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Title: COASTAL SYSTEM VARIABILITY OF THE BEACH-NEARSHORE ENVIRONMENT FROM NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC INFLUENCES.
Creator: Brown, Nicholas, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: The coastal system provides habitat, storm protection, and economic value. In particular, Florida’s beaches are subject to chronic coastal erosion resulting from natural and anthropogenic influences. The most common mitigation response is the nature-based solution of beach nourishment. While this method is widely considered effective, quantifying changes from the dredge and placement on the physical environment is critical to ensure best management practices. The first step in addressing the...
Show moreThe coastal system provides habitat, storm protection, and economic value. In particular, Florida’s beaches are subject to chronic coastal erosion resulting from natural and anthropogenic influences. The most common mitigation response is the nature-based solution of beach nourishment. While this method is widely considered effective, quantifying changes from the dredge and placement on the physical environment is critical to ensure best management practices. The first step in addressing the need to identify gaps in knowledge relating to natural and human-induced changes to the continental shelf, a comprehensive literature review of the US East and Gulf coast continental shelves was conducted identifying needs for more expansive sand searches, a greater understanding of storm impacts on shelf morphodynamics, planning for long-term use of offshore sediment sources, and the impact of dredging on habitats. This study then evaluated the northern Palm Beach County beaches adjacent to the Jupiter Inlet over multiple years to understand the effects of natural and human influence on the morphology and sedimentology of the beach-nearshore environment. Beach sediment was coarser near the Inlet and finer downdrift (south). Seasonal changes in the nearshore from storms decreased the grain size and eroded beaches, whereas nourishment increased grain size and expanded beach width. Influences of physical characteristics of the beach-nearshore environment on the ecosystem were examined based on two important marine species: loggerhead sea turtles and blacktip sharks. No adverse impacts from restoration activities were found on loggerhead reproductive success. However, the active 2020 hurricane season resulted in lower reproductive success metrics. The blacktip shark migration coincides with the typical nourishment construction window. High turbidity in the nearshore was documented in association with multiple nourishment events during the two-year study. The blacktip sharks were quantified in the nearshore south of the nourishment; however, whether the turbidity was influencing the shark aggregates or habitat preference remains unknown. These results support numerous benefits of beach nourishment but suggest further research is needed to evaluate how project construction may impact nearshore fauna. The findings of this study are important for coastal managers who may consider reviewing best management practices of the beach-nearshore system.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013982
Subject Headings: Coastal zone management, Beach nourishment, Coastal zone management--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: COMBINING TRADITIONAL AND IMAGE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES FOR UNCONSOLIDATED EXPOSED TERRIGENOUS BEACH SAND CHARACTERIZATION.
Creator: Smith, Molly Elizabeth, Zhang, Caiyun, Oleinik, Anton, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Traditional sand analysis is labor and cost-intensive, entailing specialized equipment and operators trained in geological analysis. Even a small step to automate part of the traditional geological methods could substantially improve the speed of such research while removing chances of human error. Digital image analysis techniques and computer vision have been well developed and applied in various fields but rarely explored for sand analysis. This research explores capabilities of remote...
Show moreTraditional sand analysis is labor and cost-intensive, entailing specialized equipment and operators trained in geological analysis. Even a small step to automate part of the traditional geological methods could substantially improve the speed of such research while removing chances of human error. Digital image analysis techniques and computer vision have been well developed and applied in various fields but rarely explored for sand analysis. This research explores capabilities of remote sensing digital image analysis techniques, such as object-based image analysis (OBIA), machine learning, digital image analysis, and photogrammetry to automate or semi-automate the traditional sand analysis procedure. Here presented is a framework combining OBIA and machine learning classification of microscope imagery for use with unconsolidated terrigenous beach sand samples. Five machine learning classifiers (RF, DT, SVM, k-NN, and ANN) are used to model mineral composition from images of ten terrigenous beach sand samples. Digital image analysis and photogrammetric techniques are applied and evaluated for use to characterize sand grain size and grain circularity (given as a digital proxy for traditional grain sphericity). A new segmentation process is also introduced, where pixel-level SLICO superpixel segmentation is followed by spectral difference segmentation and further levels of superpixel segmentation at the object-level. Previous methods of multi-resolution and superpixel segmentation at the object level do not provide the level of detail necessary to yield optimal sand grain-sized segments. In this proposed framework, the DT and RF classifiers provide the best estimations of mineral content of all classifiers tested compared to traditional compositional analysis. Average grain size approximated from photogrammetric procedures is comparable to traditional sieving methods, having an RMSE below 0.05%. The framework proposed here reduces the number of trained personnel needed to perform sand-related research. It requires minimal sand sample preparation and minimizes user-error that is typically introduced during traditional sand analysis.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013517
Subject Headings: Sand, Image analysis, Remote sensing, Photogrammetry--Digital techniques, Machine learning
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Commercialization of high-resolution earth observation satellite remote sensing.
