Degree Department

Ecological Association Between the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker and Southern Pine Beetle in the Homochitto National Forest: a Geographic Information System Approach (open access)

Ecological Association Between the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker and Southern Pine Beetle in the Homochitto National Forest: a Geographic Information System Approach

Since the introduction of management practices by the Forest Service to stabilize red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) populations, the number of cavity trees killed by southern pine beetles (SPB) has increased. A model of the landscape ecology of RCW and SPB in the Homochitto National Forest was created using data collected from the Forest Service and Global Atmospherics. The conclusions of the study were that the RCW and SPB utilize the same type of habitat and the stand hazard maps are an accurate means of determining the locations of SPB infestations. The functional heterogeneity maps created for the SPB and RCW would be useful predictors of future occurrences of either species if complete data were obtained.
Date: December 1998
Creator: Skordinski, Karen R. (Karen Renee)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pretreatment Optimization of Fiberglass Manufacturing Industrial Wastewater (open access)

Pretreatment Optimization of Fiberglass Manufacturing Industrial Wastewater

Wastewater effluent produced in the fiberglass manufacturing industry contains a significant amount of total suspended solids. Environmental regulations require pretreatment of effluent before it is discharged to the municipal wastewater treatment plant. Chemical precipitation by coagulation and flocculation is the method of pretreatment used at the Vetrotex CertainTeed Corporation (VCT). A treatability study was conducted to determine conditions at which the VCT Wastewater Pretreatment Plant could operate to consistently achieve a total suspended solids concentration ≤ 200-mg/L. Jar tests varied pH, polymer dosage, and ferric sulfate dosage. Total suspended solids and turbidity were measured to evaluate treatment performance. The data were used to determine an optimum set of conditions under project guidelines. Of twelve polymers screened, BPL 594 was selected as the most effective polymer. For cost efficiency in the wastewater pretreatment operation, recommendations suggested that treatment chemical injection be electronically controlled according to turbidity of the treated effluent.
Date: December 1998
Creator: Dragoo, Ron
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development of a Watershed Prioritization Strategy Using Remote Sensing and the Geographic Resource Analysis Support System. Case study: City of Carrollton, Texas (open access)

Development of a Watershed Prioritization Strategy Using Remote Sensing and the Geographic Resource Analysis Support System. Case study: City of Carrollton, Texas

This study used a geographic information system (GIS) and an empirical pollutant load model to estimate average annual pollutant loads contained in storm water charges from the City of Carrollton, Texas. The Geographic Resource Analyses Support System (GRASS) was used to create a number of spatial data layers as input variables to a model that estimates loads in Kilograms/Hectare/Year, and Kilogram/Basin/Year. Average annual pollutant loads for twelve pollutants were derived from average annual rainfall/runoff volumes, coupled with Local Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex storm water Event Mean Concentrations.
Date: December 1996
Creator: Coffey, Jeffery M. (Jeffery Morgan)
System: The UNT Digital Library