Wednesday Feb. 1, 2012
POST room 126, 3:00PM
Green Roof Technology: Opportunities and Barriers for Hawaii
by Andy Kaufman, ASLA, MLA, Ph.D. Associate Prof./Landscape Specialist, Dept.Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Tropical Ag & Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Abstract:
The talk will be looking at what a green roof is, the benefits, the opportunities and barriers in Hawaii, along with a looking at a public survey on of green roofs in Hawaii.
Dr. Kaufman is an Associate Professor and Landscape Specialist for the University of Hawaii. His educational background consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona; Master’s degree in Sociology from Iowa State University; and a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Washington State University. He is an award winning landscape designer with experiences consisting of an extensive background in the landscape industry over the past twenty-four years in commercial and residential projects in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington State. Also, he has worked with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service in California, Utah, and Arizona doing recreation benefit research. In addition, his international experience consists of living in Japan learning Japanese garden installation and maintenance, and landscape design and installation in Peru. He currently teaches courses in landscape architecture, arboriculture practices and horticulture at the University of Hawaii. His research involves environmental psychology/people-plant interactions, essentially how plants affect people socially, psychologically, and physiologically and the implications on design and the landscape industry. He also conducts research on the mitigation of tsunami and storm surge by plants, and on green roof technologies for tropical environments.
Wednesday Feb. 15, 2012
Green Roofs
by Mark Ambler (Weston Solutions)
Abstract:
Green roofs do more than just create an attractive outdoor space on an otherwise undeveloped surface. They also protect the roof from harmful UV rays and temperature fluctuations, reduce the urban heat island effect, and insulate the building which increases energy efficiency. Hawaii has both the highest average temperature and highest energy cost in the nation. This makes Hawaii the most expensive state to run a HVAC system. Hawaii is also highly dependent upon imported food products which creates a business opportunity for roof based farming. Barriers to widespread adoption of green roofs in Hawaii will be discussed as well as potential opportunities for innovation and development.
Mr. Mark Ambler, PE, PMP is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Hawaii and a certified project management professional. Mr. Ambler has 10 years of experience in all phases of project execution and construction management which includes an extensive environmental and civil engineering. Mr. Ambler received his undergraduate engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He currently works for Weston Solutions, Inc. which is a global engineering company dedicated to integration of sustainability in its projects.
Wednesday Feb. 22, 2012
A Strategy for Accelerating the Development of Hydrological Models: Societal Needs, Observational Requirements and Public Communication
by Jay Famiglietti , UC Center for Hydrologic Modeling , Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine
Abstract:
While the development of hydrological and land surface models has progressed rapidly over the last few decades, a significant acceleration in model development is required in order to address critical societal issues of water, energy and food availability and security. In particular, major advances are needed in the areas of observations (e.g. of water cycle variability and change, of subsurface soils and hydrogeology, and of streamflow and groundwater levels), model development (e.g. of models that integrate the major components of the human and managed water cycles), data assimilation (e.g. of algorithms that can readily incorporate in situ and remote observations of asynchronous space-time frequency) and of a framework for integrating models and data (e.g. for access to data and simulation results, for running models, and for performing analyses). In this presentation we discuss these needs in detail, and highlight recent efforts in California and at the national scale (i.e. with the Community Hydrologic Modeling Platform [CHyMP]) to develop a modeling and data integration framework that can be applied across scales up to continental and global scales. Finally, the responsibility of the hydrologic research community to convey such important observational and simulation needs to resource managers, environmental decision and policy makers, and the general public, is underscored.
James S. (Jay) Famiglietti has been selected as the 2012 Birdsall Dreiss Distinguished Lecturer. The lectureship is made to one person annually by the GSA Hydrogeology Division; Famiglietti is the 34rd GSA Birdsall-Dreiss Lecturer and is Professor in Earth System Science and Civil & Environmental Engineering and Director of the UC Center for Hydrologic Modeling. His research group uses satellite remote sensing to track water availability and groundwater depletion on land, and has been working for many years towards improving hydrological prediction in regional and global weather and climate models.