Creator: Jarica, Cornelia Christa, Florida Atlantic University, Tata, Robert J., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: The imminent availability of high resolution satellite imagery is causing a paradigm shift in remote sensing. Detente brought about new policy directives in the U.S. and abroad, which opened up for civilian use former Earth observation spy technology down to one meter resolution, previously considered classified and strictly used by the intelligence communities for national security. This study describes a number of new ventures in the private sector which have been formed to launch...
Show moreThe imminent availability of high resolution satellite imagery is causing a paradigm shift in remote sensing. Detente brought about new policy directives in the U.S. and abroad, which opened up for civilian use former Earth observation spy technology down to one meter resolution, previously considered classified and strictly used by the intelligence communities for national security. This study describes a number of new ventures in the private sector which have been formed to launch commercial high resolution systems. The satellites' technical capabilities are analyzed, and application development options for the new imagery are discussed in detail. This new remote sensing data source is also seen within the framework of the larger GeoTechnology Industry to which it belongs, and the author proposes appropriate business strategies for successful commercialization.
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Date Issued: 1996
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15321
Subject Headings: Earth resources technology satellites, Remote sensing, Remote-sensing images, Geographic information systems
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Comparing salinity models in Whitewater Bay using remote sensing.
Creator: Selch, Donna, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: This study compared models that used remote sensing to assess salinity in Whitewater Bay. The quantitative techniques in this research allow for a less costly and quicker assessment of salinity values. Field observations and Landsat 5 TM imagery from 2003-2006 were separated into wet and dry seasons and temporally matched. Interpolation models of Inverse Distance Weighting and Kriging were compared to empirical regression models (Ordinary Least Squares and Geographically Weighted Regression -...
Show moreThis study compared models that used remote sensing to assess salinity in Whitewater Bay. The quantitative techniques in this research allow for a less costly and quicker assessment of salinity values. Field observations and Landsat 5 TM imagery from 2003-2006 were separated into wet and dry seasons and temporally matched. Interpolation models of Inverse Distance Weighting and Kriging were compared to empirical regression models (Ordinary Least Squares and Geographically Weighted Regression - GWR) via their Root Mean Square Error. The results showed that salinity analysis is more accurate in the dry season compared with the wet season. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the Landsat bands revealed the best band combination for salinity analysis in this local area. GWR is the most conducive model for estimating salinity because field observations are not required for future predictions once the local formula is established with available satellite imagery.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3356015
Subject Headings: Water quality, Measurement, Marine ecology, Remote sensing, Electromagnetic interactions, Water-supply
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Comparison and differentiation in fossil and recent specimens of the melongenid subgenus Rexmela in Florida.
Creator: Pletka, Crystal., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: The subgenus Rexmela, located primarily in Florida, is newly evolved, dating back 1.6 million years, first occurring in the Ayer's Landing Member of the Caloosahatchee Formation. This subgenus has highly variably shell morphology and has led to the erection of several species and subspecies. In order to provide a quantitative methodology with which to differentiate between populations, samples of Recent and fossil populations were collected and measured for a variety of parameters. The...
Show moreThe subgenus Rexmela, located primarily in Florida, is newly evolved, dating back 1.6 million years, first occurring in the Ayer's Landing Member of the Caloosahatchee Formation. This subgenus has highly variably shell morphology and has led to the erection of several species and subspecies. In order to provide a quantitative methodology with which to differentiate between populations, samples of Recent and fossil populations were collected and measured for a variety of parameters. The parameters measured included length, width, spire height, and several angles, and allowed for a discriminate analysis to be completed. The analysis supported the distinction of several of the populations as ecophenotypes. Paleoenvironments of the fossil populations were then recreated using analogues of Recent populations.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/187215
Subject Headings: Mollusks, Habitat, Gastropoda, Fossil, Aquatic invertebrates, Identification, Evolutionary paleobiology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A comparison of pixel based and object based vegetation community classification in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
Creator: Barone, Dorianne M., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Pixel based and object based vegetation community classification methods were performed using 30 meter spatial resolution Landsat satellite imagery of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), a remnant of the northern Everglades. Supervised classification procedures using maximum likelihood and parallelepiped algorithms were used to produce thematic maps with the following vegetation communities : wet prairie, sawgrass, cattail, tree island, brush, aquatic/open...
