ENV 740
Advanced Analytical Tools in Environmental Science
Star: 10612
Location: WIU-QC Moline
Thursdays 5:30-8:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Ranbir S. Kang
Office:
214 Tillman Hall, Department of Geography, Western Illinois University
Phone:
(309) 298-1841
Fax:
(309) 298-3003
Email:
rs-kang@wiu.edu
Web:
http://www.wiu.edu/Geography/people/
Office Hours: T 02:00-03:00, W 02:30-03:30, TH 03:00- 05:00
This course focuses on a suite of modeling/statistical/geospatial tools for environmental research
especially river science. These tools include software such as Endnote, Minitab, ArcGIS, and Google
Earth. A blend of these tools will be used through class exercises, lectures, lab activities, and field
activities. Students will learn how to use these tools and develop their research design and write a research
proposal. This course will also involve many mock exercises related to reviewing manuscripts and grant
proposals. It will also help students develop a broader understanding of human-environment interaction.
Grading:
Research Proposal Topic With a Broad Overview
Literature Review
Research Design
Review of Assigned Readings (General)
Review of Assigned Readings (Thematic)
Research Proposal Presentation
Total
1
Maximum Points
100
250
250
100
100
200
1000
Mode of Submission
Dropbox
Dropbox
Dropbox
Dropbox
Dropbox
Dropbox
List of Topics:
Topic
Tools/Methods
More Detail
Introductory Lecture and Overview of the Material
Discussion of Water Resource Conservation (Reference: Cadillac Desert)
GeoRef, Google Scholar, Scopus,
Literature Mining
ResearchGate, Academia
Overview of River Related
Literature Mining
Journals
Scientific Literature
Endnote
Literature Exporting
Endnote
Literature Refining and Organizing
Endnote
Literature Review
See the list of Assigned Readings
Research Writing
Assigned Readings (General)
(General)
Assigned Readings (Thematic)
Stream Bank Erosion
Assigned Readings (Thematic)
River Restoration
Major Areas of
Watershed
Research in River
Assigned Readings (Thematic)
Urbanization/Imperviousness/Land
Systems
Cover Change
Assigned Readings (Thematic)
Dams, Aquatic Life and Sedimentation
Topic and the Broad Summary of Research Proposal Due (Dropbox Submission: February 5 at
3:00pm)
Minitab Statistical Software
Parametric vs Non Parametric Methods
Analysis of
Minitab Statistical Software
Hypothesis Testing
Environmental Data
Minitab Statistical Software
Hypothesis Testing
ArcGIS 10.1 Software Package
Application of GIS in Water Resources
Geo-spatial Analytical
ArcGIS 10.1 Software Package
Application of GIS in Water Resources
Tools in Environmental
Environmental Change Analysis
Science
Google Earth & ArcGIS
Through The Interface of Google Earth
and ArcGIS
Literature Review Due (Dropbox Submission: March 5 at 3:00pm)
Primary Data Collection
Field Activity (Pool 19, Upper
Sampling Survey of River Bathymertry
From a Managed High
Mississippi River)
Order River System
Primary Data Collection Field Activity (Ira and Reatha T/
From a Relatively
Post Wildlife Sanctuary located
Sampling Surveys of River Planform
Undisturbed Low Order near Colchester in McDonough
Geometry and River Metamorphosis
River System
County)
Primary Data Collection Field Activity (Killjordan and
Sampling Surveys of River Planform
From Impacted Small
Troublesome Creeks in
Geometry and River Metamorphosis
River Systems
McDonough County)
Research Design Due (Submission through Dropbox: April 2 at 3:00pm)
Do’s and Don’ts of
Research Writing in
Environmental Science
Mock Research Proposal Review (with cognitive mapping)
Mock Manuscript Review (with cognitive mapping)
Mock Manuscript Review (with cognitive mapping)
Submission and Presentation of Research Proposal: May 7, 2015 (Tentative)
2
Readings
Students will review the following articles and discuss those in the class. Based on their review and
discussion, they will be graded. For each article reviewed, students will submit a 1-2 page long review
summary along with a cognitive map to discuss both the strengths and weaknesses of each article.
Assigned Readings (General):
1. Guidelines for Preparing Proposals and Manuscripts (Will be provided by the instructor)
2. Grissino-Mayer, H.D., 2003. Special editorial canons for writing and editing manuscripts. TreeRing Research 59, 3-10.
3. Chaddah, P., 2014. Not all plagiarism requires a retraction. Nature 511, 127.
4. Powell, K., 2010. Publish like a pro: prolific authors and journal editors share how to get
manuscripts noticed, approved and put in print. Nature 467, 843-875.
5. 2010. Plagiarism pinioned. Nature 466, 159-160.
6. Moore, K., Jones, K., Dambancher, J., 2006. Aquatic Inventory Project: Methods for Stream
Habitat Surveys. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Salem, OR, p. 67.
