Events

See archives of events from past years

Mar. 27, 2024 2:30 p.m. via Zoom	Dr. Patricia Matsumoto Showcasing Our Student Projects from GEOG 4496/5696: Applications in GIS Presentation 1: A case of the Wicked Wildfires in Nova Scotia, Spring 2023 Presenters: Frank Kwaku Azore and Kailey Nichols This project maps the extent of the wildfires in Nova Scotia. The students used GIS to combine environmental and socioeconomic data, offering insights into the impact and management of natural disasters. Presentation 2: Visualizing a healthier campus: An overview of Health and Sustainability at Saint Mary’s University Presenters: Christina Connors and Maya Kosick This project uses GIS tools to map Saint Mary's University campus, including buildings, vegetation, built-up areas, food services, and vending machines, among other features. The project offers a unique view of the campus using 360-degree photos and ArcScene to visualize a healthier and sustainable environment. Presentation 3: A comprehensive analysis of the housing Market in Halifax Presenters: Bright Ofori Kwakye, Johonan Andrew Ethulkotte and Patrick Brown This project compares rental prices in Halifax and Vancouver. Students used web scraping to collect data and GIS for spatial analysis. The project delves into Halifax's land prices and the Census 2021, providing a comprehensive analysis of the rental market. Zoom: https://smu-ca.zoom.us/j/86410949560?pwd=love0HfPtJqpy98ysFiJzZTqRgAvar.1 Meeting ID: 864 1094 9560 Passcode: 990885
Feb. 26, 2024 2:30 p.m. via Zoom	Dr. Jordan Eamer Geological Survey of Canada - Atlantic Division "Decades of coastline change on Sable Island and hypotheses about the future" At the edge of the Scotian Shelf, Sable Island is morphologically similar to mid-latitude barrier islands of the northwest Atlantic coast – coastal landscapes that are acutely affected by climate change and sea level rise. Analysis of decades of airphotos suggest that the majority of the coastline on Sable Island is in retreat, with net retreat on the south side of the island only partially offset by modest net advance on the north side. Island-wide data set trends show support for two different but complementary hypotheses about whole-island evolution: (1) the island is mobile via bank migration driving southern coastline changes and experiencing sediment transport toward the east, or (2) the island is generally immobile and losing subaerial sediments (and thus shrinking) likely due to ongoing (and accelerating) sea-level rise. Future investigations utilizing the comprehensive terrain, metocean, and bathymetric data, as well as a detailed examination of the late Quaternary paleoenvironmental history, should considerably narrow the projected outcomes for the island. Zoom: https://bit.ly/3wc2Ivd (passcode: 265665)
Jan. 29, 2024 2:30 p.m. via Zoom	Frank Aazore MA Student, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Unearthing hidden treasures: a socio-ecological assessment of the social values of ecosystem services in Ghana. Understanding local knowledge and perception of ecosystem benefits in forest-dependent communities is crucial for developing countries in Africa, where often other compelling priorities for development take over ecosystem conservation. This study investigated what the local community perceives as the social values of ecosystems, using the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality of Ghana, West Africa, as a case study. This study emphasizes the importance of extensive community engagement in nature conservation and natural resource management.