Project Index
Click on a project title to link directly to the project description.
Project SP20a: Mapping post-fire tree cover using object-based image analysis – position filled
Project SP20b: Digitizing the built infrastructure within an Arctic watershed – position filled
Project SP20c: Midwestern Streetcars and Neighborhood Change – position filled
Project SP20d: Spotted Lanternfly Media and Policy Analysis – position filled
Project SP20e: Climate Model Flux Tower Intercomparison– position filled
Project SP20f: VR experiments and data processing – position filled
Project SP20a: Mapping post-fire tree cover using object-based image analysis
Researcher: Jamie Peeler peeler@psu.edu
Position type: Physical Geography/Remote Sensing/GIS
Application deadline: position filled
Project and position description
This project will map post-fire tree cover at two recent fires in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Time permitting, the project can be extended to include pattern analysis of the maps using FRAGSTATS. Results will be used to support research on how landscape context supports post-fire forest recovery. The undergraduate assistant will be expected to work independently. However, we will meet weekly to discuss progress and other interests in physical geography. The undergraduate assistant will also be expected to give a 5-minute presentation alongside other UROC participants in April 2020.
Desired qualifications
Successful completion of GEOG 314 and familiarity with ArcMap 10.5.
This project will require 45 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1 credit for the spring term.
Project SP20b: Digitizing the built infrastructure within an Arctic watershed (revised project)
Researcher: Michelle Ritchie mar550@psu.edu
Position type: GIS data processing
Application deadline: position filled
Project and position description
This project will involve digitizing and defining the structures of a field study site using ArcGIS Pro. The landscape of the field study site is diverse in its ecology, topography, and weather extremes. The human connections to these landscape patterns are also unique. As such, the successful applicant will catalogue, digitize, and geolocate the built infrastructure (e.g., single- and multi-family houses, spaces of worship, bridges). Google Earth and high-resolution satellite imagery will serve as a proxy for ground-truthing. The successful applicant will find this project strengthens their GIS, database management, and organizational skills. Deliverables will include a map package and metadata
Desired qualifications
Prerequisites: Successful completion of GEOG 363; additional completion of GEOG 361 preferred. Applicants should have an advanced understanding of ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth, and Microsoft Access.
This project will require 45-90 hours of work (1-2 credits) over the course the spring semester.
Project SP20c: Midwestern Streetcars and Neighborhood Change
Researcher: Bradley Hinger bfh5093@psu.edu
Position type: Cartography/GIS
Application deadline: position filled
Project and position description
Public transportation not only helps people move through the city but has the ability to transform urban spaces themselves. This project is an exploration of the relationship between streetcars built in Midwestern cities over the past 10-15 years and changing neighborhood dynamics along their routes with particular interest in racial transformations.
This project has two primary goals: 1) Following accepted methods, student will map out streetcar routes and stops and their intersections with other forms of transportation (e.g. buses). Additionally, student will help to gather ridership information where available. 2) Student will map out neighborhood characteristics (e.g. demographics, occupancy, zoning, etc.) through time. Creativity is encouraged and any additional objects of analysis related to the project’s main theme that the student is interested in may be pursued.
Student will be expected to:
- meet weekly to discuss work updates
- create and maintain ArcMap files with complete documentation
- create clear and insightful visualizations
Desired qualifications
Successful candidates will have proficiency in ArcGIS, the ability to work independently, and an attention to detail. An interest in urban geography, transportation, and issues of race and racism is encouraged.
This project will require 45-90 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-2 credits for the spring term. The opportunity to work additional hours for an additional credit exists depending upon student interest.
Project SP20d: Spotted Lanternfly Media and Policy Analysis
Researcher: Sara Cavallo sec271@psu.edu
Position type: Data collection and analysis
Application deadline: position filled
Project and position description
Following its discovery in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has rapidly spread across eastern Pennsylvania, causing much concern for the orchard and hardwood industries. With the potential for millions of dollars in losses, response to the pest has been swift at the state level with the Governor allocating $3 million dollars towards research and management of the pest (Express-Times, 2019). The spotted lanternfly is a social-environmental problem, as it is spread most often by human transport, yet it is also limited by specific habitat preferences. Taken together, these factors have made management of the pests a multi-faceted and multi-stakeholder issue. The UROC student will collect news and policy documents related to the spotted lanternfly and associated management techniques and analyze them using qualitative coding methods (to be determined in conjunction with UROC supervisor) in order to understand how different stakeholders (incl. government, researchers, etc.) conceptualize the nature of this social-environmental problem.
Express-press Times. 2019. All-out effort needed to combat spotted lanternfly in Pa. https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/2019/08/all-out-effort-needed-to-combat-spotted-lanternfly-in-pa-editorial.html
Desired qualifications
Applicants should have taken at least one environment & society geography course (GEOG 1N, 3N, 30N, 230, 330N, 430 431, 432, 438). Previous experience with qualitative data analysis and/or an interest in invasive species preferred but not required.
This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the spring term.
Project SP20e: Climate Model Flux Tower Intercomparison
Researcher: Mikael Hiestand mph21@psu.edu
Position type: Data analysis
Application deadline: position filled
Project and position description
This project offers the opportunity to engage in climate research and become a coauthor of a journal article for publication in a top-tier meteorological journal. The project will compare heat and water fluxes from meteorological tower sites around the world to several different models using the R programming language. The goal will be to assess different climate models’ abilities to accurately reproduce flux tower data. The primary task for the undergraduate researcher will be to assist in the data processing by downloading climate data sets and running the statistical analysis R.
Desired qualifications
- A general knowledge of basic climate principles (e.g. successful completion of GEOG 310)
- An understanding of basic statistics (e.g. successful completion of STAT 200)
- Past programming experience OR a willingness to learn R (e.g. successful completion of GEOG 365)
This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the spring term
Project SP20f: VR experiments and data processing
Researcher: Jiawei (Jade) Huang jzh87@psu.edu
Position type: Data processing/experiment assistant/literature review
Application deadline: position filled
Project and position description
Assistance is needed with one or more of the following tasks:
- Data processing. Example scenario: I have collected participant spatial recall data, which is the distance between a recalled location and the actual location. How would you know how well a participant performed in the memory task? It is likely that the smaller the error is, the better he/she performed. However, it could be that despite the small error, the participant actually placed the object on the wrong surface (on the desk as opposed to on the ground, for example). Your task, then, is to categorize the errors and reorganize the data, which is not hard, but requires attention to detail.
- Assist researcher with with VR experiments, which can involve participant recruitment, sending emails, and conducting experiments.
- Literature review and summary
Desired qualifications
Applicants must have excellent attention to detail and be able to work independently. Preferred qualifications (not required):
- Large social network (ie, can contact many friends to participate in VR experiments)
- Experience conducting experiments involving human subjects
- Experience with C++ development
- Knowledge of R
This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the spring term