Continuation of Analyzing Long-Term Drought Effects on Land Surface Temperature and Vegetation Using NOAA Satellite Data
Keywords – Land Surface Temperature, TeraScan, Vegetation, TeraVision, USGS
Mentor: Mr. Andrew Brumfield
Abstract
According to the State Climate Office of North Carolina, since 2007 the northern coastal plain of North Carolina has been experiencing a long-term summer drought. The team’s objective was to analyze how long-term drought in summer months’ affected vegetation and land surface temperature in the Pasquotank, Perquimans, Camden and Gates county areas. The team collected imagery data through the SeaSpace TeraScan system in order to produce land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) products. The data products were averaged into monthly and yearly composites so that the team could use TeraVision to depict the differences of values for the products.

url: http://nia.ecsu.edu/ur/1617/teams/terascan/index.html

 

A Continuing Study of the Water Quality in the Pasquotank Watershed in Northeastern North Carolina
Elizabeth City
Keywords: water quality, Pasquotank, watershed, dissolved oxygen, pH, salt, conductivity, clarity, turbidity
Mentor: Mr. Jeff Wood
Abstract
The Pasquotank River Watershed is found in Northeast North Carolina beginning in the Great Dismal Swamp at the Virginia/North Carolina border and flows into the Albemarle Sound. The watershed provides a transition between the Great Dismal Swamp and the waters of the Albemarle Sound. The watershed is surrounded by a variety of landforms including swamps, farmland, and suburban developments. These produce a variety of runoff into the watershed affecting both the aquatic vegetation and marine life in the waters. This project built on the previous analysis of the four tributaries and the Pasquotank River completed in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

The 2016 Research Experience for Undergraduates Pasquotank River Watershed Team completed one set of tests of the watershed. These test points originated from the 2011 and 2013 research projects with the addition of four points created in 2014 to sample further downstream in the Pasquotank River. The results were compared with previous readings utilizing a Water Quality Index (WQI), a unitless number ranging from 1 to 100 with higher numbers denoting better water quality. The waterways tested were the Pasquotank River, Newbegun Creek, Knobbs Creek, Areneuse Creek, Mill Dam Creek, and Sawyers Creek. These creeks, along with the Pasquotank River, cover a large portion of the watershed and provided a wide area of study for the watershed.

Tests performed in the laboratory on this year’s samples include pH, salinity, total dissolved solids, and conductivity. Air/water temperature, dissolved oxygen, wind speed/direction, and turbidity/clarity measurements were taken in the field. The results collected were placed online and displayed in correlation to their position utilizing Google Maps. The data was then be compared to the previous projects results.

The overall water quality index (WQI) for all of the tested waterways combined remained on a constant pattern. However, results of this project may have varied due to several changes. A new dissolved oxygen meter was utilized and the method for calibrating the meter was changed. A different WQI calculator was also used as the previously used calculator was a Windows operating system application. All of the waterways, except for Sawyers Creek, were at their lowest WQI when being compared to past research ranging from 2011 to 2015. This may have been due to the high temperature readings during 2016. Turbidity, total dissolved solids, and dissolved oxygen were considerably different from previous years. The water testing for the five years of tests are displayed in Appendix 1. The Lower Pasquotank still has the best water quality index, but the waterway had a significant decrease in its water quality score.  When compared to the results of the 2014 team and the 2015 team, the Lower Pasquotank water quality went from having a ranking of a good water quality score to dropping 21 points, giving it a ranking of a medium water quality score. NewBegun Creek, Areneuse Creek, Mill Dam Creek, Sawyers Creek, Knobbs Creek, and Pasquotank River all had a ranking of a bad water quality index score this year, which ranges from 25 to 50. Areneuse Creek was the worst waterway tested during this research.  Mill Dam Creek, Areneuse Creek, and NewBegun Creek obtained the worst water quality index score out of all of the past research. Sawyers Creek and Knobbs Creek are close in readings because they are similar in size and very close to each other.

url: http://nia.ecsu.edu/reuomps2016/teams/water/

 

Design and Installation of a Video Conference Solution at the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research at ECSU Spring 2016
Elizabeth City
Keywords: Networking, video conferencing, CERSER, ECSU
Mentor: Mr. Carlton Lamb
Abstract
During the 2016 Spring Semester, the Research Experience Undergraduates Networking team project identified, evaluated, and implemented a video conference solution. The main objective was to establish a fully functioning video conferencing solution in four locations: Dixon-Patterson Hall, Rooms 226, 232 and Lane Hall, Rooms 111 and 119. To understand and create the scope of work for the project, the team had to research/analyze the rigorous standards which are set in place by the International Telecommunications Union. This agency works directly under the authority of the United Nations and is charged with issues relating to information and communication technologies. The team examined the H.323 standard for Telemedicine, how Telemedicine has evolved, and how the H.323 standard has progressively changed the way we conduct our lives. After replicating the layout of the four spaces, the next objective was to identify and evaluate a software solution. After identifying and evaluating multiple video conferencing applications, the team selected a specific application. An example of an issue which eliminated one application was when an application indicated that a user would only have to open a link in the browser to be able to connect; but it did not indicate that the link would only work from within a certain browser. As for the hardware, the technical specifications of components were used to identify the hardware components. This method of selection, immediately gave preference to specific devices. The team also analyzed the history of video conferencing and how it has evolved. This research project enables the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER) participants and invited guests to engage with others through video conferencing services.

url: http://nia.ecsu.edu/ur/1516/teams/network/index.html