There will be three GIS seminars on May 6, 2024.

Seminar 1: Floodplain sediment and phosphorus accretion in the West Nishnabotna River corridor, Iowa

Presenter: Kelvin Baah, Natural Resource Ecology and Management, GIS Certificate Candidate
Advisor: Dr. Peter Moore

Abstract

Significant amounts of phosphorus entering fluvial systems in Iowa originate from eroding streambanks rather than direct agricultural runoffs. Fine alluvial sediments in riverbanks, often enriched in legacy phosphorus, are transferred to surface waters upon bank erosion. In large rivers across the agricultural Midwest, most total phosphorus is transported as particulate phosphorus. Some sediment and phosphorus can be returned to the floodplain during overbank flow conditions. Floodplain surface height and vegetation type and distribution are expected to influence the magnitude of overbank sediment deposition, but few studies have quantified these roles. This study aims to characterize the influence of floodplain height and vegetation on the magnitude and spatial distribution of sediment and phosphorus accretion in the West Nishnabotna River corridor. Floodplain height was estimated using the HAND (height above nearest drainage) GIS algorithm. Vegetation communities were mapped by reclassifying existing land cover according to field observations. These data are being analyzed alongside sediment accretion using LiDAR-based geomorphic change detection. This study will enlighten us on how floodplain height and different vegetation communities trap sediment and phosphorus during floods.

Seminar 2: Creating a New Digital Soil Map for Nigeria to Inform Decisions for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity and Food Security

Presenter: Oyeyemi Raphael OYELEKE, Agronomy, GIS Certificate Candidate
Advisor: Dr. Bradley Miller

Abstract

The objective of this project is to create a new digital soil map for Nigeria to replace the traditional Soil map produced in 1964, which will inform decisions for sustainable agricultural productivity and  Food security. The procedure will involve using Nigeria georeferenced soil data, remote sensing data, and digital terrain derivatives to create the environmental covariates stack. The data integration begins with extracting values from the covariate stack for the soil observation points. That dataset is then split. (80%) for training and validation (20%) for the machine learning algorithm using Cubist. The model generated by Cubist is applied to the covariate stack to produce a continuous map of soil properties. The reserved 20% of soil observations are then used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the spatial model and communicate the level of uncertainty to end users.

Seminar 3: Movement Ecology of the Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)

Presenter: Rachel Siller, Natural Resources and Ecology Mangaement, GIS Certificate Candidate
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Dinsmore

Abstract

The Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) is a medium-sized shorebird that breeds in the Great Plains and has experienced recent population declines. During the summers of 2021-2023, I placed high-frequency GPS tags on plovers in Phillips County, Montana. I used a leg-loop harness to permanently attach the tags, which allowed for data collection across the full annual cycle. With this fine-scale movement data we gained new insight into breeding behavior from incubation through post-breeding, such as plovers’ use of prairie-dog colonies, incubation behavior, and brood movements. From the plovers that returned, we were also able to gain insight into the timing of migration and details about their route and stopover locations. Understanding how plovers move across the landscape and how these movement patterns differ between life stages can help guide management decisions. 

The GIS Seminar Series is hosted by the Department of Community and Regional Planning.