Show morePixel based and object based vegetation community classification methods were performed using 30 meter spatial resolution Landsat satellite imagery of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), a remnant of the northern Everglades. Supervised classification procedures using maximum likelihood and parallelepiped algorithms were used to produce thematic maps with the following vegetation communities : wet prairie, sawgrass, cattail, tree island, brush, aquatic/open water. Spectral data, as well as NDVI, texture and principal component data were used to produce vegetation community classification maps. The accuracy levels of the thematic maps produced were calculated and compared to one another. The pixel based approach using the parallelepiped classification algorithm on the spectral and NDVI dataset had the highest accuracy level. A generalized form of this classification using only three vegetation communities (all wet prairie, tree island/brush and aquatic/open water) was compared to a previously published classification which used 1987 SPOT imagery in order to extract information on possible vegetation community transitions that are occurring within the Refuge. Results of the study indicate that 30 meter spatial resolution may be useful for understanding broad vegetation community trends but not species level trends. Pixel based procedures provide a more accurate classification than object based procedures for this landscape when using 30 meter imagery. Lastly, since 1987 there may be a trend of tree island/brush communities replacing wet prairie communities in the northern part of the Refuge and a transition to wet prairie communities in place of tree island/brush communities in the southern portion of the Refuge.
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Date Issued: 2008
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/58002
Subject Headings: Ecosystem management, Vegetation dynamics, Vegetation classification, Spatial ecology, Mathematical models
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Comparison of the spatiotemporal variability of dredge material at two inletadjacent beaches.
Creator: Scheinkman, Austin, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: This study analyzed two different inlet management strategies being utilized in Palm Beach County and compared how the downdrift beaches were affected by those strategies throughout the year. Cross-sectional beach profiles, Digital Elevation Model comparisons, and subaerial volumetric change were analyzed for patterns in postplacement beach morphology. Trends in cross- and alongshore grainsize were also analyzed. In Boca Raton the inlet was dredged multiple times a month depending on the...
Show moreThis study analyzed two different inlet management strategies being utilized in Palm Beach County and compared how the downdrift beaches were affected by those strategies throughout the year. Cross-sectional beach profiles, Digital Elevation Model comparisons, and subaerial volumetric change were analyzed for patterns in postplacement beach morphology. Trends in cross- and alongshore grainsize were also analyzed. In Boca Raton the inlet was dredged multiple times a month depending on the level of infilling and the material was placed on the beach immediately downdrift of the inlet. The downdrift beach of the Boca Raton inlet underwent a cycle of shoreline advance in the summer and shoreline retreat in the winter. It was dominated by seasonal processes and its morphologic change was the direct result of shifts in the wind and waves without having a beach more than 60 to 80 meters over the course of the study. In Jupiter, the inlet was dredged on a near annual basis and the material was placed 600m south of the inlet. The size and scope of the larger one-time annual nourishment project resulted in beach widths upwards of 120 meters. The equilibration process that followed in both the cross- and alongshore are what dominated the morphological trends experienced at the site. The results of this study should help coastal managers without current inlet management strategies, compare and overview two different successful inlet management options. For future studies, researchers should extend the monitoring period and extend profiles to the depth of closure to capture. Sediment is a valuable resource, and it’s important for best management practices to maximize benefits and protect downdrift beaches for long-term resiliency of coastal communities.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014010
Subject Headings: Inlets, Coastal zone management, Sediment, Beaches--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Content standards for digital geospatial metadata: A quality control tool for project management.
Creator: Parent, Elena A., Florida Atlantic University, Shaw, Shih-Lung, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Dissemination of geographic technologies to various application areas have resulted in people without adequate spatial background manipulating these technologies. This thesis will set forth a process for increasing the data quality in projects for anyone who implements these procedures. It includes documents that are designed on the basis of Metadata Content Standards to extract pertinent information. The process also implements the semi-autonomous work group for these projects. It brings...
