open angle glaucoma

Photostress recovery time (PSRT) is a clinical procedure that measures the amount of time required for the macular to return to its normal level of function after being exposed to a bright light source. This study was a case control clinical study carried out to measure the foveal and extra-foveal photo stress recovery time in participants with primary open angle glaucoma. Fifty five subjects, 24 with primary open angle glaucoma with a mean age of 34.38±12.19 and 31 control subjects with a mean age of 26.58±7.23 were used in this study. The mean photostress recovery time measured on the fovea, 7o nasal, temporal, inferior and superior to the fovea were, 62.38±4.67, 8.71±7.19, 11.23±10.96, 12.08±8.96 and 12.44±9.30 respectively for subjects with primary open angle glaucoma. For the control subjects, the mean photostress recovery time measured on the fovea, 7o nasal, temporal, inferior and superior to the fovea were 23.29±1.63 11.89±8.62, 11.53±8.19, 12.89±8.67 and 13.60±8.36 respectively. Analysis with SPSS version 21 using the two factor ANOVA showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in photostress recovery time 7o nasally, temporally, inferiorly and superior to the fovea between primary open angle glaucoma subjects and a control group. Data analysis with the independent sample t-test also showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in photostress recovery time on the fovea between primary open angle glaucoma subjects and a control group. In conclusion, primary open angle glaucoma alters the photostress recovery time, both on the fovea and extra-foveal region of the retina. Photostress recovery test should be included in the routine eye examination of patients.Keywords: Primary Open angle glaucoma, Photostress recovery time, foveal, extra-fovea

The Applications of GIS in the Analysis of the Impacts of Human Activities on South Texas Watersheds

With water resource planning assuming greater importance in environmental protection efforts, analyzing the health of agricultural watersheds using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) becomes essential for decision-makers in Southern Texas. Within the area, there exist numerous threats from conflicting land uses. These include the conversion of land formerly designated for agricultural purposes to other uses. Despite current efforts, anthropogenic factors are greatly contributing to the degradation of watersheds. Additionally, the activities of waste water facilities located in some of the counties, rising populations, and other socioeconomic variables are negatively impacting the quality of water in the agricultural watersheds. To map the location of these stressors spatially and the extent of their impacts across time, the paper adopts a mix scale method of temporal spatial analysis consisting of simple descriptive statistics. In terms of objectives, this research provides geo-spatial analysis of the effects of human activities on agricultural watersheds in Southern Texas and the factors fuelling the concerns under the purview of watershed management. The results point to growing ecosystem decline across time and a geographic cluster of counties experiencing environmental stress. Accordingly, the emergence of stressors such as rising population, increased use of fertilizer treatments on farm land, discharges of atmospheric pollutants and the large presence of municipal and industrial waste treatment facilities emitting pathogens and pesticides directly into the agricultural watersheds pose a growing threat to the quality of the watershed ecosystem

Assessing Climate Change Dangers within the South Florida Region of US Southeast

In the last several decades, the southern portion of Florida continues to be an attraction, and destination for tourism given its warm environment. Aside from the benefits that accrues the region, with that have come many challenges rooted in climatic uncertainty. To that effect, it is inconceivable to venture into climate change risks analysis overtime, without cognizance of the scale and responses in Florida as a mitigation template considering the frequency therein. In the process, no matter what, the Southern Florida zone remains an epicenter of most natural disasters in the Southeast region of the US based on location and physical attributes. From the gravity of changing climatic risks, the number of hurricane landings along the coastlines of the state has intensified so much that the dangers to communities manifest regularly through damages to the environment. Since this results in the displacement of people, property destruction and ecosystem degradation. South Florida has been at the receiving end of climate change induced hazards over the years. This is evidenced by incessant hurricanes, severe flooding, and unending nature of heavy downpours in built up areas. Just as the impacts are manifested through the displacement of people, periodic closures of common activities, and environmental degradation. The spatial mappings of the trends pinpointed dispersal of climate change indicators clustered around spots deemed at risk in the region. Accordingly, the issues are compounded by a range of factors made up of ineffective policy, fragile ecosystem, climatic uncertainty, and socio-economic forces. Notwithstanding current mitigation plans, the paper proffered solutions in the form of education, effective policy, the design of climate change information systems and installation of innovative early warning devices to alert communities about the scale of impending disasters

Evaluating Climate Change Hazards within the US Midwest Zone

The US Midwest region known for its web of lakes, rivers and vast swaths of farmland ranks high as the nation’s food basket. Being a huge agricultural hub tied to global markets, the region’s immediate influence spans across multiplicity of states supported by a flourishing supply chain network sustained by farming centers and activities in and outside of the Midwest. Notwithstanding the region’s place as an active farm hub, it is slowly emerging as an epicenter of changing climatic hazards with the manifestations evident in different forms over the years. With many of the risks and recurrent changes now a common trend among various states. The impacts come under varying forms including impairment to the environment through damage to property, elevated and falling temperatures as well as displacement of people. In as much as several efforts have been made by agencies in the zone to remedy the situation. The changing climate in the Midwest does not occur in isolation, as most of that are attributed to socio-economic, physical, environmental and policy elements located within the larger ecological system. Even at that, very little has been done in the literature to assess the changing climate situation in the study area using a mix scale model anchored in GIS and descriptive environmental statistics. Accordingly, this enquiry will fill that void in research by assessing climate change hazards in the Midwest using mix scale techniques and secondary data with emphasis on the issues, trends, impacts, factors, and efforts. In applying these tools, results show widespread surge in changing climatic impacts with exposures to severe risks in the surrounding ecology of the states. Furthermore, spatial mappings of change using GIS pinpointed the gradual diffusion of risks on clusters of areas deemed epicenters of disasters along heavily impacted spots over time, due to a set of factors from socio-economic and physical variables. To address the risks, the paper offered solutions in the form of education, enactment of effective policies, the design of regional climate risks info systems and the installation of advanced early warning devices to alert the communities while ensuring public safety

