The DSpace digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. http://repository.arizona.edu:80 2026-05-10T05:37:09Z 2026-05-10T05:37:09Z Purvis, John W., III http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680128 2026-05-09T01:12:53Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF URBAN GROWTH AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACE EXPANSION IN BARTOW, FLORIDA (2004–2024) USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING Purvis, John W., III This study analyzes urban growth and impervious surface expansion in Bartow, Florida, between 2004 and 2024 using GIS and Landsat satellite imagery. The purpose of this study was to quantify land-use change over time and assess how urban expansion affects infrastructure distribution and environmental conditions. The research question examines how urban growth has increased impervious surface coverage and influenced municipal infrastructure. Landsat 5 imagery (2004) and Landsat 8/9 imagery (2024) were classified using supervised classification techniques in ArcGIS Pro. Land cover classes were grouped into developed and non-developed categories, and post-classification change detection was used to quantify land conversion. Infrastructure datasets were overlaid to evaluate spatial relationships with development patterns. The results showed that developed land increased by approximately 20–35%, primarily along transportation corridors, while vegetation and undeveloped land decreased. Impervious surfaces expanded into previously undeveloped parcels, and development patterns were closely aligned with existing infrastructure systems. These findings demonstrate that urban growth in Bartow has increased impervious surface coverage and altered land distribution patterns. This study highlights the value of GIS and remote sensing for monitoring urban expansion and supporting sustainable planning decisions.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Salas, Nicholas http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680127 2026-05-08T01:11:42Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND HABITAT SUITABILITY MODELING OF CULEX QUINQUEFACIATUS IN TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS (2020-2022) Salas, Nicholas Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant public health threat, requiring local agencies to implement control strategies using an Integrated Mosquito Management approach. Given limited resources, identifying high-risk areas is essential for effective environmental control of West Nile virus (WNV). This study evaluates the spatial patterns and environmental predictors of adult female Culex quinquefasciatus abundance in Tarrant County, Texas, from 2020 to 2022. Spatial analysis and Empirical Bayesian Kriging were employed to identify abundance clusters and visualize county-wide distribution. In comparing global and local regression frameworks, Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) outperformed standard models (Adjusted R-Squared = 0.393; AICc = 349.29). This demonstrated that environmental drivers operate across distinct spatial scales, with average temperature and NDVI emerging as the most significant local drivers, while distance to wetlands and population density exhibited broader influence. Finally, a habitat suitability map was developed using a weighted overlay approach to identify potential breeding areas. These combined analyses improve the understanding of vector distribution and provide a framework for targeted control efforts, resource prioritization, and public outreach in vulnerable communities to reduce WNV risk.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Haaser, Stephanie http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680126 2026-05-08T01:11:35Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Ecological impacts of the Laguna Wildfire using dynamic mapping Haaser, Stephanie In 2009, the Fire Executive Council released an updated guideline that restricted the classification of wildland fires to two categories: prescribed fire and wildland fire. In removing the historic wildland fire category, “Wildland Fire Use,” the Fire Executive Council removed an important wildland fire classification that could help researchers answer questions posed by the September 2022 National Prescribed Fire Program Review. This study demonstrates the importance of using additional wildland fire categories by evaluating the environmental data obtained from a dynamic mapping of a single wildland fire event. In this case study, satellite data was used to parse the 2025 Laguna Wildfire into three categories: Origin, Wildland Fire Use, and Escaped Fire. Satellite data was then employed to evaluate the severity of the wildland fire and the debris flow through the Rio Gallina originating from each category of the fire. A Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) analysis of the Laguna Fire demonstrates that the Laguna Fire burned with a primarily very low to low severity. The Escaped Fire had the highest percentage of moderate severity and severe fire, resulting in the largest impacts to the Rio Gallina watershed.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Freeseman, Benton http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680125 2026-05-08T01:11:29Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

SUITABILITY ANALYSIS FOR A LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTER IN MISSISSIPPI Freeseman, Benton As populations expand and age, the demand for rapid and reliable access to trauma care continues to increase, making the placement of trauma facilities critical for saving lives. This project determines the most appropriate locations for a Level II trauma center within the state of Mississippi. The study examines deficiencies in current trauma care coverage and identifies where an additional facility could improve emergency medical response. The analysis integrates spatial data on transportation infrastructure, existing trauma hospitals, population distribution, demographic risk factors, environmental hazards, and land-use constraints to support the site selection process. The research applies both vector and raster spatial methods to evaluate accessibility and potential service demand. Key variables include proximity to major road networks, distance from existing Level I, II, III, and IV trauma hospitals, census tract-level population change, and the spatial distribution of age-related injury risk. The model also incorporates environmental and land-use limitations, including national forests, protected wildlife areas, agricultural land, and flood-risk zones, to remove unsuitable development areas. The study conducts a Boolean suitability model to determine locations that satisfy essential criteria and a weighted suitability model to prioritize candidate sites based on the relative importance of each variable. Results classify regions as most suitable, suitable, low suitability, or unsuitable zones and highlight locations that could strengthen trauma care availability throughout Mississippi.

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