ENHANCING ECOSYSTEM KNOWLEDGE THROUGH FIELD WORK AND GIS ANALYSES

Multidisciplinary research at Longwood University aims to use geologic, hydrologic, soils, vegetation, weather, and land use data to improve understandings of how local ecosystems operate as well as to use the resulting wisdom to evaluate environmental quality threats and inform environmental planning efforts.

One research thread, which includes student and faculty efforts, involves using field checks, mapping techniques, and GIS analyses to supplement and adapt 1:500,000 scale geologic geospatial data for use at larger (local) map scales in the south central Virginia Piedmont. Mapping of diabase dikes and pegmatite veins, fine tuning of lithologic contacts, and petrographic investigations of variations in lithologies have begun and are starting to contribute to enhanced understanding of the local geology.

Along with studies of the bedrock base of ecosystems, students and faculty are examining soil characteristics, doing plant community surveys of forests and successional areas, evaluating hydrologic pathways, working with land use and landcover cover data, and investigating relationships among these variables. A related research thrust that is beginning to ramp up involves examining relationships between land use and environmental concerns using GIS data and analyses. Characterization of hydrologic pathways and flood plain mapping are part of this work, as are investigations that link impervious surfaces and meteorological data to flood risk.

This research program aspires to integrate laboratory work from diverse college courses over multiple semesters, student research projects, and faculty research. As data collection and analysis efforts mature, the research can expand to include multivariate analyses and modeling efforts that support enhanced understandings of ecosystem dynamics and related custom needs of environmental planning and natural resource management. The research program works toward providing information and tools that support communities and institutions in prioritizing environmental concerns and doing wise natural resource management. Ideally, the research program will work with community organizations, planning commissions, and government agencies to optimize the usefulness of its results.