Geo 4427 - Spring 2022 Professor: Dr. Yihong Yuan Lab Instructor: Grayson Wylie
Due to natural and manmade conditions, Austin and the surrounding area are at a considerable risk for wildfires. This study aims to identify areas that are at especially high risk and areas comparable to the Pinnacle Fire, a 100-acre wildland urban interface (WUI) fire in Austin in 2011 that destroyed 8 homes. The Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division has an existing model to assess wildfire risk and chose us to give them a second opinion on the matter. This study seeks to better equip the Austin Fire Department and public in decision making regarding local wildfire risk conditions. Government geospatial data was processed in Esri ArcGIS Pro to create a new model free from any bias of the old. The model was based on significant research into what other organizations have done and consideration of unique local factors. It considers break risk and spread risk in determining a total wildfire risk index. The index appears to reflect real world conditions as evidenced by testing the model against known wildfire observations and satellite thermal band detections. This model has the potential to assist the Austin Fire Department in decision making or modifying their own model. It also paves the way for additional research opportunities.	The purpose of this project is to find high risk areas of contamination within the Edwards Aquifer and create an interactive web-based map for the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. We have hypothesized that WWTPs that lie within heavily populated areas, inside the Edwards Aquifer Recharge zone, and have a close proximity to a stream or river will be the highest risk candidates. Our implementation of a GIS will provide the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and local community groups with a visualization of which wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have the highest probability of contaminating the Edwards Aquifer. Such a project would have been an arduous task 20 years ago, but with the advancements of GISciences, it has become a much simpler process to study land-use patterns surrounding the Edwards Aquifer. It is the goal of our team to assist the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance in finding WWTPs that are at highest risk to contaminating the Edwards Aquifer so that we may further assist in ensuring that our Aquifer will remain clean and contaminate-free.
San Marcos, Texas, located in the Texas Hill Country, is well known for its valuable natural resources and the beautiful landscape that surrounds it. The City of San Marcos, with the help of supporting organizations such as the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA), manages over 1,200 acres of dedicated natural areas containing more than 22 miles of trails (San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, 2020). These resources are a popular destination for visitors from all over the state, city residents, and of course members of Texas State University. However, even though these properties are available to all, utilization of these resources has unfortunately not been maximized. While there are maps and other information available and accessible for visitors, the current maps for San Marcos natural areas do not have a trail difficulty rating system for hikers or people on non-motorized vehicles. The implementation of a hiking trail difficulty rating system for these Natural Areas in San Marcos would provide park visitors with enhanced materials to plan and prepare for their experiences in the parks and on the trails. This project aims to make the natural areas feel accessible for all who wish to enjoy these stunning parks and we will be starting with the Spring Lake Natural Area (SLNA) and Purgatory Creek Natural Area (PCNA).