Show moreDissemination of geographic technologies to various application areas have resulted in people without adequate spatial background manipulating these technologies. This thesis will set forth a process for increasing the data quality in projects for anyone who implements these procedures. It includes documents that are designed on the basis of Metadata Content Standards to extract pertinent information. The process also implements the semi-autonomous work group for these projects. It brings people of different strengths into one cohesive work unit while expanding the knowledge of each and allowing for dispersal of information in an efficient manner.
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Date Issued: 1996
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15251
Subject Headings: Digital mapping--Standards, Cartography--Automation--Standards
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Contested spaces: NTFPS, livelihoods, and conservation planning.
Creator: Mitchell, Christine M., Esnard, Ann-Margaret, Ivy, Russell L., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: This research examines tensions between Latino/a farmworkers, who rely on the seasonal harvest of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens [W. Bartram] Small) berries for increased livelihood security, and conservationists and land-managers who view harvesting as detrimental for wildlife. Informal harvesting occurs on public and private lands, sometimes without permission. Berries, though ubiquitous on the landscape, have become a contested resource. The rapid conversion of rural wildlife habitat into...
Show moreThis research examines tensions between Latino/a farmworkers, who rely on the seasonal harvest of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens [W. Bartram] Small) berries for increased livelihood security, and conservationists and land-managers who view harvesting as detrimental for wildlife. Informal harvesting occurs on public and private lands, sometimes without permission. Berries, though ubiquitous on the landscape, have become a contested resource. The rapid conversion of rural wildlife habitat into suburban development has increased State urgency to bring natural areas into protection along the Florida Ecological Greenways Network. Habitat infringement and associated pressures on wildlife by development has led to the promotion of the state-wide Florida Wildlife Corridor, based on the FEGN. This corridor would connect isolated Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) populations and Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) with other populations. The scale of the commercial berry industry is unknown, but is estimated at millions of pounds annually. State and wildlife conservationists are increasingly concerned with the perceived scale of the harvest and its possible associated effects on wildlife, particularly Florida black bears.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004308, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004308
Subject Headings: Agriculture -- Economic aspects, Agriculture -- Environmental aspects, Biodiversity conservation, Land use -- Environmental aspects, Land use -- Planning, Non timber forest products -- Government policy, Non timber forest products -- Management, Wildlife management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: CONTROLS ON ARSENIC CONCENTRATIONS IN GROUNDWATER AT A FORMER GOLF COURSE IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA.
Creator: Watson, D.S. Monty, Root, Tara L., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Arsenic is a known carcinogen, but is persistent in the environment, remaining a popular pesticide. It represents a particular hazard to humans when it stays resident in shallow soils and groundwater. This study of contaminant hydrogeology examined conditions at a former golf course in Florida with known arsenic contamination, and included a detailed examination of existing assessment data for the study area, an experimental pumping test with groundwater sampling, examination of sediment...
Show moreArsenic is a known carcinogen, but is persistent in the environment, remaining a popular pesticide. It represents a particular hazard to humans when it stays resident in shallow soils and groundwater. This study of contaminant hydrogeology examined conditions at a former golf course in Florida with known arsenic contamination, and included a detailed examination of existing assessment data for the study area, an experimental pumping test with groundwater sampling, examination of sediment cores, and a preliminary geophysical investigation. The primary purpose was to determine what the existing controls are on As mobility. The primary findings were that redox conditions did have an effect on As concentrations. Groundwater in the study area is generally reducing, but during the pumping test was generally oxidizing. No potential As sources were definitively identified, and the most likely source remains anthropogenic, but interactive conditions with Fe, Mn, NO3-N, and S remain nebulous.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013574
Subject Headings: Hydrogeology--Florida, Boca Raton (Fla), Groundwater--Arsenic content, Arsenic--Analysis
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Cultural and spatial perceptions of Miami's Little Havana.
Creator: Cordoba, Hilton A., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Miami's "Little Havana" is known by many for its famous Southwest 8th Street, the Calle Ocho festival, and for the many Latin people, particularly Cubans, that live in the area. However, the current name of the neighborhood hides all of the dynamics of neighborhood change and creates the notion that Little Havana is a static monoculture neighborhood. This study measured people's perception of Little Havana by surveying 153 residents to identify the cultural associations and to capture the...