The Analysis of Extreme Climate Threats in Maryland’s Lower Region Along the US Mid Atlantic

The state of Maryland for all intents and purposes stands out as a pacesetter in different aspects of environmental planning more than other states. Known for having the first established planning commission in the United States decades ago before its neighbors and a longstanding tradition in orderly planning. One would think such illustrious trajectory, that Maryland enjoys, guarantees immunity from common exposures to climate change dangers based on experience. However, that is not really the case in the Mid Atlantic zone. The same state that boasts of some of the most successful farming operations and a flourishing economy heavily reliant on a stable ecosystem, now finds itself at the receiving end of climatic uncertainty along the coast. Accordingly, the lower side of Maryland has seen full share of climate change induced threats like ice storms, floodings and elevated temperature. All these results in widespread damage to society, economy, and the surrounding ecosystem, amidst the vulnerability of many sectors. The situation in the coastal environment is compounded by sea level rise, potential displacements, degradation, destruction of assets and anticipated inundation of low-lying settlements in the coming years. Notwithstanding the gravity of these issues, very little has been done to capture the risks sufficiently in the literature. Consequently, this enquiry will fill that void notably by analyzing the changing climate risks in Southern Maryland using mix-scale methods of GIS and descriptive statistics. Emphasis is on the trends, issues, factors, impacts and efforts towards containment of the hazards. Accordingly, the results of the trends show widespread risks exposure through periodic damages to the ecosystem, along with fiscal losses in some sectors of the economy. With all these attributed to ecological, socio-economic, policy and climatic uncertainty. The paper proffered solutions ranging from education, the strengthening of policies, the design of regional climate information system and the recourse to coastal zone planning

Exploring Shifts in Yam Production Trends Along Nigeria’s Southern Region

Yam as a staple commodity in Nigeria, remains generally grown in different places within the ecological zones and food hubs in the nation. Notwithstanding all that, being integral part of the nation’s food security in a setting where Nigeria ranks high as the largest producer globally. Still, yam continues to find ample use with essential role for numerous purposes. Classified as an important food crop, the use of yam runs deeper, given its high demands for religious, socio-cultural practices, the economy, industries, and the marketplace. Even at that and considering the vast presence of yams over large swaths of land across the West African region from Ivory Coast to Nigeria. The ecological surroundings in Nigeria’s Lower South zone, contains the critical bio-geoclimatic indicators and microclimate fueling recurrent surge in output. Accordingly, yam crops as revenue generator, employer of work force, and calorie source indispensable to the country and regional menu, occupies essential spot in the popular imagination. This is so, because the tenure and farming of yam carry cultural and social connotations in the lower South region. Even though people see yam as mostly a key source of carbohydrates, existing varieties contain protein as well. The international dominance of Nigeria compared to competitors in the marketplace is quite clear in terms of output and cultivated land areas. As such, within the industry, existing data pertaining to activities therein over the past years affirm record growth and shifts in various land use indices. Accordingly, the study area has seen prevalent applications of agrochemicals, price increments, widespread risks to the surrounding ecosystem, and degradation as well as price uncertainty in transactions. This irony is made worse by the current leakages in policy regarding production capacity in the zone amidst mounting issues, initiatives towards mitigation and productivity. There are also knowledge voids on the actual dispersal forms vital for effective management in the agricultural sector amongst factors situated in the larger regional farm structure. Consequently, this study will fill that void in research by analyzing the state of yam land use in Nigeria’s Lower South zone with focus on the issues, trends, impacts, factors, efforts, and future lines of action. From the analysis, the results point to changes in the form of gains and declines in various yam land use indicators and dangers to the adjourning ecosystem. Also, GIS mappings detected dispersal of trends in space where production and land use changes and fertilizer stayed steady. With variations linked to many socio-economic, and physical forces, the study offered remedies stretching from education to the design of regional yam land resource information system

Analyzing Water Resource Challenges in the US Eastern Zone

One major narrative over the last several years, consistent with the US Northeast region in policy discourse rests on its perception as a hub with high concentration of city bright lights and skyscrapers but short on water usage. In the process, no one thinks about how the rising demands from urban residential areas to hydroelectricity and climate change stressors impact the hydrology. Yet, what is forgotten is that the economic engine driving the region comes from the interactions in a complex hydrological network anchored in water distribution dependency. At the same time, a closer look at various states indicates that the “big apple” area along with its neighbors most notably Maryland, New jersey, and Pennsylvania all share a heavy penchant in the use of water resources. With people obsessed with bright lights of the “big apple” and activities rooted in the growing use of water amidst disparate distribution. The use levels in the zone rely on surface and subterranean ground water types. Aside from the dependence on surface water, there exists sectoral imbalances in water distribution, the threats of pollution, and droughts precipitated by climate change parameters. Given hydroelectricity’s ranking as the largest water user in such a heavily urbanized setting, the consumption levels affirm the primacy of New York ahead of the others. While the rising incidence of water mining together with the risks and impacts remain highly evident, it does not occur in a vacuum due to socio-economic and ecological factors located within the regional hydrology. Still, water resources issues therein seemed overlooked in previous studies. This research will bridge that void using a mix-scale approach involving the fusion of GIS and descriptive statistics in the Northeast US. With emphasis on the issues, trends, environmental analysis, impacts, factors, and institutional efforts in place. The results point to rising use of water, impacts, changes in allocation, the dispersion of water use indicators across space and sectorial disparity amidst a host of elements. In all these, the paper proffered remedies ranging from public enlightenment, monitoring, the design of regional water management information systems, conservation plans and the enactment of effective policies