Recent masters theses and practicums

Work of NAU students in the Geography, Planning, & Recreation department

View work completed (not a complete list) by alumni of the GPR Masters degree program.  *asterixis following the thesis/practicum year below indicate that a video recording of the defense may be available upon request.

Theses & practicums

Title: Minimal Tree Mortality Occurred in Southwestern USA Sky Islands During an Extended Drought (available online June ’25; thesis)
Author: Phillips, Connor
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2024

Title: Accessory Dwelling Units in Flagstaff, a Response to Housing Affordability and Climate Change (practicum)
Author: Kennedy, Sean
Advisor: Hawley, Dawn R.
Date: 2024

Title: Flows And Fins: Spatial And Policy Analysis of U.S. Riverine Ecosystem Protection Extent (available online June ’25; thesis)
Author: Juarez, Danielle
Advisor: Perry, Denielle; Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2024

Title: Understanding Flood Resilience Strategies in Ventura and San Luis Obispo County: Using a Social-Ecological-Technological-Systems Lens (practicum)
Author: Maraviglia, Nikki
Advisor: Barnes, Jessica
Date: 2024

Title: Navigating Flagstaff’s Housing Emergency: Strategies to Address Housing Insecurity among Student Veterans at Northern Arizona University (practicum)
Author: Coonradt, Thomas
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2024

Title: Living Together, Staying Together: Applying Digital Tools To Historical Texts In Revisiting Survival Hypotheses Of Late Twentieth-Century American Communes (available online June ’26; thesis)
Author: Zelezny-Green, Evan
Advisor: Barnes, Jessica
Date: 2024

Title: Recreation Planning and Management through On-Site Social Surveying: Bureau of Land Management – Field Office of Kingman, Arizona (practicum)
Author: Woodside, Samantha
Advisor: Taney, Marieke
Date: 2023

Title: Protected and Extractive Spaces: A Political Ecological Analysis of Conservation and Mining Around the Junín National Reserve, Peru (thesis)
Author: McCollough, Ailin
Advisor: Petersen, Brian
Date: 2023

Title: An Analysis of Social Trails In Usery Mountain Regional Park (practicum)
Author: Kelly, John
Advisor: Folch, David
Date: 2023

Title: Learning from the past and planning for the future: Experience-driven insights into climate adaptation and land management strategies on the Colorado Plateau (thesis)
Author: Vaughn, Anna
Advisor: Petersen, Brian
Date: 2023

Title: Streamlining Vegetation Analysis for Environmental Impact Statements Using GIS and Python Scripting (practicum)
Author: Stephenson, Clay
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2023

Title: Understanding Last-Mile Package Delivery in Urban Areas and the Inclusion of Autonomous Technology (practicum)
Author: Phair, Chris
Advisor: Gehrke, Steven
Date: 2023

Title: Drone and Photogrammetry Use in the Spatial Analysis of Fortress Archaeological Sites, Western Colorado (practicum)
Author: Lathrop, Kiki
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2023

Title: Establishing a Snowtography Site to Study Long-term Effects of High Severity Wildfire on Snow Hydrology, Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest, AZ (practicum)
Author: Hutchinson, Lindy
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2023

Title: Planning a Bike Trail: The Northwest Segment of the Sun Corridor Trail (practicum)
Author: Cotner, Cameron
Advisor: Vernon, Frank
Date: 2023

Title: Development of GPS-based Datasets for Navigation on the Sun Corridor Trail between Sedona and Williams, AZ (practicum; GIS data available upon request)
Author: Bolesta, Ross
Advisor: Stan, Amanda and Vernon, Frank
StoryMap: https://arcg.is/11W5ju
Date: 2023

Title: Research in the Transportation Sector Regarding VMT Reduction Strategies in Flagstaff’s Peer Cities (practicum)
Author: Zalewski, Barbara
Advisor: Gehrke, Steven
Date: 2022

Title: Using GIS Overlays as Decision Support Tool in Private Residential Redevelopment Projects (practicum)
Author: Rodriguez, Melissa
Advisor: Hawley, Dawn R.
Date: 2022

Title: Too Restrictive? Scaling Back Zoning Regulations on Accessory Dwelling Units in Durango, Colorado (practicum)
Author: Armentano, Dan
Advisor: Hawley, Dawn R.
Date: 2022

