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WWW .WVAGP .COM /CONFERENCE /
20 16 /ABSTRACTS
20 16 WV G IS CONFERENCE ,
MORGANTOWN , WEST V IRG IN IA
P A P E R &P O S T E RA B S T R A C T S
M A Y 5 T H
i 2016 WV GIS Conference
Paper Abstracts
Bess, Eric Intro to GPS/GIS .......................................................................................................................... 1
Bocan, John Three Crowd-sourced Mapping Examples ...and Yes, You Too Can Be a HOT Mapper! ........... 1
Bocan, John Two Free and Open Source Templates for JavaScript Mapping Applications ............................ 2
Brancheau, Lee WV Flood Risk Mapping Needs ................................................................................................... 2
Brown, Thomas* Visualizing Storm Damage in 3D GIS to Aid Pre-Event Risk Awareness (CAVE) ...................... 3
Curran, Megan* Using Spatial and Economic Attributes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Analyze
Patterns of Merit Based and Need Based Scholarships in Higher Education Institutions in West
Virginia ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Davis, Marvin* 3D GeoDesign (CAVE) ................................................................................................................ 4
Del Greco, Gene History of the GIS-World, Part II: A Look at the History of GIS in Film and Television ........... 4
Deng, Jinyang Sensitivity Analysis of Nature-based Tourism Using GIS and Analytic Hierarchy Process ....... 5
Donaldson, David* West Virginia Trail Inventory ...................................................................................................... 5
Ferrari, Aaron* Olfaction, GIS and Immersion (CAVE) ....................................................................................... 6
Gross, Thomson* Supporting People-Centered Food Networks across West Virginia; Toward a Participatory
Mapping Framework ................................................................................................................... 6
Grow, York ArcGIS Online for Water Operations – Trimble Unity ................................................................ 7
He, Yaqian* Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection in China Based on AVHRR GIMMS NDVI3g and
MODIS MCD12Q1 from 1982 to 2012 ........................................................................................ 7
Hopkins, Eric West Virginia Flood Tool and Flood Risk Analysis for Mitigation Planning.............................. 8
Iksic, Christine Bluefield Sanitary Board GIS/Trimble......................................................................................... 8
Jeffers, Anne Community TIGER ....................................................................................................................... 9
08 Fall
ii 2016 WV GIS Conference
LaFone, Frank A National Look at Soil Carbon .................................................................................................. 9
Lovin, Jeff Single Photon/Geiger Mode LiDAR............................................................................................. 9
Maxwell, Aaron Predicting the Topographic Likelihood of Palustrine Wetland Occurrence in West Virginia
Using Machine Learning and Terrain Variables ....................................................................... 10
McColloch, Scott LiDAR Enhanced Bedrock Geological Mapping in the Appalachian High Plateau ................. 10
Moser, Tyran Energy Sector GIS Applications ................................................................................................ 11
Perettie, Nicholas* Exploring the Battle of Blair Mountain in Immersive GIS (CAVE) ........................................... 11
Penegar, Tre Esri Local Government Model, Parcel Fabric, Countywide OrthoImagery ............................. 11
Reck, Nate State and Local Project Planning – GIS is the Key to Success .................................................. 12
Scott, Matt ArcGIS Platform Desktop & Server ........................................................................................... 12
Shank, Michael Elevation/LiDAR Stakeholders .................................................................................................. 12
Sharma, Maneesh NHD/WBD Stakeholders Meeting.............................................................................................. 13
Shokri, Mohammad* Assessment of Karstification by Means of GIS and RS in Damghan's Cheshme-Ali basin, NE
Iran ............................................................................................................................................ 14
Shy, Alex* Analyzing the Sensitivity of a Real Time Surface Water Flow Model to Protect Public Water
Intakes in West Virginia ............................................................................................................. 14
Simental, Tony GISP Certification ..................................................................................................................... 15
Sovich, Madeline An Overview of Geographic Partnerships at the US Census Bureau ........................................ 15
Starcher, Jennings E-911 Session/SAMS-II Update ................................................................................................. 15
Strager, Jackie The Impact of Landscape Change and Hydrologic Alterations on the NHD, WBD and
StreamStats for West Virginia .................................................................................................... 16
Thomas, Christian Using Google Earth Engine to Identify Mountaintop Removal Mines ...................................... 16
2016 WV GIS Conference iii
Srivastava, Pragya* Modeling Subsurface Infrastructure in Immersive 3D (CAVE) ................................................. 17
Poster Abstracts
Campbell, Sarah* Implementing an Enterprise-Level Geospatial Application for Improving Transportation and
Planning ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Dickle, Zac* Open GIS for Emergency Response Mapping ........................................................................... 19
Edwards, Cori West Virginia Regional Planning & Development Councils and Metropolitan Planning
Organizations ............................................................................................................................ 19
Fang, Fang* Discriminating tree species using crown-scale measurements: fusing leaf-on LiDAR and high-
resolution multi-spectral satellite data ...................................................................................... 20
Feng, Snow (Xue)* Dental Work Force and Geographical Disparities in Dental Services Utilization in Appalachia
................................................................................................................................................... 20
Pourmohammadi, Pariya* Analysis of Land Cover and Use Change Rivers in Monongalia River Basin ........................... 21
Rice, Cynthia* High spatial resolution land cover classification in Preston County, WV using GEOBIA,
machine learning, NAIP orthophotography, LiDAR, and ancillary GIS data ........................... 21
Schindling, James* Challenging Historical GIS through Unstructured Primary Source Materials ......................... 22
Sharp, Adam* Forest type mapping in the Monongahela National Forest ....................................................... 22
Srivastava, Pragya* Exploring Immersive Geovisualization and 3D GIS Modeling of Subsurface Infrastructure ... 23
Strager, Jackie Terrestrial vertebrate species distribution modeling for the mountaintop removal mining region
of Appalachia ............................................................................................................................. 23
* Student Presenters
1 2016 WV GIS Conference
2016 WV GIS Conference
Paper Abstracts
Bess, Eric
Senior GIS Specialist, Mott MacDonald, [email protected]
Intro to GPS/GIS
In today's world, organization, efficiency and accuracy are key components of data and
asset management. Modern technology has granted a variety of tools and methodologies
that enable companies to manage their assets in ways that offer a positive return on their
investment. Some of these tools include Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and
Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Data structure is a key component to data
management. Data should be structured to have flexibility and versatility for analysis and
reporting on a variety of levels. This process begins at the point of collection.