Assigned Readings (Thematic):
Stream Bank Erosion:
1. Florsheim, J.A., Mount, J.F., Chin, A., 2008. Bank erosion as a desirable attribute of rivers.
BioScience 58, 519-529.
2. Kang, R.S., 2012. Geomorphic effects of riparian understory mosses in a low order stream in
Fairfax County, Virginia. Physical Geography 33, 360-382.
3. Wynn, T.M., Henderson, M.B., Vaughan, D.H., 2008. Changes in streambank erodibility and
critical shear stress due to subaerial processes along a headwater stream, southwestern Virginia,
USA. Geomorphology 97, 260-273.
4. Wynn, T.M., Mostaghimi, S., 2006. Effects of riparian vegetation on stream bank subaerial
processes in southwestern Virginia, USA. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 31, 399-413.
River Restoration:
1. Normile, D., 2010. Restoration or Devastation? Science 327, 1568-1570.
2. Montgomery, D.R., 2008. Dreams of natural streams. Science 319, 291-292.
3. Everard, M., Moggridge, H.L., 2011. Rediscovering the value of urban rivers. Urban Ecosyst, 122.
4. Charbonneau, R., Resh, V.H., 1992. Strawberry Creek on the University of California, Berkeley
Campus: A case history of urban stream restoration. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and
Freshwater Ecosystems 2, 292-307.
5. Graf, W.L., 2005. Geomorphology and American dams: The scientific, social, and economic
context. Geomorphology 71, 3-26.
Watershed Urbanization/Imperviousness/Land Cover Change:
1. James, L.A., Marcus, W.A., 2006. The human role in changing fluvial systems: Retrospect,
inventory and prospect. Geomorphology 79, 152-171.
2. Kang, R.S., Storm, D.E., Marston, R.A., 2010. Downstream effects of urbanization on Stillwater
Creek, Oklahoma. Physical Geography 31, 186-201.
3. Anderson, M., Lambrinos, J., Schroll, E., 2010. The potential value of mosses for stormwater
management in urban environments. Urban Ecosystems 13, 319-332.
4. Chin, A., 2006. Urban transformation of river landscapes in a global context. Geomorphology 79,
460-487.
5. Chin, A., Gregory, K.J., 2005. Managing Urban Channel Adjustments. Geomorphology 69, 28-45.
3
Dams, Aquatic Life and Sedimentation:
1. Smith, S.V., Renwick, W.H., Bartley, J.D., Buddemeier, R.W., 2002. Distribution and significance
of small, artificial water bodies across the United States landscape. The Science of the Total
Environment 299, 21-36.
2. Resh, V.H., Brown, A.V., Covich, A.P., Gurtz, M.E., Li, H.W., Marshall, G.W., Reice, S.R.,
Sheldon, A.L., Wallace, J.B., Wissmar, R.C., 1988. The role of disturbance in stream ecology.
North American Benthological Society 7, 433-455.
3. Montgomery, D.R., 1997. What's best on the banks? Nature 388, 328-329.
4. Alberti, M., Booth, D., Hill, K., Coburn, B., Avolio, C., Coe, S., Spirandelli, D., 2007. The impact
of urban patterns on aquatic ecosystems: An empirical analysis in Puget lowland sub-basins.
Landscape and Urban Planning 80, 345-361.
5. Chin, A., Laurencio, L.R., Martinez, A.E., 2008. The Hydrologic Importance of Small- and
Medium-Sized Dams: Examples from Texas. The Professional Geographer 60, 238 - 251.
Instructions for Paper Reviews:
• Total length should be 1-2 pages
• Time New Roman font
• 12 Font size
• Line spacing: Single
• 1 inch margin on all sides
• No spelling or grammatical mistakes (edit and spell check your work and punctuate appropriately)
• Clearly type all the information regarding the reading covered
• Mention the location and disciplinary background of the author/authors
• Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Make sure you cite clearly and paraphrase wherever needed.
Basically, you are expected to critique the assigned readings.
• Your review should discuss/cover: stated research objectives, methods used, research problem,
clarity (is it clearly written or the author used some jargon?), organization, results and conclusions,
overall strengths and weaknesses of the work
• Never start a sentence with a number
• The reviews must be submitted through Dropbox before the deadline.
• Be prepared to discuss and brainstorm your review during the class
Research Proposal:
Student will follow the guidelines of the Institute for Environmental Studies regarding the formatting.
They will be provided with a brief overview of proposal preparation guidelines. The purpose of this
assignment is to help students build their doctoral research design and make program towards actual
proposal defense.
Other General Advice:
• Treat this syllabus as a contract and discuss confusing items with me immediately
• Keep track of your cumulative grades throughout the semester
• Stay on top of the reading assignments
• Approach your instructor immediately when difficulty arises
• Pair with a classmate for discussions, but write-up your own assignments
• Internet (www.google.com) is a very useful resource for more information and clarification of
various topics.
• Know (& always follow) the University regulations
• Plagiarism will not be tolerated
4