Title: Census 2020 Applied Practicum Report (practicum)
Author: Dinning, Samantha
Advisor: Hawley, Dawn R.
Date: 2022

Title: The Mother Range: Investigating the power dynamics of climate change adaptation in an Arizona fire-prone contested landscape (thesis)
Author: Cannon, William
Advisor: Petersen, Brian
Date: 2022

Title: Assessment of forest restoration impacts on landscape-scale wildfire hazard in northern New Mexico (practicum)
Author: Bassett, Steve
Advisor: Stan, Amanda
Date: 2021*

Title: Mapping charitable food data in Arizona: Business intelligence for St. Mary’s Food Bank (practicum)
Author: Moyers, Anderson
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2021*

Title: Using structure from motion to create a historical orthomosaic of Flagstaff, Arizona from 1959 (practicum)
Author: Henning, Sean
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2021*

Title: Assessing Yahara Lakes Water Exclosure Treatment System (WETS) Water Quality Using Sentinel-2 Remote Sensing Satellite (practicum)
Author: Bruhn, Shelly
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2021*

Title: Reclaiming the Mountains: A spatial analysis of Great Smoky Mountains National Park during a 35-day federal shutdown (thesis)
Author: Sweatt, Patrick
Advisor: Petersen, Brian
Date: 2021*

Title: Sun Corridor Trail Development: Coconino National Forest, Arizona (practicum)
Author: Smath, Adam
Advisor: Vernon, Frank
Date: 2021*

Title: Understanding Place through Planning, Spirituality, and Tourism in Sedona, Arizona (thesis)
Author: Ryckman, Weldon
Advisor: Petersen, Brian
Date: 2021*

Title: The Frontier Next Door: How short term rentals affect housing in western mountain towns (thesis)
Author: O’Brien, Brendan
Advisor: Petersen, Brian
Date: 2021*

Title: South Maui Community Plan Update: Addressing Natural Hazards and Climate Change Impacts (practicum)
Author: Harris, Sarah
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2021*

Title: Detecting Causes of Forest Loss in a Moroccan Protected Area: A 16-year analysis of forest changes in the Talassemtane National Park in North Africa (practicum)
Author: Castro, Illiana
Advisor: Stan, Amanda
Date: 2021*

Title: Debris Flow Hazard Modeling with GIS and Remote Sensing in Southern California (thesis)
Author: Byerley, Erica
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2021*

Title: Mapping Inclusion: Accessibility Advocacy for People With Disabilities Using GIS Crowdsourced Data (thesis)
Author: Nykodym, David
Advisor: Barnes, Jessica
Date: 2020*

Title: Effects of Repeat High-Severity Fire on Headwater Streams along the Mogollon Rim (thesis)
Author: Bogart, Joseph
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2020*

Title: Mapping Social Trail Impacts in Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve for the City of Flagstaff (practicum)
Author: Preiss, Austin
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2020*

Title: Citizen Science as Place-Based Education: Scientific Inquiry as a Framework for Citizen Science Programs at Grand Canyon Youth (practicum)
Author: Smith, Maddie
Advisor: Taney, Marieke
Date: 2020*

Title: A GIS Model for Infrastructure Vulnerability and its Application to Volcanic Hazards on the Island of Hawai‘i (practicum)
Author: Bladt, Shauna
Advisor: Hawley, Dawn R.
Date: 2019

Title: The Development of a Geographic Information System for the City of Apache Junction (practicum)
Author: Bonifas, John
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2019

Title: Assessment of Using NAIP Imagery Classification to Perform Restoration Monitoring in the Yuma East Wetlands, Yuma, Arizona (practicum)
Author: Dickinson, Kevin
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2019

Title: Developing a GIS Database for the City of Cottonwood, Arizona (practicum)
Author: Ellis, Scott
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2019

Title: Increasing Geospatial Literacy with Geospatial Technologies to Improve Geoscience Education (practicum)
Author: Foley, Daniel
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2019

Title: Wilderness Rock Climbing Indicators and Climbing Management Implications in the National Park Service (thesis)
Author: McHugh, Katherine
Advisor: Vernon, Franklin
Date: 2019

