Category: Sustainability

Topic: The ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) in Operation in Houston
Content should include (not limited to):
• Congestion Management
• Transit Operation
• Incident Management
• Information Sharing
• Communication Infrastructure
• Houston Transportation Management Center
Page limit:
• 4 pages
Suggested References:
(1) all relevant publications
(2) ITS ePrimer training materials: https://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/eprimer/module1.aspx
(3) The Boston report from a MIT student group
No plagiarism and APA STYLE.

To develop a clear understanding of data interpretation and visualization techniques using real-world data from the NSW Water Valuation in Australia.
Task:Data Selection: Review the NSW Water Valuation Report, focusing specifically on Sections 4 and 5. This report contains a wealth of data regarding water valuation in New South Wales, Australia.
Figure Creation:Create two distinct figures (graphs or charts) using data extracted from either the tables or the narrative descriptions in the specified sections of the report.
Ensure each figure comprises at least five data points for comparison. These could be different values, time periods, geographical areas, or other relevant comparative measures. So, you shouldn’t use the same data twice.
Figure Specification:Each figure should have clearly labeled axes.
Include an appropriate and descriptive title for each figure that succinctly reflects its content and purpose.
Data Interpretation:Below each figure, write 2-3 concise sentences that capture the ‘take-home message’ of the figure. This message should encapsulate the key insight or conclusion that can be drawn from the data presented.
An explanation of “take home message” is found here.
Guidance on Good Figure Development:Consult the additional provided resource for understanding critical components of effective data visualization. This resource will offer valuable insights into creating figures that are not only accurate but also impactful and easy to understand.
Submission Format:Compile your figures and their explanations into a single document.
Combine all assignment components into one PDF. Do not upload your written portion in the text box. Points will be taken

Objective:To develop a clear understanding of data interpretation and visualization techniques using real-world data from the NSW Water Valuation in Australia.
Task:Data Selection: Review the NSW Water Valuation Report, focusing specifically on Sections 4 and 5. This report contains a wealth of data regarding water valuation in New South Wales, Australia.
Figure Creation:Create two distinct figures (graphs or charts) using data extracted from either the tables or the narrative descriptions in the specified sections of the report.
Ensure each figure comprises at least five data points for comparison. These could be different values, time periods, geographical areas, or other relevant comparative measures. So, you shouldn’t use the same data twice.
Figure Specification:Each figure should have clearly labeled axes.
Include an appropriate and descriptive title for each figure that succinctly reflects its content and purpose.
Data Interpretation:Below each figure, write 2-3 concise sentences that capture the ‘take-home message’ of the figure. This message should encapsulate the key insight or conclusion that can be drawn from the data presented.
An explanation of “take home message” is found here.
Guidance on Good Figure Development:Consult the additional provided resource for understanding critical components of effective data visualization. This resource will offer valuable insights into creating figures that are not only accurate but also impactful and easy to understand.
Submission Format:Compile your figures and their explanations into a single document.
Combine all assignment components into one PDF. Do not upload your written portion in the text box. Points will be taken

Objective:This assignment focuses on utilizing a specific tool to analyze the consequences of sea level rise on hazardous waste sites. By examining the effects of 5 ft and 10 ft sea level rises in Beaumont, TX, and New York City, NY, students will gain insights into the environmental challenges posed by climate change, particularly in urban and industrial areas.
Tool Introduction:An introductory overview of the Effects of Coastal Sea Level Rise on US Hazardous Waste is found here on the information page. This tool is an expansion of existing maps. Head to the NOAA Coastal Map here. This tool provides detailed mapping and data analysis capabilities to assess the impact of sea level rise on various geographical areas, with specific attention to hazardous waste sites. It allows users to simulate different sea level rise scenarios and identifies potentially affected hazardous material sites.
Once you get to the tool, select on on the bottom right of the page. Then, select “Sea Level Rise” and “Potential Pollution Sources” and hit save map. Then, ensure that you have the legend visible (bottom left). The scroll at the bottom of the page will help you look at the different flood levels. Assignment Tasks:Sea Level Rise Simulation:Use the tool to simulate two scenarios of sea level rise: 5 feet and 10 feet.
Perform this analysis for two locations: Beaumont, TX, and New York City, NY.
Data Collection:For each scenario and location, collect data on the types of hazardous waste sites impacted. Develop a one-paragraph description for each location of the things that you notice (consider type, approximate number, what they’re next to, etc.). Impact Analysis:From the data collected, select one hazardous waste site in either Beaumont, TX, or New York City, NY that will be impacted by flooding.
Write a detailed paragraph (minimum of four sentences) discussing how this particular site might impact water quality due to flooding caused by sea level rise. Consider factors such as the types of contaminants present, the site’s proximity to water bodies, and the potential for contaminant spread.
Deliverables:A report that includes:
Data table showing the types of hazardous waste sites impacted by 5 ft and 10 ft sea level rises in both Beaumont, TX, and New York City, NY.
A detailed paragraph of at least four sentences analyzing the potential impact of one selected hazardous waste site on water quality due to sea level rise-induced flooding

