CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

ORGANIZERS

  • Harvey Thorleifson, Chair
    Minnesota Geological Survey
  • Carrie Jennings, Vice Chair
    Minnesota Geological Survey
  • David Bush, Technical Program Chair
    University of West Georgia
  • Jim Miller, Field Trip Chair
    University of Minnesota Duluth
  • Curtis M. Hudak, Sponsorship Chair
    Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC

 

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Paper No. 43
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-6:00 PM

AN EVOLVING ONLINE TOOL FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS IN KARST LANDSCAPES


ALLEN, Victoria, Western Kentucky University, Dept. of Geography and Geology Hoffman Institute, 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, POLK, Jason, Hoffman Environmental Research Institute, Dept. of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd, EST 428, Bowling Green, KY 42101, NORTH, Leslie, Center for Human-GeoEnvironmental Studies, Department of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd. #31066, Bowling Green, KY 42101, GROVES, Chris, Western Kentucky University, Hoffman Environmental Research Institute, 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42101 and HUTCHISON, Taylor, Hoffman Environmental Research Institute, Department of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, victoria.allen588@topper.wku.edu

Karst environments are complex, coupled landscape/aquifer systems that require a holistic approach in understanding their vulnerabilities and the potential for anthropogenic impacts. Warren County, Kentucky is within one of the iconic karst landscapes of the world. Subsequently, it has received much attention from karst researchers, thus providing abundant information regarding the karst resources and human impacts on the area. The Karst Disturbance Index (KDI) is one method of evaluating the anthropogenic disturbances in a karst landscape using a variety of different data sources. In this research, the KDI was applied to Warren County to determine not only the extent and types of karst disturbance, but also to evaluate how readily the KDI can be applied by non-experts in karst research in an area with arguably one of the highest concentrations of available data in the world. Despite the availability of data in this particular case, this process revealed the need for a modified approach to holistically evaluate karst landscapes, and a more centralized and accessible online resource to aid in this type of assessment. Thus, based on a participatory needs assessment and the results of the evaluating the application process of the KDI to Warren County, we are creating, and evaluating the utilization of, an online Karst Assessment Tool (KAT) that is a broader and more applied approach to evaluating karst landscapes. The KAT will provide karst educational resources, a step-by-step guide for its application, and the ability to find, analyze, and interpret data resources using GIS and other means directly through a fully interactive web-based resource and research tool. Additionally, users will be able to share and compare their results. Preliminary development of the KAT and user feedback through surveys and application of it by non-experts indicates this tool to be of scientific value in allowing the general public to better evaluate and manage its karst resources. Future research will focus on its refinement and integration with additional development of web resources to provide a user-friendly and holistic tool for evaluating impacts on a karst landscape.

Session No. 241--Booth# 54

Environmental Geoscience (Posters)
Wednesday, 12 October 2011: 9:00 AM-6:00 PM
Hall C (Minneapolis Convention Center)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 43, No. 5, p.583
© Copyright 2011 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.
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