Browsing by Author "Boyer, John D."

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    Adaptive Life-Long Learning for an Inclusive Knowledge Economy
    Arnold, Amy; Lindsey, Andrew; McCoy, Andrew P.; Khademian, Anne M.; Lockee, Barbara B.; Adams, Carol; Amelink, Catherine T.; Blankenship, Chip; Glover, Christopher; Harris, Chrystal; Hoyle, Clayton; Potts, Colin; Pike, Dale; Whittaker, Dale; Kjellsson, Daniel; Hare, David; Tegarden, David P.; Tinapple, David; Ucko, David; Nahapetian, Eta; Hou, Feng; Holmes, Glen A.; Keyel, Jared; Garrett, Jeff; Joo, Jenna; McPhee, Joel; Boyer, John D.; Flato, John; Lister, Jonothan; Haldane, Joseph; Greenwood, Julie; Sanders, Karen Eley; Bruce, Karla; Lindsey, Kate; Carlson, Kimberly; Wingfeld, Kristin; Hamilton, Laura; McNair, Lisa D.; Kamlet, Mark; Semmel, Marsha; Holt, Matthew; Richey, Michael; Kumar, Mukul; Spivy, Nene; Cardwell, Owen; Holloway, Rachel L.; Swearer, Randy; Hall, Ralph P.; Clark-Stallkamp, Rebecca; Mazer, Robert; Smith, Robert; Reynolds, Roger; Bess, Diego Scott; Weimer, Scott; Sagheb, Shahabedin; Garmise, Sheri; Ashburn, Sherrell; Johnson, Sylvester; Cardone, Taran; Nicewonger, Todd; Martin, Tom; Quick, Tom; Rikakis, Thanassis; Skuzinski, Thomas; Contomanolis, Manny (Calhoun Center for Higher Education Innovation, 2020-08-24)
    This report addresses the globalized knowledge economy in the 21st century; not only as it exists today, but the knowledge economy needed to meet the demands of tomorrow. This report proposes that in order for our knowledge economy to grow and be sustainable, it must be inclusive in ways that enable it to adapt to—and incorporate within it—the personal and professional growth of a large and diverse body of lifelong learners. In this introduction, we first define what we mean by inclusive knowledge and explain how our proposed definition expands some of the traditional understandings. We then show that an expansive and dynamic conceptualization of knowledge increases inclusion and promotes lifelong adaptive learning as a mindset and a practice.
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    Calibration of an Artificial Neural Network for Predicting Development in Montgomery County, Virginia: 1992-2001
    Thekkudan, Travis Francis (Virginia Tech, 2008-06-11)
    This study evaluates the effectiveness of an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict locations of urban change at a countywide level by testing various calibrations of the Land Transformation Model (LTM). It utilizes the Stuttgart Neural Network Simulator (SNNS), a common medium through which ANNs run a back-propagation algorithm, to execute neural net training. This research explores the dynamics of socioeconomic and biophysical variables (derived from the 1990 Comprehensive Plan) and how they affect model calibration for Montgomery County, Virginia. Using NLCD Retrofit Land Use data for 1992 and 2001 as base layers for urban change, we assess the sensitivity of the model with policy-influenced variables from data layers representing road accessibility, proximity to urban lands, distance from urban expansion areas, slopes, and soils. Aerial imagery from 1991 and 2002 was used to visually assess changes at site-specific locations. Results show a percent correct metric (PCM) of 32.843% and a Kappa value of 0.319. A relative operating characteristic (ROC) value of 0.660 showed that the model predicted locations of change better than chance (0.50). It performs consistently when compared to PCMs from a logistic regression model, 31.752%, and LTMs run in the absence of each driving variable ranging 27.971% – 33.494%. These figures are similar to results from other land use and land cover change (LUCC) studies sharing comparable landscape characteristics. Prediction maps resulting from LTM forecasts driven by the six variables tested provide a satisfactory means for forecasting change inside of dense urban areas and urban fringes for countywide urban planning.