Show moreMiami's "Little Havana" is known by many for its famous Southwest 8th Street, the Calle Ocho festival, and for the many Latin people, particularly Cubans, that live in the area. However, the current name of the neighborhood hides all of the dynamics of neighborhood change and creates the notion that Little Havana is a static monoculture neighborhood. This study measured people's perception of Little Havana by surveying 153 residents to identify the cultural associations and to capture the participant's spatial perceptions of Little Havana. This study found that survey participants from inside the study area associated Little Havana more with Cuban culture and had more positive things to say about the neighborhood. Finally, this study suggests that the core of Little Havana was encompassed by West Flagler Street on the north, Southwest 8th Street on the south, Southwest 27th Avenue on the west, and Southwest 4th Avenue on the east.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3174508
Subject Headings: Cuban Americans, Social life and customs, History, Description and travel, Social life and customs
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Culturally derived watersheds and their effect on the spectral signatures of vegetation in the Dupuis Reserve.
Creator: Householder, Eric James, Florida Atlantic University, Roberts, Charles, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Like so many natural areas in south Florida, the Dupuis Reserves' landscape has gone through extreme alteration due to numerous cultural activities. Activities including drainage, cattle ranching, and citrus farming have altered the reserves natural hydrology causing the formation of several watersheds. This hydrologic alteration has caused the once homogenous ecosystem to fragment into two separate landscapes: one dominated by drainage and human impact while the other remains in a relatively...
Show moreLike so many natural areas in south Florida, the Dupuis Reserves' landscape has gone through extreme alteration due to numerous cultural activities. Activities including drainage, cattle ranching, and citrus farming have altered the reserves natural hydrology causing the formation of several watersheds. This hydrologic alteration has caused the once homogenous ecosystem to fragment into two separate landscapes: one dominated by drainage and human impact while the other remains in a relatively natural state. This study will attempt to determine, with the use of remote sensing, geographic information systems and digital image classifications if culturally derived watersheds cause significant change in the spectral signatures of vegetation. Results indicate that when the study site is sectioned along culturally derived watersheds, classification accuracy is significantly improved.
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Date Issued: 1997
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15499
Subject Headings: Watersheds--Florida, Vegetation classification--Florida, Hydrology--Florida, Dupuis Reserve (Fla )
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Data Fusion of LiDAR and Aerial Imagery to Map the Campus of Florida Atlantic University.
Creator: Gamboa, Nicole, Zhang, Caiyun, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Reliable geographic intelligence is essential for urban areas; land-cover classification creates the data for urban spatial decision making. This research tested a methodology to create a land-cover map for the main campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The accuracy of nine separate land-cover classification results were tested; the one with the highest accuracy was chosen for the final map. Object-based image segmentation was applied to fused and LiDAR point cloud ...
Show moreReliable geographic intelligence is essential for urban areas; land-cover classification creates the data for urban spatial decision making. This research tested a methodology to create a land-cover map for the main campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The accuracy of nine separate land-cover classification results were tested; the one with the highest accuracy was chosen for the final map. Object-based image segmentation was applied to fused and LiDAR point cloud (elevation and intensity) data and aerial imagery. These were classified by Random Forest, k-Nearest Neighbor and Support Vector Machines classifiers. Shadow features were reclassified hierarchically in order to create a complete map. The Random Forest classifier used with the fused data set gave the highest overall accuracy at 82.3%, and a Kappa value at 0.77. When combined with the results from the shadow reclassification, the overall accuracy increased to 86.3% and the Kappa value improved to 0.82.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004595, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004595
Subject Headings: Spatial analysis (Statistics), Geographic information systems., Cartography--Remote sensing., Thematic maps., Geospatial data--Mathematical models., Criminal justice, Administration of., African Americans, Violence against.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Deep-Water Biogenic Sediment off the Coast of Florida.
Creator: Zuccarelli, Claudio L., Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Biogenic “oozes” are pelagic sediments that are composed of > 30% carbonate microfossils and are estimated to cover about 50% of the ocean floor, which accounts for about 67% of calcium carbonate in oceanic surface sediments worldwide. These deposits exhibit diverse assemblages of planktonic microfossils and contribute significantly to the overall sediment supply and function of Florida’s deep-water regions. However, the composition and distribution of biogenic sediment deposits along these...