Standardization and consistency are important for efficiency and ensuring the collected
data is received in the proper format and with the required content. A data dictionary is a
useful tool in achieving this goal. The attendees will receive a high level overview of how
a GPS works, how to use a data dictionary for field data collection, what makes up a GIS
and how these systems can work together to gather, analyze, and deliver information for
critical decision making related to company assets. Understanding these concepts can
also offer insight on streamlining data flow and work flow within the company's
processes and more efficient resource allocation.
Bocan, John
GIS Programmer/Analyst, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey,
Three Crowd-sourced Mapping Examples ...and Yes, You Too Can Be a HOT Mapper!
There has been a rise in “crowd-sourced” participation in the sciences in the past few
years. One of the better well-known crowd-sourced efforts in mapping is that of the Open
Street Map (OSM) project. You may have even seen or used the OSM maps among
ESRI's basemaps! This presentation will try to introduce you to what OSM is, why did it
come about and how to get involved. Another example we will explore will be the effort
of The National Map Corps which has many similarities to OSM. Lastly, you will be
introduced into what it takes to be a HOT mapper! We could use more of these! Come
and find out!
2 2016 WV GIS Conference
Bocan, John
GIS Programmer/Analyst, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey,
Two Free and Open Source Templates for JavaScript Mapping Applications
Gone are the days of ArcIMS. However surprisingly, there are still some IMS
applications here and there. There are a few developers and designers who still scurry for
(easy) upgradeable solutions! For a while, Flash/FLEX was the craze and many
developers jumped aboard that platform to transform IMS to nice “flashy” maps. Then
came the rise of mobile applications which shoved Flash away which left developers in
need for yet another means of providing decent interactive maps without the need to
“reinvent the wheel”. ESRI's powerful JavaScript API and ArcGIS for Server enables a
developer to greatly customize applications. ArcGIS Online gives rich value-added tools
and abilities to facilitate interactive mapping—almost without the need of a developer!
Some developers may not chose (or be able to choose) some of that route but they still
may not want to design an application from scratch. This session will explore two Free
and Open Source templates or viewers of which you can employ and leverage an ArcGIS
REST Map Service. One application/template was developed by a state government, the
other was constructed by a grassroots endeavor of other talented developers. Examples of
each in use will be shown.
Brancheau, Lee
Geographer, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
WV Flood Risk Mapping Needs
FEMA manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which aims to reduce the
impact of flooding on private and public structures. It does so by providing affordable
insurance to property owners and by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce
floodplain management regulations. These efforts help mitigate the effects of flooding on
new and improved structures. The NFIP relies on the availability of high quality
floodplain modeling and mapping. As technologies improve and development increases,
FEMA continues to update floodplain studies and maps in West Virginia and throughout
the nation. This talk discusses the current modeling, mapping, and flood risk reduction
efforts FEMA is undertaking in West Virginia as part of its Risk MAP and other
programs.
2016 WV GIS Conference 3
Brown, Thomas*
Graduate Student, West Virginia GIS Technical Center, West Virginia University,
Visualizing Storm Damage in 3D GIS to Aid Pre-Event Risk Awareness (CAVE)
Hurricane damage visualization presents an opportunity to expand emergency warning
products from text announcements to realistic depictions of storm damage. Emergency
managers are requesting and developing 3-dimensional objects that embed expert
knowledge into critical information products that are able to be used by the general public.
This research is an extension of existing storm warning products such as maps, text
announcement and social media accounts that address and attempt to reduce the
knowledge boundary between emergency management experts and the general public.
Information and communication of potential hurricane damage in the past have focused
on abstract values that represent potential damage, wind speeds, potential flooding, etc.
by fitting them within discrete hurricane categories. This research challenges the existing
methodology for storm warnings by embedding storm data into a 3-dimensional
visualization product. This method attempts to reduce the amount of translation necessary
for the general public to understand expert storm warning data. The goal is to create a
pre-event warning and preparation visualization that can provide critical storm damage
information to the general public for a variety of weather events before the event arrives.
Curran, Megan*
Undergraduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Using Spatial and Economic Attributes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to
Analyze Patterns of Merit Based and Need Based Scholarships in Higher Education
Institutions in West Virginia
This presentation will demonstrate how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be
used by higher education institutional research offices to identify state student
populations to detect patterns of access to post-secondary education. This research allows
the analyst to identify higher education access through need based and merit based
scholarships over time and spotlight HEPG financial aid programs, which are doing the
most to increase the success rate of students in West Virginia. Data layers containing
student higher education going rates, number and type of scholarship recipients, along
with other various outside spatial factors such as interstates, geographical barriers, and
economic development allow patterns to become more apparent. These patterns are vital
to institutional research because they allow college recruiters and k-12 education to have
a better idea of where to place specific resources and funds through the counties of West
Virginia to better prepare students for post-secondary education. This presentation also
demonstrates how to more effectively utilize data that is already available to HEPC and
other institutional research organizations. By using GIS to find these patterns changes can
be made in the legislature to better allocate resources and adjust policies to better assists
West Virginias high school graduates seeking financial assistance for post-secondary
education.
4 2016 WV GIS Conference
Davis, Marvin*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University; GIS Coordinator, City of Oak Hill
3D GeoDesign (CAVE)
GeoDesign is a relatively new field that serves as a repurposing of many different
disciplines concerned with design decisions about the built environment. More
specifically, GeoDesign represents a coupling of urban planning concepts with the
analytical capabilities of GIS. While GIS has been used in planning mostly in the two-
dimensional realm, the built environment is three-dimensional and challenges GIS in the
handling of the vertical dimension, notably in floor-by-floor uses in mixed-use
developments, basement-level parking, light capture, and intervisibility between
structures. This presentation advances GeoDesign by addressing these three-dimensional
issues through the utilization of highly-detailed 3D models using Trimble SketchUp, the
mass-model generation power of ERSI’s CityEngine, and the analytical capabilities of 3D
Analyst to study potential impacts of changes within the built environment.