Title: Process and Public Engagement Plan for Active Transportation/FUTS Master Plans with the City of Flagstaff (practicum)
Author: Melhorn, Emily
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2019

Title: Planning Sustainable Places: Evaluation of the Program Performance at the Mid-America Regional Council (practicum)
Author: Panchenko, Valentyn
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2019

Title: The Three Point Survey Reporting Tool for Pioneer Natural Resources (practicum)
Author: Steele, Monica
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2019

Title: Applying GIS to Sediment Ponds and Irrigation Systems in the Barton Springs Watershed of City of Austin (practicum)
Author: Taylor, Jared
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2019

Title: A Ten-Year Comparison of the Flagstaff Social Trail Network in the Mount Elden Dry Lake Hills (practicum)
Author: Bryant, Madeleine
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2018

Title: Recreation and Vegetation Assessments in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona (practicum)
Author: Garrett, Emily
Advisor: Taney, Marieke
Date: 2018

Title: Spatio-Temporal Variability and Demographic Characteristics of Transit-Based Job Accessibility: A GIS Assessment of the Public Transit System in Flagstaff, Arizona (thesis)
Author: Henrique Caldeira Jorge Neves, Antonio
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2018

Title: Weighted Overlay Analysis for Prehistoric Site Locations for the Pima County Office of Sustainability and Conservation (practicum)
Author: Taylor, Christopher
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2018

Title: Evaluation of a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) for Big Game Survey (practicum)
Author: Turner, Robert
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2018

Title: Modernization of collection and analysis for range spatial data (practicum)
Author: Zajac, Jennifer
Advisor: Maciha, Mark
Date: 2018

Title: Using GIS to Compare Leading Process and Empirically Based Soil Erosion Models within Headwater Watersheds (thesis)
Author: Arkowitz, Alexander
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2017

Title: Locating Small UAS Risk and Identifying Areas for Increased Education Efforts in Phoenix Arizona (practicum)
Author: Baxter, David
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2017

Title: Planning for Fairness: Equity in French Urbanisme and Grenoble’s De Bonne Eco-Neighborhood (thesis)
Author: Gada, Brittany
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2017

Title: Utilizing Landsat Imagery to Determine Locations of Tree Regeneration after High Severity Wildfires in Northern Arizona (practicum)
Author: Istok, Kimberly
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2017

Title: Understanding Charter School Impacts in Arizona from a Geospatial Perspective (practicum)
Author: Jones, Jill
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2017

Title: Determining Priority Vegetation Polygons for Common Stand Exam Data Collection Using a GIS-based Sampling Strategy (practicum)
Author: Kolanoski, Kristin
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik & Stan, Amanda
Date: 2017

Title: Planning for the City of Flagstaff: High Occupancy Housing Specific Plan (practicum)
Author: Krueger, Neala
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2017

Title: Hawaiian Islands Land Trust: North and South Kona Conservation Analysis (practicum)
Author: Livingston, Trey
Advisor: Hawley, Dawn R.
Date: 2017

Title: Development of an Associates in Science (AS) with Geospatial Technologies at Arizona Western College (Yuma, AZ) (practicum)
Author: Pinnt, Todd
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Date: 2017

Title: Analysis of Soil Organic Carbon Storage Responses to Juniper Encroachment into Grasslands in Semi-Arid Northern Arizona (thesis)
Author: RoDee, Olivia
Advisor: Petersen, Brian
Date: 2017

Title: Using Geospatial Technologies to Locate Travel Networks: A Case Study in Flagstaff, Arizona (thesis)
Author: Smith, Corryn
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2017

Title: Modeling Fine-Grained Fluxes for Estimating Sediment Yields and Understanding Hydroclimatic and Geomorphic Processes at Lake Peters, Brooks Range, Arctic Alaska (thesis)
Author: Thurston, Lorna
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2017

Title: Planning for the City of Benson, Arizona’s “Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces” Master Plan (practicum)
Author: Kane, Peter
Advisor: Foti, Pamela
Date: 2016

Title: Using Geospatial Methods to Visualize Fiscal Data at the Arizona Bureau of Land Management (practicum)
Author: Resnick, Kayla
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2016 (PPT)