Thursday Feb. 23, 2012
(note: this seminar will be in MSB 114 at 2:00 PM)
Physical Controls of Soil Moisture Across Space and Time Scales – Current Understanding and Future Opportunities!
by Binayak P Mohanty, Ph.D., Professor (Focus: Soil Hydrology) Biological and Agricultural Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Abstract:
Soil moisture is the natural state variable of the land surface critical to climate feedback, hydrology, and agriculture. Its temporal and spatial variability over catchment areas affects surface and subsurface runoff, modulates evaporation and transpiration, determines the extent of groundwater recharge and contaminant transport, and initiates or sustains feedback between the land surface and the atmosphere. At a particular point in time soil moisture content is influenced by: (1) the precipitation history, (2) the texture of the soil, which determines the water-holding capacity, (3) the slope of the land surface, which affects runoff and infiltration, and (4) the vegetation and land cover, which influences evapotranspiration and deep percolation. In other terms the partitioning of soil moisture to recharge to the groundwater, evapotranspiration to the atmosphere, and surface/subsurface runoff to the streams at different spatio-temporal scales and under different hydro-climatic conditions pose one of the greatest challenges to weather and climate prediction, water resources availability, sustainability, quality, and variability in agricultural, range and forested watersheds and hydro-climatic conditions. To date very few studies have been made to quantitatively understand the multi-scale dynamics of soil moisture in land-surface hydrologic systems. In this context we hypothesize that: 1) soil moisture variability is dominated by soil properties at the field scale, topographic features at the catchment/watershed scale, and vegetation characteristics and precipitation patterns at the regional scale and beyond; and 2) ensemble hydrologic fluxes (evapotranspiration, infiltration, and shallow ground water recharge) across the vadose zone at the corresponding scale can be effectively represented by one or more soil, topography, vegetation, or climate scale factors. Using ground-based and various active and passive microwave remote sensing measurements during the NASA field campaigns in the past decade including Southern Great Plains Experiments (SGP97, SGP99), Soil Moisture Experiment (SMEX02, SMEX05), and Cloud Land Atmosphere Interaction Study (CLASIC 2007), we test these hypotheses. Results of our ongoing study and the future need related to the better understanding of soil moisture controls, scaling properties, and effective soil hydraulic parameters at different scales will be presented.
Dr. Binayak Mohanty is a professor in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University since 2001. Prior to joining Texas A&M, he worked at US Salinity Lab, Riverside, California for 8 years. He received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1992. His research area includes vadose zone hydrology, soil moisture sensing, soil hydraulic properties, up and downscaling, preferential flow, and coupled biogeochemical processes. Dr. Mohanty has published about 100 journal papers and currently serves an associate editor of Water Resources Research and Vadose Zone Journal.
Wednesday March 7, 2012
POST room 126, 3:00PM
Digging a Little Deeper – Designing Green Roofs
by Dawn Easterday, ASLA, GRP, LEED AP | Senior Landscape Architect, Belt Collins Hawaii LLC
Abstract:
Vegetated roofs are starting to become a more familiar topic, so what’s the next step? This presentation will discuss some of the basic tenants of designing green roofs. Should you specify sprigs or pre-grown mats, trays or monolithic systems, Extensive or Intensive? Based on client expectations, main use of the roof, project goals, access and microclimate conditions, you will learn the first steps to choosing a good system to fit your needs and what plants and irrigation may work for the given site conditions and project circumstances.
Ms. Easterday is a registered landscape architect with Belt Collins Hawaii with nineteen years of practical experience. Her interest in natural systems based stormwater management began in 1997 while working in Colorado with daylighting streams, creating bioretention and designing alternatives to standard flood control. This interest in alternative stormwater management led to conducting research on extensive green roofs in Hawaii and becoming an accredited Green Roof Professional. Her current experience includes working on several LEED projects, a few green roofs on the design boards and one entering the construction phase, as well as integrating sustainable landscape design practices into every project.
Wednesday March 14, 2012
POST room 127, 3:00PM
Can Interdisciplinary Centers work? The University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment as Object Lesson
by Dr. Deborah L. Swackhamer, Professor and Charles M. Denny, Jr, Chair of Science, Technology, and Public Policy, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, U. of Minn.; Co-Director, Minnesota Water Resources Center; Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, U. of Minn.
Abstract:
In 2005, the University of Minnesota embarked on a major repositioning of its colleges and programs. As part of that effort, they created the Institute on the Environment (IonE). This institute was designed by a committee, and then implemented by the Provost and Senior Vice President’s office. The IonEengages all the major colleges in all the campuses of the University system, and has a successful Fellows program, small grants program, and postdoc and student programs. Now in its fifth year, has it achieved its mandate? This seminar will outline the process used to form IonE, what IonE has accomplished, and the lessons learned from this ambitious restructuring.