Show moreBiogenic “oozes” are pelagic sediments that are composed of > 30% carbonate microfossils and are estimated to cover about 50% of the ocean floor, which accounts for about 67% of calcium carbonate in oceanic surface sediments worldwide. These deposits exhibit diverse assemblages of planktonic microfossils and contribute significantly to the overall sediment supply and function of Florida’s deep-water regions. However, the composition and distribution of biogenic sediment deposits along these regions remains poorly documented. Seafloor surface sediments have been collected in situ via Johnson- Sea-Link I submersible along four of Florida’s deep-water regions during a joint research cruise between Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Sedimentological analyses of the taxonomy, species diversity, and sedimentation dynamics reveal a complex interconnected development system of Florida’s deep-water habitats. Results disclose characteristic microfossil assemblages of planktonic foraminiferal ooze off the South West Florida Shelf, a foraminiferal-pteropod ooze through the Straits of Florida, and pteropod ooze deposits off Florida’s east coast. The distribution of the biogenic ooze deposits is attributed to factors such as oceanographic surface production, surface and bottom currents, off-bank transport, and deep-water sediment drifts. The application of micropaleontology, sedimentology, and oceanography facilitate in characterizing the sediment supply to Florida’s deep-water regions.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004857
Subject Headings: Marine sediments., Sediment transport., Deep-sea ecology., Ecosystem management., Micropaleontology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DEFENSIBLE SPACE IN A PRIVATELY-OWNED HOUSING PROJECT.
Creator: VANHORN, SHARYN J., Florida Atlantic University, Tata, Robert J., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: This paper analyzes a high density housing project in terms of its defensible space. The behavior of residents of Citrus Park Homes was seen as indicative of tenant attitudes toward their home project, its sense of community, of safety and security, and pride of ownership. Analysis of this privately-owned project includes a description of the physical structure, spatial characteristics, tenant characteristics and tenant attitudes, as evidenced in interviews with 83 adult residents. Where poor...
Show moreThis paper analyzes a high density housing project in terms of its defensible space. The behavior of residents of Citrus Park Homes was seen as indicative of tenant attitudes toward their home project, its sense of community, of safety and security, and pride of ownership. Analysis of this privately-owned project includes a description of the physical structure, spatial characteristics, tenant characteristics and tenant attitudes, as evidenced in interviews with 83 adult residents. Where poor spatial design and physical structure are evidenced by poor behavior and attitude (lack of recognition or acceptance of territory) changes in the spatial or architectural design were suggested.
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Date Issued: 1973
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13618
Subject Headings: Human territoriality, Geographical perception
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DELINEATING THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF SEAPORT RELATED LAND USE IN THE BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN AREA USING A REMOTE SENSING BASED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (MARYLAND).
Creator: MORELLI, THOMAS DENNIS., Florida Atlantic University, Latham, James P., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: A land use classification system was designed for use with aerial photography in order to map four functional categories of land use in a study area divided into four quadrants. The data were analyzed for their spatial and functional relatedness to the operations of the Port of Baltimore. Where waterfront transshipment land use was dedicated to steel manufacturing and petroleum storage, nearly all test-category land use was located within two kilometers of the harbor in those quadrants. In...
Show moreA land use classification system was designed for use with aerial photography in order to map four functional categories of land use in a study area divided into four quadrants. The data were analyzed for their spatial and functional relatedness to the operations of the Port of Baltimore. Where waterfront transshipment land use was dedicated to steel manufacturing and petroleum storage, nearly all test-category land use was located within two kilometers of the harbor in those quadrants. In quadrants where it was engaged in the throughshipment of bulk, containerized, and general cargo, test-category land use still occurred primarily within two kilometers of the harbor, but was also distributed in large numbers six kilometers inland of the harbor. The results support the theory that the test-category land use is related to port activity, and that changes in land use patterns are associated with changes in port activity.
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Date Issued: 1986
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14333
Subject Headings: Harbors--Maryland--Baltimore, Land use--Remote sensing, Aerial photography
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Design considerations of a spatiotemporal GIS database for data exploration.
Creator: Donnelly, Janet D., Florida Atlantic University, Shaw, Shih-Lung, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: The development of geographic information systems (GIS) has changed the way in which geographers are able to visualize and investigate spatial topics. Current research has now shown a need to incorporate the element of time into a GIS for the purpose of better understanding the processes that are related to change. This study investigates two methods of creating spatiotemporal databases, using the evolution of an airline route system as an example. Also discussed are the ways in which a user...
Show moreThe development of geographic information systems (GIS) has changed the way in which geographers are able to visualize and investigate spatial topics. Current research has now shown a need to incorporate the element of time into a GIS for the purpose of better understanding the processes that are related to change. This study investigates two methods of creating spatiotemporal databases, using the evolution of an airline route system as an example. Also discussed are the ways in which a user-friendly interface may be incorporated for easier data exploration.
