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Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center
Mission | Rolla, Missouri
Land-Cover Change in the Central Irregular Plains, 1973–2000
Spearheaded by the Geographic Analysis and Monitoring
Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), the Land Cover Trends is a research project focused
on understanding the rates, trends, causes, and consequences
of contemporary United States land-use and land-cover
change. Using the EPA Level III ecoregions as the geographic
framework, scientists process geospatial data collected
between 1973 and 2000 to characterize ecosystem responses to
land-use changes. The 27-year study period was divided into
five temporal periods: 1973–1980, 1980–1986, 1986–1992,
1992–2000 and 1973–2000. General land-cover classes for
these periods were interpreted from Landsat Multispectral
Scanner, Thematic Mapper, and Enhanced Thematic Mapper
Plus imagery to categorize land-cover change and evaluate
using a modified Anderson Land Use Land Cover Classification
System for image interpretation.
The rates of land-cover change are estimated using a
stratified, random sampling of 10-kilometer (km) by 10-km
blocks allocated within each ecoregion. For each sample
block, satellite images are used to interpret land-cover change.
Additionally, historical aerial photographs from similar timeframes
and other ancillary data such as census statistics and
published literature are used. The sample block data are then
incorporated into statistical analyses to generate an overall
change matrix for the ecoregion. These change statistics are
applicable for different levels of scale, including total change
for the individual sample blocks and change estimates for the
entire ecoregion. The results illustrate that there is no single
profile of land-cover change but instead point to geographic
variability that results from land uses within ecoregions continuously
adapting to various factors including environmental,
technological, and socioeconomic. More information...
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Proceedings of the U.S. Geological Survey Seventh Biennial Geographic Information Science Workshop, Denver, Colorado, May 12–16, 2008
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Seventh Biennial Geographic Information Science (GIS) Workshop (USGS-GIS 2008) on May 12 through 16, 2008, at the Denver Federal Center in Denver, Colorado, is unique in that it brings together GIS professionals from all of the USGS disciplines across all regions, and focuses primarily on the needs and accomplishments of the USGS.
The theme for the 2008 workshop, "GIS for Tomorrow’s Challenges," provides an opportunity for USGS GIS professionals to demonstrate how they have responded to the challenges set forth in the USGS Science Strategy. During this workshop, attendees will have an opportunity to present or demonstrate their work; develop their knowledge by attending hands-on workshops and presentations given by professionals from the USGS and other Federal agencies, GIS-related companies, and academia; and to network with other professionals to develop collaborative opportunities.
In addition to participation in numerous workshops and presentations, attendees will have opportunities to listen to top-level managers from the USGS present updates and goals concerning the future of several USGS programs. Monday evening’s Star Guest presentation by Thomas Wagner, NSF Office of Polar Programs, and Paul Morin, Antarctic Geospatial Information Center, entitled "Mapping all that is White: Antarctic Science and Operations Viewed Though Geospatial Data," will be one of many valuable presentations.
This Proceedings volume will serve as an activity reference for workshop attendees, as well as an archive of technical abstracts presented at the workshop. Author, co-author, and presenter names, affiliations, and contact information are listed with presentation titles with the abstracts. Some hands-on sessions are offered twice; in these instances, abstracts submitted for publication are presented in the proceedings on both days on which they are offered. All acronyms used in these proceedings are explained in the text of each abstract. More information...
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Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center
Mission Statement
The mission of the Mid-Continent Geographic Science
Center (MCGSC) is to conduct geographic research for the prediction, assessment,
and mitigation of natural and manmade hazards, to monitor land use change,
and to relate land cover dynamics to population, disease, and ecosystem
change so policy makers at all levels of government can make informed decisions
regarding current and future issues affecting their geographic regions.
Rolla, Missouri
The Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center is located
in Rolla, Missouri. Rolla, the county seat of Phelps County, is an attractive
mixture of rural and urban life. It is the home of several high-technology
businesses and Federal agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey and
the U.S. Forest Service. The University of Missouri at Rolla, which is a
nationally recognized leader in science and technology, has educated students
in Rolla for more than 125 years.
Rolla is located at the crossroads of I-44, US 63 and Missouri Highway 72. Jefferson City, the state capital, is 62 miles to the north, St. Louis lies 106 miles northeast and Springfield is 110 miles southwest.
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