Objective: Understand and represent the intricate relationship between humans and water, especially in the context of extreme weather events, with an emphasis on water sustainability.
Instructions:
Image Selection/CreationUse an open-source image stock or an AI image creator to either find or create your images.Like Pexels, Midjourney, etc. Select or design an image that depicts a water-related weather event, such as a hurricane, flood, or drought. This image should give viewers a clear sense of the magnitude and implications of such events.
Choose or design three additional images that showcase disaster response, recovery, or experience related to the water-related weather event you selected in the previous step. These images should:Reflect diverse reactions or experiences to highlight the breadth of human interaction in the face of these events.
Emphasize the sustainability aspect, indicating how humans can work towards, or sometimes against, sustainable water management and usage during these events.
Description and AnalysisFor each of the three disaster response images, write a two-sentence explanation that describes how humans are interacting with water in the depicted scenario. Your sentence should:Be concise yet informative, capturing the essence of the interaction.
Reflect the sustainability aspect, hinting at how the depicted human behavior can either promote or threaten sustainable water management in the context of the event.
Example (for guidance only – come up with your own idea):
If you choose an image of a community collecting rainwater during a drought, your sentence might be: “Local residents adapt to prolonged drought by harvesting rainwater, promoting sustainable water use in arid conditions.”
Submission Guidelines:
Present your images in a clear, organized manner, preferably in a document where each image is accompanied by its related description (if applicable). Have the sentences below each of your images. Combine all assignment components into one PDF. Do not upload your written portion in the text box. Points will be taken.
Ensure that your sentences are well-constructed, free from errors, and provide meaningful insights into the depicted scenarios.
Evaluation Criteria:
Relevance and quality of chosen/created images.
Depth and clarity of analysis in the accompanying sentences.
Emphasis on water sustainability in both image selection and descriptive sentences.
Overall presentation and adherence to guidelines.

There are many methods to deciding what aspects of nature to focus on, two methods are to focus on hotspots (areas of high biodiversity) and individual species, particularly those with wide impact. Today, you will have the opportunity to look at both.
DetailsGo to the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund’s list of hotspotsLinks to an external site., and choose the hotspot you want to research. You are welcome to choose any hotspot, but I recommend you choose a hotspot that CEPF has invested in or is planning to invest in soon, as there will be more information on the location. If a PDF exists for your hotspot, it is probably worth looking at.
Additionally, you will research one species from the chosen hotpot on IUCN’s Red ListLinks to an external site..
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund List of HotspotLinks to an external site.
IUCN’s Red ListLinks to an external site.
RequirementsDevelop a report or Powerpoint presentation with the information listed below. Use CEPFLinks to an external site. and IUCN’S Red ListLinks to an external site. as your sources. If you create a presentation, keep in mind that you must explain your ideas clearly. This may go against typical advice to keep information brief on a slide. You should be able to find everything you need from the two websites, but if you feel you need outside sources, get them approved by your instructor.
Describe your locationWhere is it?
What type of specific ecosystems are there?
Provide an illustrative photo or map of the area
Explain why the location is a hotspot. Give specific statistics.How is biodiversity higher than average?
Discuss the parameters that define a hotspotEndemic species (particularly producers)
Vegetation loss
Are there multiple monotypic species? (Monotypic species are the sole species in their genus. CEPF may tell you if they exist in the hotspot. If there are none listed, you are not required to research further.)
Why is this place threatened? What are the ongoing problems?
Pick at least one species listed in this location and look them up on the Red List. Include the conservation status of the organism, as listed on the Red List. Provide other information about the organism from the other sections (geographic range, habitat and ecology, etc.). If the Red List does not have much information on that species, choose a different one.
Include one photo.
What conservation efforts are taking place to protect or help the hotspot and/or the species in it? (You can get this information from both CEPF and IUCN. The Red List has more information on threats and conservation if you scroll down to “threats in detail” or “conservation actions in detail.”)
Your report/presentation should be very visual (map of the location, landscape, species that live there, etc.). Upload your project when you are finished.
Note: Your submission will be checked for plagiarism. If you use the CEPF’s or the Red List’s wording, make sure you put it in quotation marks. Otherwise, paraphrase the information!
View Rubric