Del Greco, Gene
GIS Manager, K.E. McCartney & Associates, Inc., [email protected]
History of the GIS-World, Part II: A Look at the History of GIS in Film and Television
This presentation provides a historical look at how GIS technologies have been presented
in the past in film and television and how today's seemingly farfetched technological
scenarios actually point to genuine and practical developments in the future. Extensive
research was done by screening science fiction, spy movies and other genres for
representations of geospatial technology. This presentation picks up where Part I
(presented at the 2014 WV GIS Conference) left off showing more clips on how GIS
technologies have been portrayed in both films and television.
2016 WV GIS Conference 5
Deng, Jinyang
Associate Professor, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West
Virginia University, [email protected]
Sensitivity Analysis of Nature-based Tourism Using GIS and Analytic Hierarchy Process
Identification and evaluation of nature-based tourism (NBT) destinations is not a new
practice, however, evaluating the variability of various inputs in the identification and
evaluation of NBT destinations have only recently gained special attention. This study
highlights the importance of conducting sensitivity analysis of criteria weights in
mapping NBT areas in the state of West Virginia. As an extension to the study by Dhami,
Deng, Burns, and Pierskalla (2014) who examined and mapped NBT areas in West
Virginia by incorporating visitors’ perceptions as criteria weights into a spatial suitability
model, this study focuses on how sensitive NBT areas are to the variations of visitors’
and ecotourism experts’ perceptions of selected criteria (i.e., remoteness, slope,
vegetation, wildlife, mining, logging) using a simple one-at-a-time (OAT) method.
Results indicate that visitors and ecotourism experts perceived the criteria in a similar
manner with the presence of vegetation and remoteness being ranked as the most
important criteria for NBT areas. The results also show that about one third of West
Virginia is highly suitable and least sensitive to variations in criteria weights, and
therefore suitable for a wide range of NBT tourists, irrespective of their preferences for
the selected NBT criteria. This study provides a science-based information for land use
planners and decision makers as to where should be conserved in order to attract nature
tourists. Research implications and limitations are discussed.
Donaldson, David*
Undergraduate Student, West Virginia GIS Technical Center, West Virginia University,
West Virginia Trail Inventory
Starting in 2010, the WV Trail Inventory project was funded by the WV Division of
Highways to inventory, collect, and integrate all publicly accessible trails in West
Virginia. Currently there are 5,000 miles of inventoried trails in West Virginia. An
online trail application (www.mapwv.gov/trails) allows users to view and identify
recreational trails inventoried in West Virginia. In addition, the online trail application
allows trails stewards to validate their trail geometry, attributes (e.g., trail surface, trail
use, organization), and contact information. The Web trail application can be accessed
by users with multiple devices including phones, tablets, or computers. Lastly, the
statewide GIS trails inventory database can be used for multiple purposes in that it allows
users to make customized maps, online trail maps, generate trail statistics, and plan for
future trail projects.
6 2016 WV GIS Conference
Ferrari, Aaron*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Olfaction, GIS and Immersion (CAVE)
Immersive, virtual environments have proven to be a valuable tool for geographic
research of place, embodiment, and experience. Although current trends in Geography
indicate a shirt toward 3D GIS and visualization, there remains a visucentric focus that
has, so far, discounted additional senses beyond sight and sound. This paper examines the
incorporation of olfactory stimuli in a Computer Assisted Virtual Environment (CAVE)
and its effectiveness in contributing to and evoking a sense of place. Because of the direct
link between olfactory and limbic systems, olfactory stimulation can instantly evoke
vivid memories and emotional responses that sights and sounds alone cannot attain. The
sensory experience of space in the principle factor in creating a sense of place. This
research seeks to explain how sense of place can be tested and analyzed through an
examination of the influence of olfactory stimulation on one’s sense of place in a
geosensory, immersive environment.
Gross, Thomson*
Graduate Student, WV FOODLINK, Food Justice Lab, West Virginia University,
Supporting People-Centered Food Networks across West Virginia; Toward a
Participatory Mapping Framework
Food mapping is increasingly in vogue as anti-hunger organizations and community food
security coalitions across the country grapple with the spatial dimensions of food access.
The USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas for example has been highly influential for
policy makers using a ‘food deserts’ frame to address food access gaps across the United
States. Similarly Feeding America has developed the ‘Map the Meal Gap’, a web based
mapping application meant to highlight food insecurity rates at the county and
congressional district levels. These maps however were developed by experts based on
national scale models rather than from local geographical knowledge, and often fail to
fully capture differences in regional foodscapes. This presentation will discuss
methodologies used by the WV FOODLINK project to engage anti-hunger practitioners
across West Virginia and produce more representative cartographies of food access in
state to the sub-county scale. It will especially focus on the development of an ESRI web
application meant to engage food access advocates in participatory mapping exercises.
The WV Community Food Access Mapper is a key component of gathering data about
and representing local knowledge from the many different components of West
Virginia’s food system, from retailers, to farms, to food pantries and state based
assistance programs.
2016 WV GIS Conference 7
Grow, York
Mapping and GIS Sales Manager, Duncan-Parnell, Inc, [email protected]
ArcGIS Online for Water Operations – Trimble Unity
Using the core technology of ArcGIS Online, Trimble Navigation has developed Trimble
Unity as an operations-centric solution that takes the power of spatial data and
intertwines it with every day inspection, maintenance and other operations activities. This
presentation would look at how Trimble Unity allows an operations manager to select
and deploy work to the field, how the average working using a phone or tablet can
perform their work assignment and how the progress of that work gets returned to the
office. http://www.trimblewater.com/unity.html
He, Yaqian*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Co-Authors: Eungul Lee, Timothy A. Warner
Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection in China Based on AVHRR GIMMS
NDVI3g and MODIS MCD12Q1 from 1982 to 2012
Land use and land cover change (LULCC) can influence regional climate by altering the
surface roughness, soil moisture, and heat flux partition. LULCC information therefore is
important for providing a better understanding of land-atmosphere interaction. A key
requirement for climatological studies is the generation of continuous long-term land use
and land cover maps on at least an annual basis. However, current continuous annual
LULC maps are only available from 2001 to present, limiting the span of the period that
can be studied. This study applied a random forests classifier based on nineteen
phenological metrics to produce LULC maps of China from 1982 to 2012 using
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) third generation NDVI
(NDVI3g), and Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover
type product (MCD12Q1) datasets. The LULCCs were then detected through the
produced continuous LULC maps during the three decades. Compared with images from
Google earth, the overall accuracy of LULC map in 2012 is 74.0%, which indicates the
reliability of the maps. The croplands and forests have been increased, and grasslands
decreased over the recent three decades.
