Intensive Level Survey of and National Register Nomination for College Gardens Residential District, Stillwater, Oklahoma

This project consists of an intensive level architectural and historic survey and nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the College Gardens Residential District in Stillwater, Oklahoma, an historic residential area adjoining the west side of the Oklahoma State University campus. The survey will be conducted in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Identification and Evaluation, as well as the guidelines for intensive level surveys specified by the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Historical Society and National Parks Service

PI: Brad Bays

 

Reconnaissance Level Survey of Portions of Three Northwestern Oklahoma Towns: Goodwell, Guymon and Hooker

Four objectives direct this project: 1) To locate and identify all buildings, objects, structures, sites and districts within each area that warrant further study to determine their eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; 2) To record and photograph those individual properties and potential districts in the project area that warrant further study; 3) To identify and characterize those portions of the project area that warrant no further study to exclude them from consideration for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places; and 4) To identify and annotate all reference materials necessary for completing National Register Nominations of properties and districts located in the study area.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Historical Society

PI: Brad Bays

 

Reconnaissance Level Survey of Ada, Oklahoma

Four objectives direct this project: 1) To locate and identify all buildings, objects, structures, sites and districts within the Ada, Oklahoma area that warrant further study to determine their eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; 2) To record and photograph those individual properties and potential districts in the Ada area that warrant further study; 3) To identify and characterize those portions of the Ada area that warrant no further study to exclude them from consideration for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places; and 4) To identify and annotate all reference materials necessary for completing National Register Nominations of properties and districts located in the Ada area.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Historical Society and National Parks Service

PI: Brad Bays

 

Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory (OLI) Database Project: Phase IV

The OLI is a record of the buildings, structures, sites, districts, and objects across Oklahoma obtained through the federal preservation program for which the OK/SHPO is responsible. The OLI is the central repository for information about Oklahoma’s historic properties and is used daily by OK/SHPO staff, other government agencies, preservation professionals, nonprofit preservation organizations, and concerned citizens. To maximize the use of this invaluable collection, its computerization is essential. The project maintains the National Register of Historic Places in Oklahoma interactive website and the placement of the OLI database on the web.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Historical Society and National Park Service

PIs: George Carney, Allen Finchum

 

Analyzing Socioeconomic Impacts of Highway Construction Activities in Oklahoma

This research seeks to expand a Geographic Information Systems-based methodology to analyze the socioeconomic impacts of highway bypasses in Oklahoma.  The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) wanted to formalize its analysis of economic impacts of highway bypasses, and a recent project delivered to ODOT was successful by highlighted several problems that need to be overcome for a more detailed analysis of bypass impacts: 1) Scale of the project—Due to the limited scope of the project, only the U.S. 70 corridor between Ardmore and Idabel was modeled in the original GIS database; 2) Business data availability—Due to the rural nature, business data for many small towns in Oklahoma are not disclosed in U.S. Census Bureau publications; and 3) Socioeconomic data availability—Also due to the state’s rural nature, detailed, spatially disaggregated social and economic data were not published for Oklahoma until the 1990 census, preventing any sort of analysis of changing characteristics over time.  Each of these major areas will be addressed by this research.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Transportation Center

PIs: Jonathan C. Comer, Allen Finchum

 

Holocene Landscape History in Southwestern Crimea, Ukraine

This research project involves palynological (pollen and spore analysis) and geomorpholoical studies aimed at reconstructing past landscapes around the ancient Greek city of Chersonesos, located within the limits of the modern city of Sevastopol. Although the main focus of the project was originally to reconstruct Greek farming landscapes in the Heraklean Peninsula during the 5th-2nd centuries B.C., this project now attempts to reconstruct the history of vegetation and soils for the entire Holocen period (the past 10,000 years). The peleoecological information for these reconstructions was recovered from sediments accumulated in wetlands and depressions. The main issues highlighted by the preliminary data recovered are the progressive transformation of the local flora through climatic change and human influences.

Sponsor: The Packard Humanities Institute through the Institute of Classical Archaeology of the University of Texas at Austin

PI: Carlos Cordova

 

The Potential of Holocene Deposits for Pollen Analysis and Vegetation Reconstruction in Jordan

This research project will focus on testing pollen preservation and concentration in floodplain deposits and in silt sequences trapped behind ancient dams. This study will also include analysis of surface pollen samples, which are to be used as a reference of modern pollen rain and testing of pollen preservation and concentration of present sedimentary deposits. The main goal is to explore the possibilities of pollen analysis for paleavegetaion reconstruction in semi-arid and arid regions.

