Rich Crago, Janine Glathar, Luyang Ren, and Chanda Singoyi (Bucknell University)
Precision Conservation combines high resolution, remotely-sensed land surface data with analysis through a Geographic Information System (GIS). This particular application, pioneered by the Chesapeake Conservancy, can identify precise locations where concentrated storm runoff leaves individual fields, and provides a metric that estimates how likely the flow is to discharge harmful pollutants downstream. The analysis was applied to the Buffalo Creek watershed in Union County, PA during the summer of 2015. During the fall semester in 2015, the students in CEEG 421 (Hydrology) reproduced the analysis in the Bucknell GIS lab and identified sites on local farms that could benefit from better stormwater management practices. In collaboration with the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance (BCWA), students visited some of the farms, interacted with the farmers, and inspected the sites they identified. Working in groups of three, they designed engineered treatment facilities such as constructed wetlands, ponds, and filter strips. Research during the summer of 2016 is testing the validity of the metric used; alternatives will be suggested and tested as well. Finally, a similar class project is planned for the Fall 2016 offering of CEEG 421, and improvements to the project motivated by lessons learned the first time will be discussed.
Richard Crago is a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Bucknell University. His teaching specialties include hydraulics and hydrology, fluid mechanics, and water resource engineering.
Janine Glathar joined ITEC/Digital Pedagogy & Scholarship in 2009 to fill the newly-created role of GIS Specialist at Bucknell. She has worked in the field of geospatial technologies for more than 15 years as research specialist, technical analyst and software trainer. Prior to joining L&IT at Bucknell, Janine spent seven years doing applied GIS research in Philadelphia’s non-profit social services sector as the GIS Senior Analyst for Philadelphia Safe & Sound and the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition. Before transitioning to the social services research world, Janine worked for the GIS software company ESRI as a trainer and education/non-profit coordinator. She earned a B.A. in European History and Russian Language/Literature at the University of Pennsylvania.
Luyang Ren joined Digital Pedagogy & Scholarship at Bucknell University in 2013 as the GIS and Web Application Specialist. She has helped faculty and students implementing GIS in their teaching and research. Luyang’s responsibility also includes building GIS architecture and maintains GIS system for outstanding usage on both desktop and online system. Besides serving as a GIS specialist, Luyang works in the Web Development team building the myBucknell system using Javascript and .NET technology as well. She earned a Master of Science Degree in Geographic Information Science for Development and Environment at Clark University.
Chanda Singoyi is a Bucknell undergraduate student with a double major in Civil Engineering and Economics.
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