8 2016 WV GIS Conference
Hopkins, Eric
West Virginia GIS Technical Center, [email protected]
Co-Authors: Xiannian Chen, Kurt Donaldson, Jessica Garrett, Frank Lafone
West Virginia Flood Tool and Flood Risk Analysis for Mitigation Planning
The West Virginia Flood Tool (http://www.MapWV.gov/flood) provides statewide
floodplain management stakeholders with a convenient yet powerful online resource for
evaluating flood risk and FEMA flood zone/National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
status. In addition to the Public (basic) and Expert views, the Flood Tool offers a
RiskMAP View focused on flood vulnerability and loss estimation. In 2015 the
WVGISTC expanded their efforts into Flood Risk Analysis in support of county and/or
regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plans (MHMP). Local, county and statewide data are
processed using ArcGIS models to produce a current, accurate countywide building
inventory and user defined facilities lying within the 1% annual chance floodplain. The
updated inventory is then used as input to FEMA Hazus-MH software to generate
estimated losses. The revised loss information is then integrated into the Flood Tool for
stakeholder use.
Iksic, Christine
Director of Sales and Marketing, Geo-Precision Solutions, [email protected]
Bluefield Sanitary Board GIS/Trimble
The Bluefield Sanitary Board of Bluefield, West Virginia has built a unique GIS system
that is built on local resources and hosted software services from Esri and Trimble. This
system allows staff at the Bluefield Sanitary Board to use a high-accuracy GNSS receiver
to collect new and update existing asset locations, distribute data to field personnel, and
provide access to photo, video, and related documents to users throughout the
organization. This presentation will review the methods and solutions they used to
implement this tailored GIS system so others can benefit from their successes and road
blocks.
2016 WV GIS Conference 9
Jeffers, Anne
Geographer, U.S. Census Bureau, [email protected]
Community TIGER
Community TIGER is a set a free tools to streamlines the file acquisition process for data
exchanged between the Census Bureau and its partners in preparation for the 2020
Census. These tools enable agency collaboration. The Community TIGER system uses
cloud technology to provide Census Bureau partners with free access to Esri ArcGIS,
which includes the Community TIGER partner toolbox and a Contribution Management
System.
LaFone, Frank
Lead Technical Lead, West Virginia GIS Technical Center, West Virginia University,
Co-Authors: Eric Hopkins, Kurt Donaldson, Jessica Garrett
A National Look at Soil Carbon
Carbon is a fundamental element, which touches on a wide range of human existence,
from farming to climate change. Understanding the Carbon Stock contained within soil in
a particular geographic extent is critical for decision makers and the general population if
they wish to make informed, sustainable decisions about land use and management.
Scientists know a great deal about carbon stocks/mass within soil, yet this information
has been challenging to communicate in clear and understandable ways to the ‘layperson’.
A web application www.Carbonscapes.org was created to present a more holistic view of
carbon, the carbon cycle, and soil’s role within each. It features a Soil Atlas designed to
communicate complex scientific analysis of soil carbon in easily understandable metrics.
It has a more feature rich view of carbon designed for the more knowledgeable user or
scientist. The application also features a data clearinghouse for soil carbon experts.
Carbonscapes.org might present a useful model for future governmental scientific
communications with an audience of mixed expertise and advanced knowledge.
Lovin, Jeff
Director of Government Solutions, Senior Vice President, Woolpert,
Single Photon/Geiger Mode LiDAR
[From WVAGP Spring 2016 Newsletter] Another hot GIS topic noted was innovations in
lidar technology, with the commercialization of single photon and Geiger mode lidar. “In
layman’s terms, both of these new lidar technologies collect up to 10 times the density of
data from three to four times the current flying height of linear mode sensors being used
today,” Lovin said. “This will provide great value and efficiency to the end user.”
10 2016 WV GIS Conference
Maxwell, Aaron
Assistant Professor, Alderson Broaddus University, [email protected]
Predicting the Topographic Likelihood of Palustrine Wetland Occurrence in West
Virginia Using Machine Learning and Terrain Variables
The topographic probability of palustrine wetland occurrence in West Virginia was
mapped based on topographic variables and using random forests (RF) machine learning.
Models were developed for selected ecological subregions and also the entire state. The
models were first trained using pixels randomly selected from the United States National
Wetland Inventory (NWI) dataset and were tested using a separate random subset from
the NWI and a database of wetlands not found in the NWI provided by the West Virginia
Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). The models produced area under the curve
(AUC) values in excess of 0.90, and as high as 0.998. Models developed in one
ecological subregion of the state produced significantly different AUC values when
applied to other subregions, indicating that the topographical models should be
extrapolated to new physiographic regions with caution. Non-NWI wetlands were
mapped with an AUC value of 0.956, indicating that the probability maps may be useful
for finding potential palustrine wetlands not found in the NWI.
McColloch, Scott
Senior Geologist, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey,
LiDAR Enhanced Bedrock Geological Mapping in the Appalachian High Plateau
The High Appalachian Plateau of West Virginia and adjacent states, frequently referred
to as the "Allegheny Mountain Section" lies between the relatively flat-lying lower
plateau to the west through which the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers flow and the
Appalachian Valley and Ridge. Although the younger rock units are the same as those of
the low plateau, this distinct region is marked by more structural deformation of older
rock units that are exposed in the cores of high relief anticlines. Bedrock mapping in the
region provides an opportunity to observe how deep-seated folding and faulting of the
Appalachian Basin dies out as it migrates up section into younger rocks. The high plateau
is also subject to both high humidity and the highest precipitation in the region. This
climate results in both lush vegetation and enhanced weathering of some rock units
making high quality exposures, relied upon by field geologists, rare. LiDAR derived
surfaces including hillshades, slope shades, and occasionally other products are helpful in
mapping as both cliffs formed by resistant sandstone units and terrain textures
characteristic of certain rock units can be used to interpolate between rare, high quality
exposures. Careful observation of LiDAR-derived surfaces can also lead to the discovery
of previously unrecognized geologic structures. Economic implications include impacts
of these structures on fluid disposal, conventional petroleum traps, and issues relating to
newer unconventional shale reservoirs.