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Date Issued: 1993
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14966
Subject Headings: Space and time, Geographic information systems, Geography--Computer programs
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DETERMINATION OF BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER LEVEL TRENDS AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE SURFICIAL, INTERMEDIATE, AND FLORIDAN AQUIFER SYSTEMS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA.
Creator: Geddes, Elizabeth Tara, Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Groundwater is a valuable resource essential for residential, agricultural, commercial, and environmental water supply needs in Florida. Understanding drivers of groundwater level trends and time series forecasting in vulnerable areas provides water managers with timely information for effective resource protection. This study evaluates groundwater level trends in the surficial, intermediate and Floridan aquifer systems in Central and South Florida at 106 unconfined and confined aquifer wells...
Show moreGroundwater is a valuable resource essential for residential, agricultural, commercial, and environmental water supply needs in Florida. Understanding drivers of groundwater level trends and time series forecasting in vulnerable areas provides water managers with timely information for effective resource protection. This study evaluates groundwater level trends in the surficial, intermediate and Floridan aquifer systems in Central and South Florida at 106 unconfined and confined aquifer wells using 15 to 27 years of data through 2019. Wells were clustered into relatively homogenous groups based on spatial characteristics using the k mean clustering method. Land surface and top of aquifer elevations as well as groundwater level ranges were key factors. Distance to the coast was also important for surficial aquifer clustering, while proximity to water supply wells influenced Mid-Hawthorn aquifer (MHA) results. Principal component analyses (PCAs) were performed using rainfall, temperature, actual evapotranspiration, El Niño Southern Oscillation, and population data and regressed against average monthly groundwater levels for each cluster. This study is the first of its kind PCA using variables impacting groundwater levels in South Florida. Sandstone aquifer PCAs correlated well with groundwater levels. When compared with multiple linear regression, PCA results had similar correlation. However, the drivers of groundwater level trends identified by each method for the MHA and Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) differed. Seasonal Kendall trend tests indicated 12 surficial aquifer wells had trends related to changes in land use and decreased usage. MHA trends were related to exploitation or a shift in water source usage. A regional increasing trend exists in the UFA in South Florida.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014060
Subject Headings: Aquifers--Florida, Groundwater--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Development and application of a new comprehensive image-based classification scheme for coastal and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf.
Creator: Makowski, Christopher, Finkl, Charles W., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: The coastal (terrestrial) and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf show a unique biophysical succession of marine features from a highly urbanized, developed coastal region in the north (i.e. northern Miami-Dade County) to a protective marine sanctuary in the southeast (i.e. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary). However, the establishment of a standard bio-geomorphological classification scheme for this area of coastal and benthic environments is lacking. The...
Show moreThe coastal (terrestrial) and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf show a unique biophysical succession of marine features from a highly urbanized, developed coastal region in the north (i.e. northern Miami-Dade County) to a protective marine sanctuary in the southeast (i.e. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary). However, the establishment of a standard bio-geomorphological classification scheme for this area of coastal and benthic environments is lacking. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis and answer the research question of whether new parameters of integrating geomorphological components with dominant biological covers could be developed and applied across multiple remote sensing platforms for an innovative way to identify, interpret, and classify diverse coastal and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf. An ordered, manageable hierarchical classification scheme was developed to incorporate the categories of Physiographic Realm, Morphodynamic Zone, Geoform, Landform, Dominant Surface Sediment, and Dominant Biological Cover. Six different remote sensing platforms (i.e. five multi-spectral satellite image sensors and one high-resolution aerial orthoimagery) were acquired, delineated according to the new classification scheme, and compared to determine optimal formats for classifying the study area. Cognitive digital classification at a nominal scale of 1:6000 proved to be more accurate than autoclassification programs and therefore used to differentiate coastal marine environments based on spectral reflectance characteristics, such as color, tone, saturation, pattern, and texture of the seafloor topology. In addition, attribute tables were created in conjugation with interpretations to quantify and compare the spatial relationships between classificatory units. IKONOS-2 satellite imagery was determined to be the optimal platform for applying the hierarchical classification scheme. However, each remote sensing platform had beneficial properties depending on research goals, logistical restrictions, and financial support. This study concluded that a new hierarchical comprehensive classification scheme for identifying coastal marine environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf could be achieved by integrating geomorphological features with biological coverages. This newly developed scheme, which can be applied across multiple remote sensing platforms with GIS software, establishes an innovative classification protocol to be used in future research studies.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004135, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004135
Subject Headings: Benthos -- Habitat -- Maps, Environmental mapping, Marine ecology -- Florida, Marine ecology -- Florida, Ubiquitous computing
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF METHODS FOR STABLE WATER ISOTOPE SAMPLING FROM A LOW GRADIENT CANAL.