This seminar is made possible by support from the office of Dr. Gary Ostrander, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Hawaii.
Wednesday March 21, 2012
POST room 126, 3:00PM
The Landscape Inventory, cross-disciplinary uses of a mapping project for water resource management on campus
by Austin Stankus, University of Hawaii Department of Zoology
Abstract:
The talk will be discussing how the Landscaping Department's landscape inventory can be co-opted to analyze water management questions. The Landscaping Department uses the GIS tools to visualize and analyze different layers, including lawns, buildings, and tree canopy to determine human resource planning, but these same layers can be used to determine the ratio of permeable/impermeable land cover and associated runoff volume, evaluate erosion control, and plan for storm water management. Furthermore, these layers are helping the Landscaping Department to determine irrigation needs for the campus, tailoring the systems to the specific plants in question. Finally, this is a clearing house for data so that all of the layers are publically available, and other people can upload or report layers or problems.
Austin Stankus is a graduate student in the Zoology Department studying nutrient flux through an aquaponics system using an alternative aquaculture feed. His research interests also include cartography, biocomposting, rainwater collection and greywater recycling, and traditional agriculture techniques. His involvement in this project stemmed from a personal project on urban foraging on campus; he had made a map of edible fruit trees and designed an optimal foraging strategy for hungry students. Previously Mr. Stankus has worked on a GIS inventory of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument which provided the technical experience needed for creating an information management and mapping system for the Landscaping Department.
Wednesday April 4, 2012
POST room 126, 3:00PM
Turfgrass Management
by Jordan K. Abe, Superintendent - Ala Wai Golf Course, Dept. of Enterprise Services
Abstract:
This presentation will cover: the Benefits of Turfgrass, Different Varieties of Warm Season Turfgrass for Hawaii, Turfgrass Establishment (Growing In) Techniques, Components to Grow Healthy Turfgrass, Soil Conditions, Weather Conditions, Irrigation Water/Quality, Fertilization, Mowing, Cultural Practices (De-thatching, Aerification, Topdressing), and Weed/Insect/Disease Management.
Bio:
Mr. Abe is a graduate of Colorado State University with double major in Turfgrass Management and Horticultural Business Management. He is a member of the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA) Member for the past 8 years. Abe is currently Superintendent at Ala Wai Golf Course and he previously worked on golf courses on Lana’i (Hawaii), Florida & Colorado.
Wednesday April 18, 2012
POST room 126, 3:00PM
Exploring subsurface fluid flow and solute transport by HYDRUS 1, 2/3D
by Seo Jin Ki, Researcher, Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawaii
Abstract:
Accurate and efficient simulation of water flow and solute transport remains a challenging area of research in the vadose zone, playing a crucial role in managing potential threats to public health and groundwater resources. In this talk, HYDRUS, a research tool for analyzing water, heat, and solute transport in the unsaturated zone, is introduced among various types of modeling software in both the public and commercial domains. Some principles of subsurface systems, models for describing non-equilibrium flow and transport, and numerical schemes behind governing equations will specifically be touched upon. The talk will include a discussion of practical applications of the HYDRUS model. Finally, examples of our recent research using the model will be briefly discussed.
Wednesday May 2, 2012
POST room 126, 3:00PM
Halorespiration, a natural process
by
Paige Novak, University of Minnesota
Abstract:
Chlorinated organics, produced by man for uses such as degreasing, insulation, and fumigation,are some of the world’s most hazardous compounds, causing effects from cancer to liver damage. They contaminate tens of thousands of sites in the US alone. About 15 years ago, bacteria that were able to “breathe” some of these chlorinated compounds, and thereby detoxify them, were discovered. The fact that some of these bacteria actually required these compounds in order to live was thought to be amazing. Scientists and engineers have since debated how these organisms came to be, whether they had a niche in uncontaminated environments, and how we could best harness their abilities to clean up contaminants. Our work has focused on some of these questions, initially working to understand those organisms that dechlorinate polychlorinated biphenyls, and eventually working to unravel their natural role with the hope that this information might lead us to better clean-up methods.
For more information:
tel: (808) 956-7847
fax: (808) 956-5044
email: morav@hawaii.edu