2016 WV GIS Conference 11
Moser, Tyran
GIS Analyst, EQT Midstream Operations, [email protected]
Energy Sector GIS Applications
Taryn Moser of EQT will be presenting on the utilization of Smart Pig, In Line
Inspections, and Trimble GPS Data. After 13 years of GIS experience and 6 years in the
Oil and Gas Industry this is a current project that I am working on to show the accuracy
of our line data in our GIS. With compiling all the data we are also looking at how we
need to look at our data with different circumstances such as lines purchased from other
companies, how the smart pigs react in the pipe with the Above Ground Locators,
whether the line has been bored, and many other factors. There are many different
questions we are answering with analyzing this type of data. My presentation will go
over why we are using this data, how we are utilizing the data, and in what instances to
we actually correct our data.
Perettie, Nicholas*
Undergraduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Co-Authors*: Jeffery Cazenas, Alex Stout, Jonathan Suite, Ellie Williams, Jaryd Wolak
Exploring the Battle of Blair Mountain in Immersive GIS (CAVE)
The Battle of Blair Mountain was the largest labor uprising in U.S. history, culminating
from the deplorable working and living conditions of mining towns in southern West
Virginia during the early 1900's. In late August of 1921, a band of miners faced off with
Logan County lawmen, hired strikebreakers, and federal troops in a violent effort to
finally unionize the coalfields of southern West Virginia by force. Using the immersive
3D technology of the CAVE system and tools within the ArcGIS suite of software, our
team has modeled the Battle of Blair Mountain to promote positive awareness of an event
that has been largely forgotten. We hope that our research in immersive virtual
technology within a geographic context will encourage the future use of this technology
for spatial analysis and demonstration, while also shedding light on an important part of
West Virginia history.
Penegar, Tre
Project Manager, Atlas Geographic Data, [email protected]
Co-Presenter: Larry, Kirkpatrick, Vice President, Atlas Geographic Data,
Esri Local Government Model, Parcel Fabric, Countywide OrthoImagery
Advantages of implementing Esri local government model and parcel fabric as it relates
to WV land records, 911 addressing and other local government needs. Techniques and
processes for Countywide OrthoImagery quality control.
12 2016 WV GIS Conference
Reck, Nate
Director of Gov’t Solutions, GeoDecisions, [email protected]
State and Local Project Planning – GIS is the Key to Success
GIS is a perfect fit for state and local governments to plan projects and share those plans
with stakeholders and the public. GeoDecisions has worked with numerous state DOTs
and also MPO/RPOs to manage their STIP, TIP, and LRTP programs, using GIS as the
key piece to help define and manage those programs. For example, GeoDecisions is
partnering with WVDOT to manage and disseminate its STIP data using GIS to
legislators, stakeholders, and the general public to provide awareness for projects being
planned across the state. GeoDecisions will also highlight tools created for MPO/RPOs
that provides a GIS-centric suite to create, manage, and amend its TIP and LRTP, which
ultimately feeds the DOT’s STIP program.
Scott, Matt
Solutions Engineer, ESRI, [email protected]
ArcGIS Platform Desktop & Server
The ArcGIS Platform continues to evolve, with the release of ArcGIS 10.4 and ArcGIS
Pro 1.2. In this session, an Esri representative will outline new features in ArcGIS 10.4
from the Desktop and Server side, as well as new capabilities of ArcGIS Pro at release
1.2.
Shank, Michael
GIS Manager, WV Department of Environmental Protection, [email protected]
Elevation/LiDAR Stakeholders
This session will discuss the present LiDAR coverage in West Virginia, new acquisitions
planned by FEMA for nine WV counties, and filling in the gaps to attain statewide
LiDAR coverage. In addition to improving the statewide digital elevation model,
geospatial leaders from the federal, state, and private sector will be in attendance to
discuss topics such as the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) and LiDAR training/resources
for the WV GIS community.
2016 WV GIS Conference 13
Sharma, Maneesh
West Virginia GIS Technical Center, Research Associate,
NHD/WBD Stakeholders Meeting
The High Resolution National Hydrographic Dataset is a GIS dataset that maps and
describes the surface waters of the United States and its territories. The original source
data for NHD development in West Virginia were the features contained on 1:24,000
scale topographic maps. At the time, these maps represented the only standardized,
quality checked statewide data source for surface water features. Due to scale and
temporal limitations of the source data, as well as large scale surface change in certain
regions of West Virginia, NHD dataset is visibly out of date when compared with
commonly available high resolution aerial photographs.
In 2010, a memorandum of understanding between the United States Geologic Survey
and the WV Office of GIS Coordination established the WV NHD Stewardship program.
WVGISTC was identified in that MOU as the technical lead of NHD stewardship in West
Virginia. Since then, WVGISTC has conducted two one-year NHD stewardship projects,
both funded by the USGS. WVGISTC has worked closely with NRAC (Technical
partner), WVDEP, USDA and USGS. Recently, WVGISTC was awarded a grant by EPA
to document surface disturbance and hydrologic change. As part of this project,
WVGISTC will update NHD in disturbed areas and is coordinating update efforts with
NRAC, USGS and WVDEP and local stake holders. Jefferson County has already
identified edits in their county and is working to incorporate those edits in the database.
The goal of the stakeholders meeting is to communicate the progress on NHD and to
discuss mechanisms for updates to NHD. We will also discuss mechanisms for WBD
updates.
14 2016 WV GIS Conference
Shokri, Mohammad*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Assessment of Karstification by Means of GIS and RS in Damghan's Cheshme-Ali basin,
NE Iran
Karst development is the result of geological, climatologic, topographic, hydrologic, and
tectonic factors impacting karstic areas. The variety of their intensity leads to different
degree of karstification in a region as well as a standard to compare different areas. In
terms of cost, it is much more effective to assess karstification in large-scale areas with
inexpensive and accurate methods. In this research, it is shown how GIS and RS
techniques can be used for this purpose. The study area is Cheshme-Ali basin, located in
NE Iran. To determine which factors and to what degree they are affecting karstification
in the region, experts were consulted to provide judgments on their importance. Ten
effective data layers were created including: lithology, precipitation, temperature, slope,
distance to fault, fault density, distance to lineament, lineament density, distance to
drainage, and vegetation cover.