Sponsor: Association of American Geographers Research Grants

PI: Carlos Cordova

 

Development of a Web Based Information Retrieval System for National Register Sites in Oklahoma

Information and photographs of all properties in the National Register of Historic Places in Oklahoma will be prepared for dissemination of the World Wide Web and a website to serve this information in both a text- and map- based format will be prepared. The map based retrieval system will allow the user to work with a fully interactive map displaying the location of all National Register locations in Oklahoma and connect the user to the appropriate text and photo record for the desired site. The project will encompass all preparation of the data, including scanning of site photographs, editing and display of text data, and construction of a complete user interface to allow easy access to the data for users throughout the state and nation.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Historical Society and National Park Service

PI: Allen Finchum

 

Reconnaissance Level Survey for Four East Central Oklahoma Towns: Henryetta, Holdenville, Wetumka and Wewoka

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the properties within the designated boundaries of the four study towns in order to identify those that are potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of History Places. This project also identifies districts that warrant further study as potential historic districts as well as individual properties and areas that do not warrant further study. This research will provide information that can be used for the evaluation of properties under the review and compliance program of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and will increase the area and number of recorded historic properties within Oklahoma.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Historical Society

PI: Alyson Greiner

 

Partnership Between OSU and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy; and Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages

This proposal aims to strengthen the structure of higher education in Uzbekistan by providing curriculum development and instructional expertise directed at what is potentially one of the most profitable, and to-date least exploited, of the country’s natural assets: tourism. This will be accomplished by sharing American expertise in tourism development across a spectrum of disciplines: business, journalism, political science and geography. American academics from these fields will share their knowledge and experience in tourism marketing, business law, management information systems, tourism advertising and strategy, economics and in developing a cadre of public administrators for the tourist industry in Uzbekistan. The significant end-product of the project is a comprehensive textbook on tourism in Uzbekistan, based on the cooperative work of the participants of the program. This text will be employed by future generations of Uzbekistani professionals in the field of tourism economics, thereby attracting badly needed foreign investment and currency, and generating employment opportunities in the Uzbek economy. Finally, the ancillary economic benefits to tourism development in Uzbekistan will be crucial to the future stability of the country.

Sponsor: USIA

PI: Reuel Hanks

 

GPS Tools for Geographers

The purpose of this project is to develop web-based instructional modules that address theory, operation, and applications of global positioning system (GPS) technology and its integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Increasing use of GPS within agriculture, transportation, natural resource management, and other fields highlights the importance of understanding GPS principles and application. Four modules will be designed for adaptation within undergraduate geography (or related) courses that emphasize basic navigation/positioning, spatial data capture, data management/integration, or the analysis of geographic information. Modules will contain presentation materials for instructors, interactive web-based lessons and testing, and “hands-on” field and lab exercises emphasizing data capture, processing, integration, or analysis. Following evaluation by a curricula review team and testing within selected universities and courses, the GPS Tools for Geographers web page will begin dissemination of this educational resource.

Sponsor: National Science Foundation

PIs: Michael Myers, Thomas Wikle

 

Developing a GIS-Based Tool for Automated Feature Information Retrieval from Multisource Geospacial Data: Application to CRP Mapping in Texas County, Oklahoma 

This project aims at developing a GIS-based tool, Automated Feature Information Retrieval System (AFIRS), for remote-sensing (RS) applications. In addition to satellite imagery, AFIRS will involve multisource geospatial data to achieve accurate and robust feature extractions. The proposed AFIRS will be used as an analytical tool to aid in the delineation of USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) tracts and to achieve accurate and detailed digital CRP maps.

Sponsor: Environmental Institute — Water Research Center

PIs: Mahesh Rao, Guoliang Fan

 

EPIC-View: Developing Model Calibration and Validation Tools

The project in collaboration with SST Development Group, Stillwater, aims at developing model calibration and validation tools for EPIC-View. EPIC-View is a user-friendly, GIS-based modeling system developed integrating EPIC with ArcView GIS. EPIC, (Erosion-Productivity Impact Calculator) is a hydrologic/crop growth/ water quality model that can be used to determine the effect of management strategies on agricultural production and soil and water resources.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST)

PIs: Mahesh Rao, David Waits

 

Radiometric Studies to Characterize the Onset of Greenbug-Induced Stress in Wheat: Phase II

A critical component of integrated past management (IPM) involves a method for monitoring fields to determine whether there is a pest problem. Remote sensing techniques can identify pest infestations in agricultural fields. Field-based remote sensing techniques could provide a vital tool to study such stress in crop plants. The aim of this research is to determine the onset of change in the spectral characteristics in wheat canopy when subjected to stress due to greenbug, an economically important insect pest of wheat. Such studies will greatly enhance the understanding of the greenbug pest outbreaks and provide a significant basis to initiate control measures. There also exists as immense potential for such studies to scale up to different remote sensing platforms such as aircraft and satellite, considering the tremendous improvements in sensor characteristics that include both spatial and spectral resolutions.