Creator: Greathouse, Jesse N., Root, Tara, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Stable isotopes of water are used as tracers for characterizing surface water/groundwater interactions. Gaps in sampling protocol for these tracers in low gradient canals limits their use in studies of canal-groundwater exchanges. Several sampling methods were developed to determine the temporal and spatial isotopic variation in a canal. The influence of a flow control gate on isotopic composition and the sensitivity of isotope mixing calculations to choice of sampling method were also...
Show moreStable isotopes of water are used as tracers for characterizing surface water/groundwater interactions. Gaps in sampling protocol for these tracers in low gradient canals limits their use in studies of canal-groundwater exchanges. Several sampling methods were developed to determine the temporal and spatial isotopic variation in a canal. The influence of a flow control gate on isotopic composition and the sensitivity of isotope mixing calculations to choice of sampling method were also evaluated. There was little variability in the isotopic composition of the canal along a cross section perpendicular flow. Some variation occurred monthly and seasonally. The greatest variability occurred between the upstream and downstream side of the flow control gates when the gates were closed. Mixing calculations were not sensitive to the choice of sampling method. This study shed light on isotope sampling methods in canals for canal-groundwater interactions studies.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013313
Subject Headings: Stable isotope tracers, Environmental sampling--Methodology, Water--Sampling--Technique, Canals--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

FAU Theses and Dissertations (158)	+ -
FAU College Collections (7)	+ -

Geographic information systems (15)	+ -
Remote sensing (12)	+ -
Sustainable development (6)	+ -
Climate change (5)	+ -
Coastal zone management (4)	+ -

Ecosystem management (4)	+ -
Spatial analysis (Statistics) (4)	+ -
Beach nourishment (3)	+ -
Beaches--Florida (3)	+ -
Coral reef ecology (3)	+ -
Everglades (Fla) (3)	+ -
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Gas dynamics (3)	+ -
Geology, Stratigraphic (3)	+ -
Ground penetrating radar (3)	+ -
Habitat (3)	+ -
Machine learning (3)	+ -
Migration, Internal--Florida (3)	+ -
Peat soils (3)	+ -
Sea level rise (3)	+ -
Vegetation dynamics (3)	+ -
Aerial photogrammetry (2)	+ -
Biogenic gas (2)	+ -
Boca Raton (Fla.) (2)	+ -
Cities and towns (2)	+ -
City planning (2)	+ -
Climatic changes (2)	+ -
Coastal zone management--Florida (2)	+ -
Community development, Urban (2)	+ -
Continental shelf (2)	+ -

Florida (18)	+ -
Palm Beach County (3)	+ -
United States (3)	+ -
Miami-Dade County (2)	+ -
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Fla.) (1)	+ -

Atlantic Coast (U.S.) (1)	+ -
Beach erosion--Florida--Broward County (1)	+ -
Boca Raton (1)	+ -
Broward County (1)	+ -
Casuarina--Florida (1)	+ -
Coastal zone management--Florida--Broward County (1)	+ -
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Environmental aspects (1)	+ -
Environmental mapping--Florida (1)	+ -
Evergaldes (1)	+ -
Everglades National Park (1)	+ -
Florida Bay (1)	+ -
Florida Reef Tract (1)	+ -
Geomorphological mapping--Florida--Broward County (1)	+ -
Glass waste--Recycling--Florida--Broward County (1)	+ -
Hydrology--Trinidad and Tobago--Trinidad (1)	+ -
Kissimmee River Valley (Fla.) (1)	+ -
Kissimmee River Watershed (1)	+ -
Little Havana (Miami, Fla.) (1)	+ -
Louisiana (1)	+ -
Miami (1)	+ -
Petroleum industry and trade--Alaska--Beaufort Sea (1)	+ -
Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area (Fla.) (1)	+ -
Shore protection--Florida--Broward County (1)	+ -
Snapper Creek (C-2) canal (1)	+ -

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