By using analytic hierarchy process (AHP), each criteria was ranked by relative weighted
percent. Combination of the created data layers results a relative potential of
karstification map with regard to the spatial variation. Several field checks were
completed to assess the procedure. The final karstification map was validated and showed
that the watershed is mainly moderately karstified.
Shy, Alex*
Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Analyzing the Sensitivity of a Real Time Surface Water Flow Model to Protect Public
Water Intakes in West Virginia
In January of 2014 West Virginia experienced a chemical spill upstream of a public water
intake on the Elk River near Charleston, West Virginia that made the water unusable for
300,000 people for weeks. In response to this disaster, state officials enacted legislation
to protect the future public water intake locations by requiring the delineation of zones of
critical concern that extend a five hour travel time above the intakes. Each zone is defined
by the travel time and buffered along the river mainstem and tributary locations to
identify future potential threats to the water supply. While this approach helps to identify
potential problems before they occur, the need existed to test the sensitivity of the time of
travel equation (Jobson, 1996) to modeled stream flow data. This study performed a
sensitivity analysis of how the travel time results differ with real time surface flow
conditions for 12 different USGS stream gages across West Virginia. This effort can help
to further understand the variance and limitations when modeling time of travel in
streams and rivers throughout the state.
2016 WV GIS Conference 15
Simental, Tony
WV State GIS Coordinator, WV Office of GIS Coordination, [email protected]
GISP Certification
The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) completed a big step in the improvement of its
GIS Professional (GISP) certification process in late 2015, by instituting the Geospatial
Core Technical Knowledge Exam. The exam is now a required part of the GISP
certification process, and naturally, many questions have arisen regarding its
development. This presentation will attempt to answer some of those questions by briefly
discussing the exam development process and future plans.
Sovich, Madeline
Geographer, U.S. Census Bureau, [email protected]
An Overview of Geographic Partnerships at the US Census Bureau
A high level overview of the current Geographic Programs going on at the Census
Bureau as a lead up to the 2020 Decennial Census. Partnership opportunities include the
Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS), Boundary Quality Assessment and
Reconciliation Project (BQARP), State Agreements, Local Update of Census Addresses
(LUCA), Geographic Support System Initiatives (GSS-I), and Community TIGER.
Participation in these programs will help communities and governments get more
accurate population counts in the 2020 Census. The presentation will include what the
programs are, what’s new, how the programs can benefit West Virginia and who to
contact for more information.
Starcher, Jennings
GIS Manager, WV Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management,
[email protected]; Kuhn, Kevin GIS Analyst, West Virginia GIS Technical
Center, [email protected]
E-911 Session/SAMS-II Update
Jennings Starcher will provide an overview of addressing in West Virginia, while Kevin
Kuhn will discuss the new Statewide Addressing and Mapping System based on the Esri
platform. The session will provide a forum for attendees to participate in statewide
addressing topics and ideas.
16 2016 WV GIS Conference
Strager, Jackie
Research Coordinator, West Virginia University, Natural Resource Analysis Center,
The Impact of Landscape Change and Hydrologic Alterations on the NHD, WBD and
StreamStats for West Virginia
This presentation will cover recent experience in West Virginia with broad scale
landscape changes and associated impacts on hydrologic datasets, particularly the
National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). The extent of recent landscape change in West
Virginia will be described, with an emphasis on mountaintop removal mining, which
extends throughout southwestern WV and neighboring states. The impact of mountaintop
mining on existing surface water datasets in WV (including the NHD and the Watershed
Boundary Dataset (WBD) will be described, along with a discussion of increased NHD
maintenance in WV and the ongoing development of a West Virginia StreamStats
application using recently acquired LiDAR derived elevation data.
Thomas, Christian
Geospatial Analyst, Sky Truth, [email protected]
Using Google Earth Engine to Identify Mountaintop Removal Mines
Coal mining is an issue of specific environmental importance in West Virginia;
MountaintopRemoval (MTR) mining, a type of surface mining, which became prevalent
in Appalachia in the 1970's. The large scale nature of MTR mining rearranges
topography, impacts diverse habitats, and causes changes in surface water hydrology. In
2007 SkyTruth produced a comprehensive dataset cataloging the footprint of MTR sites
from 1976-2005 using a multispectral Land Use Land Cover classification. While this
study relied upon an iterative, time-intensive manual classification, the results of the 2007
study proved valuable, prompting SkyTruth to work on regularly updating and
maintaining the database. Google's cloud-based geospatial computing platform Earth
Engine (EE) was chosen as the tool to create the updated MTR map. Earth Engine
provides access to, and allows automated analysis of, the entire Landsat imagery archive.
Using EE's Application Program Interface (API), a Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI) threshold was applied to historic Landsat image composites to classify
land as mining or non-mining, track the location of MTR sites over time, as well as
calculate the area of mined land. A mask was created using 2015 data from the US
Census Bureau to avoid mistakenly classifying streams, roads, and urban areas as mine
land by an automated process. The study update also examines the use a Soil Adjusted
Vegetation Index (SAVI) and an Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) as alternatives to
NDVI based classification.
2016 WV GIS Conference 17
Srivastava, Pragya*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Modeling Subsurface Infrastructure in Immersive 3D (CAVE)
Extensive research has been undertaken on the simulation and visualization of surface
features in GIS, yet there is much still to explore about the capabilities of 3D GIS to
simulate, visualize, and analyze the subsurface environment. Subsurface infrastructure
plays a major role in supporting the needs of modern society yet the problems of mapping
utilities that cannot be seen and that exist in a critical three dimensional environment are
problematic to GIS. This research uses immersive geovisualization, GIS, and 3D
modeling to create subsurface features such as utility pipelines and bore holes that can be
viewed and interpreted within a stereo enabled virtual Computer Assisted Virtual
Environment (CAVE). The CAVE provides powerful visual environment that allows the
user to become immersed within an interactive three dimensional virtual scene. These
subsurface features are linked to the surface terrain model and subsequently will be
linked to subsurface strata and aquifers to provide a consistent geography of the surface
landscape and subsurface features. The utility features are extensively attributed and 3D
geoprocessing is undertaken to calculate volumes, flow rates, and intersections between
surface and subsurface features. The role of head mounted virtual environments such as
the Oculus Rift and augmented reality systems are explored.