Sponsor: University Center for Water Research (UCWR)

PI: Mahesh Rao

 

U.S. Sport Databases

Development of U.S. facility databases for golf, tennis, and skiing. Analysis of geo-demographic demand characteristics and patterns for golf, tennis, and skiing for the period 1980-1993. The merging of supply and demand will create predictive models for the location of new facilities through the year 2000.

Sponsor: New York Times Leisure Division

PI: John Rooney

 

Automated Weather Mesonetwork for Oklahoma

With personnel from the OSU Division of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources and the University of Oklahoma, work has continued toward a state-of-the-art, automated, weather reporting network for Oklahoma. The system became operational in 1994.

Sponsor: State of Oklahoma

PIs: Stephen Stadler

University of Oklahoma: Ken Crawford

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering: Ron Elliott

University of Oklahoma: Howard Johnson

NSSL: David Stensrud

OSU: Al Sutherland

 

Oklahoma Wind Power Assessment Initiative

This project is a joint effort with personnel from the University of Oklahoma assessing wind power potential for siting of wind turbines across Oklahoma. Using a wind power model employing Oklahoma Mesonet wind summaries, digital elevation models, and landuse/landcover (surface roughness) the entire state is being examined in grid cells less than 400 m across. Within a GIS we are incorporating the results from the wind power modeling with infrastructure features (e.g., location of roads and power grids) and land ownership types (e.g., avoidance of wildlife reserves) to produce maps identifying the most favorable sites for wind power development.

Sponsor: Oklahoma State Senate

PI: Steve Stadler

 

Terrestrial Environmental Variables Derived from EOS Platform Sensors

This research will be used to exploit the compliment of measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MOSDIS) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), soon to be orbited on EOS AM-1, as well as Landsat-7, to refine and improve measurements of near-surface environmental conditions that constrain terrestrial net primary production. Also included will be the continued use of the afternoon orbit AVHRR sensor to: 1) transition from the AVHRR historical record; 2) improve diurnal, temporal understanding; and 3) anticipate use of MIDOS observations from EOS PM-1. This suite of EOS and AVHRR observations provides a substantial opportunity to improve measurements of near-surface environmental conditions. The refinements in radiometry and spectral, spatial and temporal coverage should contribute to significant advances in the precision and accuracy of measuring terrestrial patterns of air temperature, atmospheric moisture, and soil moisture. This in turn should lead to more accurate assessments of global and regional patterns and inter-annual dynamics of net primary production.

Sponsor: NASA

PI: Steven Stadler

 

Integrating Mesonet Data with GIS to Create a Decision Support System for Agricultural Producers

The purpose of this project is to create a spatial decision support system that integrates meteorological data into regional and site-specific GIS databases that agricultural producers can utilize as a management aid in their operations.

Sponsors: National Aeronautics and Space Administration—EPSCoR, Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education

PI: David Waits

 

Oklahoma Wind Power Assessment Initiative, Phase II: Initial Analysis of Mesonet Wind Products and Landscape Data

The project is a joint effort with personnel from the University of Oklahoma studying the spatial variations in the suitability of the Oklahoma landscape relative to wind power development. The study is based on two scales: 1) Small scale wind generation (50 Kw or less) suitable for households and small businesses; and 2) Large scale wind farms (10 Kw or more) suitable for connection to existing power grids. In a geographic information system (GIS) covering the entire state, we are incorporating several layers of data (wind power potential, existing power transmission grids, access to roads, land ownership, etc.) to identify more and less suitable sites of potential development for wind power. The high spatial resolution of this work is fostered by the incorporation of the wind data from the Oklahoma Mesonet that provides mesoscale measurements of wind.

Sponsor: OSU Energy Institute

PIs: Steve Stadler, Allen Finchum

 

Hypothesis-Based Earth Science for Middle School Teachers

The underlying goal of developing hypothesis-based learning (HBL) lessons for earth science education is to provide middle school teachers with lessons that bring excitement that comes with posing questions, thinking critically and combining knowledge with observations. Instead of a topical approach to earth science, HBL lessons will be created to reflect a “systems” within earth sciences, emphasizing interrelationships among earth’s dynamic processes.

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education

PIs: Thomas Wikle

Geology: Richard Marston

 

REU Site of GIS and Soil/Water Research

The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site provides ten undergraduate students with unique opportunities to taste the excitement of the research process through applications of geographic information system (GIS) to soil and water research problems. With the assistance of their mentors, student researchers are responsible for: 1) conceptualizing a research question; 2) data collection; 3) GIS and statistical analysis; and 4) interpretation and presentation of project results. Examples of the topic areas for projects include GIS-based investigations of phosphorus and sediment transport, evaluating soil and water constraints on urban development and studies of regional evapotranspiration.

Sponsor: National Science Foundation

PIs: Thomas Wikle, Michael Myers