Title: Developing a Hydrologically Valid Composite DEM from LiDAR and USGS NED Elevation Data (practicum)
Author: Bergman, Pam
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2016

Title: Developing and Partially Implementing Traffic Calming Measures to Reduce Cut-Through Traffic on Forest Lane in Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona (practicum)
Author:  Nunn, Kathrine
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2016 (PPT)

Title: Title: Wild Rogue Wilderness and Rogue River Corridor Education Plan (practicum)
Author: Watts, Benjamin
Advisor: Maciha, Mark
Date: 2016 (PPT)

Title: Factors influencing Resilience in Flood Response, Recovery and Prevention: Case Study of the Souris River Valley, Minot, South Dakota (thesis)
Author:  Brodie, Mark
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn and Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2016 (PPT)

Title: Daysemetric Mapping Method and Determining Farmers’ Market Demographic Accessibility (thesis)
Author:  Zanoni, Jennifer
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Date: 2016

Title: Using Geographic Information Systems to Enhance Campus Safety, Planning and Building Management (practicum)
Author:  Tafoya, Matthew
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Date: 2016

Title: Analysis of Prehistoric Land Use of the Hackberry Basin in Camp Verde, Arizona (practicum)
Author: Mourtsen, Alex
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2016

Title: River Corridor Social Value Mapping: Using the GIS Application Solves for Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River (thesis)
Author: Moody, Nathan
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2016

Title: Remote Sensing of Tamarisk Leaf Beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) Effects on Tamarisks (Tamarix species) along Colorado River in Arizona (thesis)
Author: Bedford, Ashton
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2016

Title: Avalanche Education in Northern Arizona: Identifying Winter Backcountry Demographics to Focus Education Efforts of the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center (practicum)
Author: Spice, Derik
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2016

Title: The Geodemographics in Location Intelligence: A Study in Craft Brewery Placement (thesis)
Author: Shaffer, Abiah
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2015

Title: City of Show Low Land Division Ordinance
Author:  Fechtelkotter, Katie
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Date: 2015

Title: Restoring Rivers in the American Southwest: Sharing Knowledge Using Webisodes (practicum)
Author: Adler, Maile
Advisor: Foti, Pamela
Date: 2015

Title: Northern Arizona University ADA Compliance: Using GIS Geodatabase and Network Analysis to Evaluate Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities
Author: Pemberton, Zachery
Advisor: Paradis, Thomas W.
Date: 2015

Title: Mapping and Building a Geodatabase and Crowdsourcing SCUBA Website of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail
Author: Rogers, Jordan
Advisor: Hammersley, Charles
Date: 2015

Title: Seasonal Change of Fine-grain Sediment Deposits near three Tributary Confluences in Oak Creek, Arizona (thesis)
Author: Cassidy, Patrick C.
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Year: 2015

Title: City of Montrose, Buckhorn Lakes Park, a Master Plan and Guide to Development
Author: Spinelli, Jennifer
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2015

Title: Quantifying Post-Fire Ponderosa Pine Snags using GIS Techniques on Scanned Aerial Photographs (thesis)
Author: Kent, Kevin
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Date: 2015

Title: Testing and Implementation of Custom Batch Plotting and Facilities Quantities Tools to be Utilized in Southwest Gas Corporation’s New GIS Platform
Author: Thornton, Lucas
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date: 2015

Title: A Web GIS Framework for Simulating Pre-incident Planning
Author: Hickok, Joel A.
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Year: 2014

Title: Accuracy Assessment of Photogrammetric Digital Elevation Models Generated for the Schultz Fire Burn Area (thesis)
Author: Muise, Danna K.
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Year: 2014

Title: Zoning as a Response to Hydraulic Fracturing: A Comparison of New York and Pennsylvania (thesis)
Author: Newell, Stephanie E.
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Year: 2014 (PPT)

Title: Residential Solar Energy in Flagstaff, Arizona: Practicality, Progression, and Barriers (practicum)
Author: Highley, Anna Alisse
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2014

Title: Where is Local? Extricating the Spatial Delineations and Consumer Motivations behind Local Food in Flagstaff, Arizona
Author: Allen, Kate M.
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Year: 2014