18 2016 WV GIS Conference
Poster Abstracts
Campbell, Sarah*
Undergraduate Student, West Virginia GIS Technical Center, West Virginia University,
Implementing an Enterprise-Level Geospatial Application for Improving Transportation
and Planning
The West Virginia Department of Highways houses thousands of vital engineering plans
in documents that are rapidly deteriorating and extremely difficult to access in an
efficient manner. Given the demand for these plans and the high content volume, the task
of information retrieval for planning and contractual work has created a significant
accessibility gap between designers, contractors, and field personnel and the engineering
plans. The development and implementation of a digital geospatial application will
considerably reduce this accessibility gap and provide effective identification and
transmission of critical engineering information to personnel. The development process
to create a geospatial repository involved transforming hard copy highway plans into
digital versions by scanning, enhancing image quality, consolidating, and geo-referencing
these images with their respective geographic location. It is the geographic location that
the engineering plan refers to you that drives the search criteria and using this within GIS
creates a very effective search and retrieval environment. The digital search index and
repository proves a secure, efficient, and accessible database for storing and maintaining
DOT plan archives. Over 70,000 plans were scanned and processed and great care was
exercised to make the digital data consistent and readable. Adobe products and especially
their Optical Character Recognition tools were used to enable text searches of the plans to
be performed. This geospatial application comprises and online database of GIS Mosaics
created from processed DOH plans. The benefits of such a system are manifold: 1. The
system provides a long term solution to decaying engineering hard copy plans. 2.
Conversion to digital format negates the need for massive climate controlled storage
warehouses. 3. The knowledge needed to access relevant stored plans no longer depends
on specific individuals. 4. Access to this vast repository of engineering plans is now
available to all DOH personnel and delegated authorities. 5. Plan search and retrieval is
almost instantaneous resulting in immediate efficiency improvements. 6. Multi-party
project connectivity and communication between designers, contractors, and field
personnel is greatly improved. 7. Ultimately the system results in improved and timely
decision making, lessened bureaucracy, savings in document storage, and more effective
and cost efficient government.
2016 WV GIS Conference 19
Dickle, Zac*
Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Co-Authors: Garrett PIllis
Open GIS for Emergency Response Mapping
Geographic data infrastructure helps to empower local and international communities to
make vital decisions in their economic, environmental, and emergency response
management. For many developing countries, there is little incentive for the creation of
geographic data, leaving a gap in the ability to make those important decisions. In
conjunction with USAID, YouthMappers, and West Virginia University - Maptime
Morgantown remotely created thousands of new building, road and stream vectors in an
effort to reduce the geographic data gap, and to use in Mozambique’s Malaria Prevention
Plan. Through the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team Task Manager, Maptime
Morgantown was able to contribute the creation, modification, and the sharing of
Mozambique’s infrastructure data publicly. With OpenStreetMap both the maps of the
area and the underlying data can be downloaded for free. Additionally, in Mozambique,
where there is no commercial motivation to develop this data, OpenStreetMap is the best
available resource for emergency response mapping. Malaria prevention and control
remains a major U.S. foreign assistance objective and critical for ending preventable
child and maternal deaths for populations suffering extreme poverty. Once remote
mapping of these districts are complete, USAID and Peace Corps volunteers along with
their counterparts on the ground verify, add local knowledge, and create metadata to
increase the efficiency of the data Maptime Morgantown created. The data will improve
efficiency and reach of the 2016 spraying campaigns for malaria prevention. In the past 3
months, Maptime Morgantown is responsible for the creation of over 20,000 local and
international OpenStreetMap edits, and hopes to expand its efforts in the creation of
geographic data for Ecuador and Bangladesh.
Edwards, Cori
GIS Specialist/ Project Manager. Region 1 Planning and Development Council,
West Virginia Regional Planning & Development Councils and Metropolitan Planning
Organizations
This map was primarily created to benefit political leaders and planning agencies. It
allows frequently changing state and locally elected politicians an overview of the
jurisdictional boundaries concerning two major sets of long term planning agencies
within the state of West Virginia: Regional Planning & Development Councils (RPDCs)
and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). These planning agencies
inconspicuously assist in a wide range of infrastructure and transportation related
development. The map also promotes interagency geographic awareness for the RPDCs,
MPOs, and a vast multitude of state and federal infrastructure funding agencies.
20 2016 WV GIS Conference
Fang, Fang*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Co-Authors: Brenden McNeil
Discriminating tree species using crown-scale measurements: fusing leaf-on LiDAR and
high-resolution multi-spectral satellite data
Tree species distribution and detection are key components of forest inventories. The
availability of high-resolution LiDAR and multi-spectral satellite data now opens the
possibility to improve forest inventories by measuring architectural and spectral
properties of tree species at the crown-scale (e.g. Holmgren et al. 2008). In this study, we
used GeoEye and Pleiades multi-spectral images, and airborne leaf-on LiDAR data to
begin discriminating the four most abundant tree species at the Fernow Experimental
Forest in West Virginia.
Feng, Snow (Xue)*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Dental Work Force and Geographical Disparities in Dental Services Utilization in
Appalachia
There is widespread variation in the use of dental services across geographic regions and
a plausible explanation for these variations is that some geographical areas do not have
adequate access to dental care due to shortage of dental workforce. We conducted an
ecological study on the relationship between dental workforce and dental utilization.
