Nuclear bomb testing in the western US: a legacy of environmental and social effects in southern Nevada

This work provides an introduction into the environmental and social effects of the nuclear testing legacy in the western US. For four decades, the US government detonated nuclear bombs in the southern Nevada desert, creating a militarized landscape whose environmental effects endure to the present. A series of over 1,000 mainly underground tests throughout the area has converted this desert environment into what appears as a lunar landscape, pockmarked by numerous clustered craters. These tests also prompted nearly 700 earthquakes ranging up to 5.8 on the Richter scale. Although this area is desert and access restricted, the loss of natural desert shrub vegetation in this sensitive ecosystem resulted in the introduction of pioneer species, changing the character of the landscape. Moreover, nearby towns and communities across 3 states were exposed to nuclear radiation from prevailing winds at the time, resulting in elevated adverse and deadly health effects. Presently, groundwater contamination of a crucial aquifer has placed other communities at risk. The history and trajectory of this area has led to the notion that part of Nevada will become a permanent environmental sacrifice zone. In this work, we adopt geospatial data and techniques used to measure the effects of extractive activities on the landscape, to map and quantify the surface disturbance created by these nuclear-related features. Additionally, we model detonation scenarios across several test site locations to better understand vulnerable communities. Finally, we highlight the area and communities at risk from groundwater contamination

Understanding board-ceo power dependency perspective under symbolic management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to better understand dependency issues between the CEO and the board as well as the between the board and CEO through Emerson’s power dependency framework. Design/methodology/approach – A symbolic management approach is integrated with a board-CEO power dependency model to study the dependency issues. Findings – According to the symbolic management perspective, uncertainty increases the likelihood of symbolic actions. A high level of uncertainty in CEO dependency issues suggests a high likelihood that board power over the CEO is manifested on a symbolic level, whereas a low level of uncertainty in board dependency issues suggests otherwise for CEO power over the board. The core of board-dependency issues is information provision. Practical implications – A focus on improving board control over CEO performance, compensation and strategic proposals is likely to generate symbolic actions without an effective result. Originality/value – The paper advocates that an effective approach to enhance board power is through reducing board information dependency on the CEO

UNF\u27s Aerial Footprint: 50 Years of Land Use Change

Recording of a presentation entitled UNF\u27s Aerial Footprint: 50 Years of Land Use Change Presented by Professors Christopher W. Baynard and Dr. Robert D. Richardson with graduate students Christian Hobbs and Chris Wilson.https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/anniversary50_media/1006/thumbnail.jp

GIS mapping and spatial analysis of cybersecurity attacks on a Florida university

As the centers of knowledge, discovery, and intellectual exploration, US universities provide appealing cybersecurity targets. Cyberattack origin patterns and relationships are not evident until data is visualized in maps and tested with statistical models. The current cybersecurity threat detection software utilized by University of North Florida\u27s IT department records large amounts of attacks and attempted intrusions by the minute. This paper presents GIS mapping and spatial analysis of cybersecurity attacks on UNF. First, locations of cyberattack origins were detected by geographic Internet Protocol (GEO-IP) software. Second, GIS was used to map the cyberattack origin locations. Third, we used advanced spatial statistical analysis functions (exploratory spatial data analysis and spatial point pattern analysis) and R software to explore cyberattack patterns. The spatial perspective we promote is novel because there are few studies employing location analytics and spatial statistics in cyber-attack detection and prevention research

Oil and gas development in the Orenburg region of the Volga-Ural steppe zone: Qualifying and quantifying disturbance regimes

This paper examines environmental disturbances related to energy development in the Orenburg region through a two-pronged approach. First, it ranks environmental performance per 25 administrative districts based on multidimensional clustering of 10 diagnostic indicators. Second, it examines land-use and land-cover (LULC) patterns in nine western administrative districts by classifying Landsat imagery and quantifying surface disturbance for the year 2001. Spatial analysis and descriptive statistics help identify the most disturbed administrative units. Findings from the diagnostic indicators suggest that older fields in the western units showed the greatest amount of disturbance due to the age of the fields and related infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and the use of older technologies. These fields were also linked to declining production. Operations in the middle zone, which were younger, showed fewer disturbances, while the youngest southern fields showed the least. Findings from the landscape study showed that agricultural activity is a major driver of LULC patterns in the western region, with oil and gas activities serving a much smaller role. Methods and findings can be applied toward making extractive activities more sustainable during the various phases of expansion, new development and reclamation. © 2013 Taylor and Francis

University of North Florida: Measuring and Mapping the Footprint of Growth Over Time

This study analyzes remotely sensed aerial imagery in 5-7 year increments to determine land use change of the University of North Florida from 1970 to 2017. By geo-referencing, digitizing, and examining land-use data, we will map and measure the expansion of infrastructure as well as the loss of natural areas. We will compare the imagery of the original 1972 master plan to the current 2015-2025 master plan

Landscape disturbance caused by non-renewable energy production in a semi-arid region: a case study on the Russian steppe

Exploration and development of oil and gas (O&G) energy resources can create large-scale and permanent landscape effects that are best measured and understood via fieldwork and geospatial technologies. In this article, we examine O&G surface disturbance in the Orenburg steppe region of southwestern Russia for the year 2015. Utilizing field surveys, remote-sensing data and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, we apply a two-pronged approach. First, we map and measure the landscape infrastructure footprint (LIF) to determine the pattern and extent of direct surface disturbance created by O&G facilities and access roads. Second, we conduct a site suitability analysis to identify specific O&G production locations that are most vulnerable to environmental degradation. The approach considers both the particular properties of hydrocarbon production and specific natural features of steppe zones. Suitability patterns represent three indicators: two morphometric parameters (slope and aspect) and one spatial (the remoteness of O&G objects from water bodies). Our findings suggest that O&G production disturbs just over 3% of soil-vegetation cover in our study plot, while more than 13% of O&G objects are located in unsuitable zones based on topographic aspect, and about 11% lie in unsuitable zones regarding distance to water

Energy Development in Colorado’s Pawnee National Grasslands: Mapping and Measuring the Disturbance Footprint of Renewables and Non-Renewables

This paper examines the pattern and extent of energy development in steppe landscapes of northeast Colorado, United States. We compare the landscape disturbance created by oil and gas production to that of wind energy inside the Pawnee National Grasslands eastern side. This high-steppe landscape consists of a mosaic of federal, state, and private lands where dominant economic activities include ranching, agriculture, tourism, oil and gas extraction, and wind energy generation. Utilizing field surveys, remote sensing data and geographic information systems techniques, we quantify and map the footprint of energy development at the landscape level. Findings suggest that while oil and gas and wind energy development have resulted in a relatively small amount of habitat loss within the study area, the footprint stretches across the entire zone, fragmenting this mostly grassland habitat. Futhermore, a third feature of this landscape, the non-energy transportation network, was also found to have a significant impact. Combined, these three features fragment the entire Pawnee National Grasslands eastern side, leaving very few large intact core, or roadless areas. The primary objective of this ongoing work is to create a series of quantifiable and replicable surface disturbance indicators linked to energy production in semi-arid grassland environments. Based on these, and future results, we aim to work with industry and regulators to shape energy policy as it relates to environmental performance, with the aim of reducing the footprint and thus increasing the sustainability of these extractive activities