There are many methods to deciding what aspects of nature to focus on, two methods are to focus on hotspots (areas of high biodiversity) and individual species, particularly those with wide impact. Today, you will have the opportunity to look at both.
DetailsGo to the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund’s list of hotspotsLinks to an external site., and choose the hotspot you want to research. You are welcome to choose any hotspot, but I recommend you choose a hotspot that CEPF has invested in or is planning to invest in soon, as there will be more information on the location. If a PDF exists for your hotspot, it is probably worth looking at.
Additionally, you will research one species from the chosen hotpot on IUCN’s Red ListLinks to an external site..
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund List of HotspotLinks to an external site.
IUCN’s Red ListLinks to an external site.
RequirementsDevelop a report or Powerpoint presentation with the information listed below. Use CEPFLinks to an external site. and IUCN’S Red ListLinks to an external site. as your sources. If you create a presentation, keep in mind that you must explain your ideas clearly. This may go against typical advice to keep information brief on a slide. You should be able to find everything you need from the two websites, but if you feel you need outside sources, get them approved by your instructor.
Describe your locationWhere is it?
What type of specific ecosystems are there?
Provide an illustrative photo or map of the area
Explain why the location is a hotspot. Give specific statistics.How is biodiversity higher than average?
Discuss the parameters that define a hotspotEndemic species (particularly producers)
Vegetation loss
Are there multiple monotypic species? (Monotypic species are the sole species in their genus. CEPF may tell you if they exist in the hotspot. If there are none listed, you are not required to research further.)
Why is this place threatened? What are the ongoing problems?
Pick at least one species listed in this location and look them up on the Red List. Include the conservation status of the organism, as listed on the Red List. Provide other information about the organism from the other sections (geographic range, habitat and ecology, etc.). If the Red List does not have much information on that species, choose a different one.
Include one photo.
What conservation efforts are taking place to protect or help the hotspot and/or the species in it? (You can get this information from both CEPF and IUCN. The Red List has more information on threats and conservation if you scroll down to “threats in detail” or “conservation actions in detail.”)
Your report/presentation should be very visual (map of the location, landscape, species that live there, etc.). Upload your project when you are finished.
Note: Your submission will be checked for plagiarism. If you use the CEPF’s or the Red List’s wording, make sure you put it in quotation marks. Otherwise, paraphrase the information!
View Rubric

Module 7 Assignment – Due
11:59 PM
Objective: Analyze the relationship between water conflicts and the prevalence of drought in the Middle East and Africa using the Water Conflict Map and supplemental research.
Instructions:
Exploring Water Conflicts and DroughtNavigate to the Water Conflict Map.
If you’re struggling to use the map, use the help function.
Focus on the Middle East and Africa regions.
Activate the “Highlight Areas Experiencing Drought” filter (shown below). If this isn’t showing anything, go to “Add Datasets” and activate “24-month SPI Anomaly (Long-term)” under Water. It will provide you the drought and flooding information. This will enable you to answer the following.
Question: What patterns or correlations do you observe, especially regarding how conflict relates to drought? Describe your observations in a paragraph of at least four sentences.
Identifying Trends and Further ResearchExamine the incidence of water conflicts within the regions since the year 2000 here.
Independently, conduct research to understand the prevalence of drought and its locations in the Middle East and Africa since 2000.
Question: How do the trends in drought and lack of water access correlate with the rise in water conflicts over the years? Write a four-sentence paragraph detailing your findings. Ensure that you provide evidence for your claims using in-text citations and list your sources at the end in APA format.
Submission Guidelines:
Your assignment should be typed using a readable font, size 12. Submit your assignment as a PDF. Do not upload your written portion in the text box. Points will be taken.
Make sure to back up your observations and analyses with specific data and findings from the Water Conflict Map and your independent research.
Remember to correctly use in-text citations when referencing external sources, and provide a reference list in APA format at the end of your assignment.
Evaluation Criteria:
Depth of analysis and research.
Clarity and organization of thoughts.
Accuracy and relevance of data used.
Proper use of citations and adherence to APA format.
Module 7 Assignment
Due February 25 at 11:59 PM

To develop a clear understanding of data interpretation and visualization techniques using real-world data from the NSW Water Valuation in Australia.
Task:Data Selection: Review the NSW Water Valuation Report, focusing specifically on Sections 4 and 5. This report contains a wealth of data regarding water valuation in New South Wales, Australia.
Figure Creation:Create two distinct figures (graphs or charts) using data extracted from either the tables or the narrative descriptions in the specified sections of the report.
Ensure each figure comprises at least five data points for comparison. These could be different values, time periods, geographical areas, or other relevant comparative measures.
Figure Specification:Each figure should have clearly labeled axes.
Include an appropriate and descriptive title for each figure that succinctly reflects its content and purpose.
Data Interpretation:Below each figure, write 2-3 concise sentences that capture the ‘take-home message’ of the figure. This message should encapsulate the key insight or conclusion that can be drawn from the data presented.
An explanation of “take home message” is found here.
Guidance on Good Figure Development:Consult the additional provided resource for understanding critical components of effective data visualization. This resource will offer valuable insights into creating figures that are not only accurate but also impactful and easy to understand.
Submission Format:Compile your figures and their explanations into a single document.
Acceptable formats for submission are PDF.