2016 WV GIS Conference 21
Pourmohammadi, Pariya*
Graduate Student, WVU Department of Geology and Geography,
Analysis of Land Cover and Use Change Rivers in Monongalia River Basin
The Central Appalachians are an area rich in natural and cultural resources. Due to the
elevation of this area it is the headwaters for major river systems such as the Ohio,
Potomac, James, New River and Susquehanna. This area has been experiencing
accelerated land conversion as it contains many dry and wet gas fields being extracted
with new horizontal drilling approaches. The impact on the water resources of this
activity can be analyzed by examining the drivers for land cover and use change. Our
study approach was to investigate the spatially explicit ways land conversion has
occurred in Monongahela River basin using the Land Transformation Model (LTM). This
model uses non-parametric statistics and applies Artificial Neural Network to predict land
transformation of a determined category. Drivers of this model are defined according to
topological, demographic and spatial characteristics of this area. This is especially
important to this region where rural areas can benefit from proactive planning to protect
their way of life and existing natural resource base. In addition to the anthropogenic
drivers we are integrating climate models to examine how temperature and precipitation
changes can impact the landscape. The climate scenarios provide a holistic future
analysis of scenarios to drive policies options.
Rice, Cynthia*
Student, Anderson-Broaddus College, [email protected]
High spatial resolution land cover classification in Preston County, WV using GEOBIA,
machine learning, NAIP orthophotography, LiDAR, and ancillary GIS data
This poster highlights a mapping project undertaken to map general land cover classes in
Preston County, WV using machine learning, geographic object-based image analysis
(GEOBIA), and a variety of spatial datasets, including National Agriculture Imagery
Program (NAIP) orhphotography and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data.
GEOBIA and machine learning are valuable tools for leveraging and combining a variety
of data for high resolution land cover mapping at the county scale. Measures derived
from imagery (including band means and 2nd order texture), LiDAR (nDSM and first
return intensity), and ancillary GIS data (density of roads and man-made structures) were
of value for mapping the six land cover classes. High highest classification accuracy
achieved was 95.2%.
22 2016 WV GIS Conference
Schindling, James*
Graduate Student, WVU Department of Geology and Geography, WV GIS Technical
Center, [email protected]
Challenging Historical GIS through Unstructured Primary Source Materials
This research explores the capabilities of Historical GIS using historical primary sources
and unstructured data from the sixteenth-century town of St. Vincent in the Italian Alps.
This research demonstrates the application of historical GIS as a means of developing a
richer understanding of the cultures and peoples of the past through the use of GIS and
exploratory spatial analysis. Two of the sets of primary source documents are available;
the first is a set of notarial records that includes listings of property transactions,
marriages, deaths and various other transactions that involved transfers of wealth. The
second is set a set of detailed maps of the region that were created in the late nineteenth
century. Along with the maps themselves, there is a corresponding set of ledgers
containing a detailed listing of the individual toponyms, land parcels, and structures as
they existed in the nineteenth century. These materials are combined to produce an
integrated information management and query user interface. The system also
demonstrates the use of mobile devices for data collection and remote collaboration. The
types of processing undertaken include place-name and surname disambiguation,
scanning and georectifying maps, and creation of 3D rendering of the historical landscape.
Additionally, this research acts as a case study for developing techniques that can be
applied to the analysis of other similar document sets.
Sharp, Adam*
Student, Anderson-Broaddus College, [email protected]
Forest type mapping in the Monongahela National Forest
This poster highlights a mapping project undertaken to map forest types throughout the
entirety of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Mapping was undertaken
using the random forest machine learning algorithm and a variety of predictor variables,
including multi-temporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data and terrain variables
derived from 2003 Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board (SAMB) digital elevation
model (DEM) data . We found that it is essential to use multi-temporal data as well as
terrain data when classifying forest stand types. Both data types were of value; however,
the spectral data were generally of greater value for differentiating the forest types.
Considering the difficulty of classifying these broad forest types among such a large
study area, we suggest that probability models are more valuable to predict where these
stand types might exist based on various terrain and spectral characteristics. This research
suggests the value of probabilistic classification as opposed to hard classification for
mapping complex classes over large areas.
2016 WV GIS Conference 23
Srivastava, Pragya*
Graduate Student, West Virginia University, [email protected]
Co-Authors: Trevor Harris
Exploring Immersive Geovisualization and 3D GIS Modeling of Subsurface
Infrastructure
Extensive research has been undertaken on the simulation and visualization of surface
features in GIS, yet there is much still to explore about the capabilities of 3D GIS to
simulate, visualize, and analyze the subsurface environment. Subsurface infrastructure
plays a major role in supporting the needs of modern society yet the problems of mapping
utilities that cannot be seen and that exist in a critical three dimensional environment are
problematic to GIS. This research uses immersive geovisualization, GIS, and 3D
modeling to create subsurface features such as utility pipelines and bore holes that can be
viewed and interpreted within a stereo enabled virtual Computer Assisted Virtual
Environment (CAVE). The CAVE provides powerful visual environment that allows the
user to become immersed within an interactive three dimensional virtual scene. These
subsurface features are linked to the surface terrain model and subsequently will be
linked to subsurface strata and aquifers to provide a consistent geography of the surface
landscape and subsurface features. The utility features are extensively attributed and 3D
geoprocessing is undertaken to calculate volumes, flow rates, and intersections between
surface and subsurface features. The role of head mounted virtual environments such as
the Oculus Rift and augmented reality systems are explored.
Strager, Jackie
Research Coordinator, West Virginia University, Natural Resource Analysis Center,
Terrestrial vertebrate species distribution modeling for the mountaintop removal mining
region of Appalachia
This work examined a methodology to combine land cover mapping and predictive
vertebrate species distribution modeling for the mountaintop removal/valley fill region of
southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and portions of Tennessee and Virginia. The
majority of recent land cover change across the region is a direct result of mountain
surface mining, with associated impacts to vertebrate habitat and potential biodiversity.
Results of this work include a highly spatially detailed land cover dataset for the region,
along with numerous related ancillary habitat requirement datasets developed to aid in
wildlife distribution modeling, including distance to streams and other water features,
edge habitat, and more. Additional analyses were conducted to specifically examine land
cover change and effects on wildlife distributions within areas impacted by recent surface
mining. The vast majority of wildlife species lost habitat in areas affected by recent
mining, while a small number of species gained apparent habitat. The general modeling
process followed here has limitations in its application, and is by necessity an
oversimplification of processes affecting species distribution. However, the results gained
24 2016 WV GIS Conference
from this work may be useful in assessing the impact of current and future land cover
change on vertebrate species distribution throughout the region.