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    Geographic Analysis of Viticulture Potential in Virginia
    Boyer, John D. (Virginia Tech, 1998-09-15)
    The state of Virginia was analyzed to establish its suitability for grape culture. This investigation occurred in two phases: a small scale analysis that encompassed the entire state, and a large scale analysis which focused on site selection at the local level. After identifying regions across the state in terms of their viticulture potential, a study area was chosen from within the highest ranking region. This study area was the focus for the local-scale site potential analysis. First, to delineate regions across Virginia that had greater or lesser viticulture potential from a physical and climatological basis, weather station data were collected for minimum winter temperatures, maximum summer temperatures, precipitation, length of growing season, and day versus night temperature differentials. In addition, elevation and slope models were constructed to complement the climatic variables in identifying areas that contained factors most conducive to grape production. To validate this regional assessment, the history of fruit industries within the state are outlined geographically to display the evolution of the fruit industries, and to establish the factors which have shaped the current fruit landscape. Secondly, at the local scale, a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach was used to identify sites at the county scale that had greater or lesser viticulture potential from a physical basis. Composite maps, constructed by individual counties in the state, were produced from a series of physical databases. The individual databases (sources and resolution in parentheses) included land-use (Virginia Gap Analysis; 30meter2 resolution), slope, aspect, and elevation (USGS 1:24,000 Digital Elevation Model; 30meter2), and soils data (USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG-3)). Each physical feature layer was given a numerical classification, then all layers were combined to produce a 0 to 100 scale in the final, composite image. Given this model of potential vineyard suitability, existing fruit operations in select counties were geo-located on each feature layer using a Global Positioning System (GPS: 1-2meter accuracy). Actual data on occurrences of frosts, minimum winter temperatures, and other site variables were collected from these fruit operations and surrounding weather stations as a sample to validate the model. A strong correlation between areas containing characteristics of current fruit acreage--namely apple--and sites high in potential for viticulture according to the model. Studying the history of geographic distribution of apple and grape industries across the state reinforces the regional assessment of viticulture potential, formulated by the climatic and topographic analysis. Employment of GIS approach at the local site scale was shown to be an effective tool for site selection at the local scale with certain caveats. In addition, the evaluation procedure integrating GIS and GPS technologies allows us to visually assess the distribution pattern of each of the factors employed individually; and, in turn, physically identify and locate areas of viticulture potential created from the combination of those factors.
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    A GIS-Based Landscape Scale Model for Native Bee Habitat
    Foy, Andrew Scott (Virginia Tech, 2007-09-11)
    Through pollination, bees are responsible for the persistence of many biological systems on our planet. Bees have also been used for thousands of years in agriculture to improve crop quality and yield. Recently, there have been declines in honeybees worldwide. This decline is concerning because it threatens food supplies and global biodiversity. An alternative to alleviating the effect of a honey bee shortage could be to use native bees. Problems with adoption of native bees in agriculture occur because of a lack of large scale analysis methods for native bees, regional species lists and management knowledge. This research explores the use of GIS in modeling native bee habitat to provide a landscape scale analysis method for native bees and develop a systematic sampling method for regional species list development. Raster GIS modeling, incorporating decision support and Poisson statistical methods were used to develop a native bee habitat model. The results show landscape composition is important to bee abundance and diversity. In addition, habitat fragmentation may not be as detrimental to bees as previously thought. Bees are most sensitive to landscape composition at a scale of 250 m, but require large patches of floral resources. GIS proved to be very useful in modeling bee habitat and provides an opportunity to conduct landscape scale bee population analysis.
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    Incorporating User Opinion into a New Wine Tourism Map for Southwest Virginia
    Pritchard, Katherine (Virginia Tech, 2008-12-10)
    Thematic tourist maps provide users with a tangible geographic route to their travel destinations and also may contain a wide variety of additional information to enhance traveler experiences. Unlike other types of maps that focus on accurate topographic representation of an area or on depiction of spatial data, tourist maps should be specifically constructed to appeal directly to the end-user. Toward that end, this research developed and implemented a model to incorporate user opinion on content, levels of detail, and labeling conventions during the process of designing and creating a wine tourism map for southwest Virginia. Over 700 (total) wine tourists completed brief questionnaires during five distinct phases of data collection and map modeling. At each point, we incorporated user input into map design for the preceding phase, and a final assessment surveyed tourist attitude of the finished product. Interestingly, surveys indicated a propensity for users to highly rank the idea of more and more detailed content data, as well as high levels of spatial detail, but when presented with the corresponding maps, they tended to favor a cleaner more simplified display. This finding underscores our conclusion that while user input is critical for developing successful tourist maps, cartographic training and skill is still required to achieve a quality product. Overall, the final map incorporating user input received overwhelmingly positive user reviews when compared to existing regional maps indicating that our iterative method of seeking user input at various stages of map development was successful, and facilitated creation of an improved product.