Title: Geospatial Science in Knowledge Continuity: GIS Development for Campus Network Infrastructure
Author: McKever, Shelley
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Date 2014

Title: Mapping Recreation Impacts at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument using a Global Navigation Satellite System and Geographic Information System (practicum)
Author: Hansen, Bryan
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Year: 2014

Title: Prehistory on Fire: A Qualitative Analysis of Second-Order Fire Effects on a Sample of Prehistoric Cohonina Sites on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest
Author: Lutes, Annie Jay
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2013

Title: The County Yard Rio De Flag Restoration Project: A Collaborative Planning Effort between the Coconino County Public Works Department and the City of Flagstaff, Arizona
Author: Belmonte, Adam J.
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2013

Title: PLA Sand-Barrier Effectiveness on Dune Migration in the Grand Falls Dune Field, Navajo Nation, Arizona
Author: DeBenedetto, Geoffrey P.
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Year: 2013

Title: Snow loss on the San Francisco peaks: Effects of an elevation gradient on evapo-sublimation (thesis)
Author: Froyland, Hugo K.
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Year: 2013

Title: “To rival the Comstock”: Reconstructing the history and landscape of a ghost town: Signal, Arizona
Author: Schneider, Bruce O.
Advisor: Paradis, Thomas W.
Year: 2013

Title: A comparison of three campsite inventory methodologies: A case study in superstition wilderness area, Arizona
Author: Tavegia, Andrea B.
Advisor: Foti, Pamela E.
Year: 2013

Title: Comparing Geodetically Derived Mass Balances Among Three Small Glaciers, South Coast Mountains, British Columbia (thesis)
Author: York, Ashley
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Year: 2013

Title: Geodesign for Wilderness management: Recommendations for Wilderness opportunities
Author: Bard, Noah Brooke
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Year: 2012

Title: Grand Canyon and Mobile Apps: A Case of Special Collections (thesis)
Author: Kelly, Scott
Advisor: Manone, Mark
Year: 2012

Title: Grant Funding for the Mancos Conservation District: The Manco River Diversion Project (practicum)
Author: Ogden, Carmen
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2012 (PPT)

Title: Design and Implementation of a Geodatabase for Purshia Subintedra (Arizona Cliffrose)
Author: Goodwin, Greg
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2012

Title: Expansion of Municipal Recreational Services through the Site Suitability Analysis of an Off-Leash Area in Rossford, Ohio
Author: Hanudel, Christopher J.
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2012

Title: An analysis of the changing roles of research in Grand Canyon National Park 1960 – 2010
Author: Newton, Ronda L.
Advisor: Sell, James L.
Year: 2012

Title: Development of a Geodatabase and GPS Data Collection Procedures for Cultural Resources Management of the Flagstaff Area National Monuments (practicum)
Author: Jones, Michael M.
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Year: 2012

Title: A comparison and validation of three Mesoscale wind models in the state of Arizona
Author: Shihab, Kareem Z.
Advisor: Huang, Ruihong
Year: 2011

Title: Real food on the Colorado plateau: The professional planner’s role in planning for community food systems in Flagstaff, Arizona (thesis)
Author: Hughes, Amy
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Year: 2011 (PPT)

Title: The Fair Housing Act and Community Residences for the Disabled: A Zoning Code Amendment for The City of Prescott, Arizona (practicum)
Author: Hennings, Ruth E.
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2011

Title: Human Ecology, Anthropocene Geography and Spiritual Ecology: A Case Study of Metta Forest Buddhist Monastery (thesis)
Author: Fung, Cadi
Advisor: Sell, James L.
Year: 2011

Title: Implementing a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the Case Management Process with the Code Compliance Division at Coconino County (practicum)
Author: Gillette, Andrew C.
Advisor: Hawley, R. Dawn
Year: 2011

Title: Effects of Land-Use Change on Lake Sedimentation Rates for Thirteen Watersheds in West-Central Alberta, Canada (thesis)
Author: Immell, Richard
Advisor: Schiefer, Erik
Year: 2011

Title: Modeling Soil Surface Roughness with Dual-Polarization Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (Asar) Imagery (thesis)
Author: Haslinger, Kerstin
Advisor: Lew, Alan A.
Date: 2010

Pre-2010 theses and practicums