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    Merging Symbols, Space and Identity in Appalachia: An Examination of the Ramp
    Rivers, Bridgette C. (Virginia Tech, 2013-07-23)
    Over the past ten years, the ramp, a traditional Appalachian food, has invaded elite culinary circles outside its native culinary region of Appalachia. Ramps (Allium tricoccum) are wild leeks traditionally foraged for in the spring, and are known for their pungent smell. This unique vegetable is traditionally celebrated in Appalachia through dinners and festivals that have been widely attended by members of the community and recently, outsiders. Similarly, outside the region, the ramp has been featured on fine dining menus and has been sold in farmer's markets and grocery stores for the first time across the country. This study aims to understand not only this recent popularity, but why the ramp has emerged as representative of traditional Appalachian culture. Qualitative interviews with experts in the ramp industry, patrons of ramp festivals, and those outside of Appalachia yet involved with ramps were conducted. Participant observation at ramp festivals and analysis of questions posted on a ramp-based Facebook page corroborate our interview data set. Analysis of these data has uncovered the impact sense of place and rootedness in the Appalachian mountains has on identity creation through festival performance.
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    Spatial distribution of charcoal after a prescribed fire on Middle Mountain, VA
    Scales, Stewart Adam (Virginia Tech, 2011-10-27)
    This study examines the spatial distribution of surface charcoal after a managed fire and its relationship to fire intensity and site characteristics. Such studies are lacking for the southern Appalachian Mountains. In April 2010, The Nature Conservancy conducted a ~150ha prescribed burn in pine- and oak-dominated forests on the eastern slope of Middle Mountain in western Virginia. Data were from three randomly located transects totaling 2751m from the base of the slope extending to the highest elevations. At 50m intervals I collected 400cm° surface samples (n=56) down to mineral soil, and recorded the nearest four trees, their diameters and bole char height, and other site and understory characteristics. Charcoal fragments >2mm were wet-sieved from 200mL subsamples of the surface material, dried, and weighed. Charcoal deposition and char heights on trees examined in this study showed high spatial variability in fire intensity. Average charcoal deposition across all samples was 103 kg/ha, with individual samples ranging from 0-884kg/ha, which was in the range of findings from other studies. Char height was weakly correlated with charcoal abundance suggesting a relationship between fire intensity and charcoal production. Slope was moderately correlated with charcoal deposition, with higher deposition on steeper slopes. Average char height for all trees and species was in the range of 1-3m, but char height on pines averaged 7.3m, where fires intensity appeared to increase. This work can inform land managers on fire behavior and carbon flux and has implications for reconstructions of long-term fire history from soil charcoal.
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    A Stakeholder Analysis of the Creation of High Seas Marine Protected Areas within the Antarctic Treaty System
    Sovacool, Kelly Elizabeth (Virginia Tech, 2008-12-10)
    This study evaluates the utility of stakeholder analysis for understanding the relationships among actors involved in creating a marine protected area (MPA) in the Southern Ocean. It relies on the Australian Centre of Excellence on Risk Analysis (ACERA) method of critical stakeholder analysis, a concise, step-by-step model to identify stakeholders, assess their perceptions and values, and reveal power relations. The study uses the first two steps of the ACERA method to analyze stakeholders—in this case individuals speaking on behalf of organizations—within the Australian delegation of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) concerning the establishment of an MPA in the Southern Ocean. The study reveals both benefits and weaknesses in the ACERA method. It also portrays conflicting views among these stakeholders, and that the process of identifying and analyzing stakeholder interests is highly complex and dynamic.
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    A Statistical Examination of the Climatic Human Expert System, The Sunset Garden Zones for California
    Logan, Ben (Virginia Tech, 2006-04-25)
    Twentieth Century climatology was dominated by two great figures: Wladamir Köppen and C. Warren Thornthwaite. The first carefully developed climatic parameters to match the larger world vegetation communities. The second developed complex formulas of "Moisture Factors" that provided efficient understanding of how evapotranspiration influences plant growth and health, both for native and non-native communities. In the latter half of the Twentieth Century, the Sunset Magazine Corporation develop a purely empirical set of Garden Zones, first for California, then for the thirteen states of the West, now for the entire nation in the National Garden Maps. The Sunset Garden Zones are well recognized and respected in Western States for illustrating the several factors of climate that distinguish zones. But the Sunset Garden Zones have never before been digitized and examined statistically for validation of their demarcations. This thesis examines the digitized zones with reference to PRISM climate data. Variable coverages resembling those described by Sunset are extracted from the PRISM data. These variable coverages are collected for two buffered areas, one in northern California and one in southern California. The coverages are exported from ArcGIS 9.1 to SAS® where they are processed first through a Principal Component Analysis, and then the first five principal components are entered into a Ward's Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. The resulting clusters were translated back into ArcGIS as a raster coverage, where the clusters were climatic regions. This process is quite amenable for further examination of other regions of California
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    Vineyard Site Selection
    Wolf, Tony Kenneth, 1956-; Boyer, John D. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2005-09-01)
    The aim of this bulletin is to describe the principal physical and biological features that affect grape production and which should be evaluated in the site selection process.