Past Master of Applied Geography Theses

  • Djan, Michael, 2013. Exploring the Role of the NMSU Community Garden in Addressing Food Insecurity at New Mexico State University. Advisor - Dr. Christopher Brown.
  • Akrasi, Otis.  2023. Land cover changes in the Darién Province and Emberá-Wounaan Comarca , Panama, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Chakraborty, Torit,  2023. Predicting the spatial distribution of acequias using geospatial artificial intelligence. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Bergman, Hardt. 2022. Desert Hydrologies: Exploring Water Dialogues in the Arid Southwest through Participatory Photography. Advisor - Dr. Eric Magrane. 
  • Lopez-Brody, Nathan. 2021. Species Distribution Modeling of Desert Bighorn Sheep in the San Andres Mountains, NM, USA: The Role of Woody Plants and Other Environmental Variables. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Castillo, J. 2021. Planning for a Greener Las Cruces. Advisor - Dr. Christopher Brown. 
  • Aney, Skye. 2020. Landscape-scale Modeling of Drought and Insect-related Tree Mortality in Northern New Mexico. Advisor - Dr. Michael Buenemann.
  • Dorn, Coury. 2020.  Application of the Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) for Simulation and Projection of Extreme Runoff Conditions . Parallel degree with Water Science and Management Program, Co-Chairs are Dr. Christopher Brown (Geography) and Dr. Caiti Stelle (WSM).
  • Abby Boyland, 2020.  How Words Can Form a Landscape: An Analysis of 3 Community Geopoetic Projects of the American Southwest and Their Effects on Participants’ Sense of Place. Advisor: Dr. Eric Magrane
  • Subremanian, Lalitha Muthu, 2020. Landmet: Landscape Metrics Tool in QGIS To Study Landscape Variability. Advisor: Dr. Michael DeMers
  • Anthony Schondel, 2020. A GIS Study of Terrain Influences on the Battle of Glorieta Pass, New Mexico. Advisor = Dr. Dan Dugas
  • Joel Cisneros, 2020. Risk Mapping of Groundwater Salinization Using the Drastic Method in The Rincon Valley. Advisor = Dr. Christopher Brown
  • Roberta Paz,   2019. Comparison of terrestrial LiDAR and conventional surveys. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Dan Carter, 2019. Mapping Trail Suitability and Connectivity in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. Advisor = Dr. Christopher Brown
  • Surova, Erica, 2018. Reducing inequality? A geospatial analysis of school attendance zones in Southern New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Christopher Brown.
  • Mundis, Stephanie J. 2017. Monitoring and Modeling the Distribution of the Mosquito Vector   Aedes aegypti  in Southern New Mexico and West Texas. Advisors: Dr. Michaela Buenemann and Dr. Kathryn Hanley.
  • Manuel Lopez. 2017. Debris Flow Potential Following Wildfire in the Upper Santa Fe Municipal Watershed. Advisor: Dr. Dan Dugas
  • Rachel Burke. 2017. Modeling the Distribution of Palmer’s Agave ( Agave palmeri) throughout the Sympatric Summer Ranges of Migratory Nectarivorous Bats (Phyllostomidae: Glossophaginae) using Presence-only Species Distribution Modeling. Advisor: Dr. Christopher Brown.
  • Baker, Holly. 2017. Modeling the Effects of Woody Plant Removal on Soil Erosion using Mobile Crowdsourcing and Geospatial Data and Methods. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Sabie, Robert P.. 2016. Assessing the Effectiveness of Remediation Surrounding the Black Mesa / Kayenta Mines in Northern Arizona using Remote Sensing. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Ward, Brenda. 2016. Influences of Resampled Imagery on Flood Modeling and Risk Analysis; Downstream of Broad Canyon Dam, Doña Ana, New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Christopher Brown.
  • McCord, Sarah E.. 2015. Integrating Remotely Sensed Imagery and Existing Multi-Scale Field Data to Derive Rangeland Indicators: An Application of Bayesian Additive Regression Trees. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Ronny Forney. 2015. The Effects of Diurnal Activity on the Spatial Distribution of Female Desert Bighorn Sheep. Thesis Advisor: Dr. Dan Dugas.
  • Ruben Rodriguez. 2015. A Predictive Model for Night-Blooming Cereus ( Peniocereus greggii  var.   greggii) Using Maximum Entropy Modeling. Thesis Advisor: Dr. Carol Campbell.
  • Oyer, Shawn. 2014. Effects of Land Use Change and Drought on Groundwater Hydrology in the Mesilla Valley. Advisor: Dr. Christopher Brown.
  • Calkins, Byron. 2014. Spatial Analysis of Future Climate Structure in New Mexico Viticulture Regions. Advisor: Dr. Carol Campbell.
  • Slaughter, Amy. 2014. The Utility of Multispectral Imagery From an Unmanned Aircraft System for Determining the Spatial Distribution of   Eragrostis Lehmanniana  (Lehmann Lovegrass) in Rangelands. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Baldwin, Josh. 2014. Landscape Change in the Greater Gila Ecosystem: A Multi-Scale Geospatial Analysis. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Higgins, Katherine. 2014. A Study in Consequences: The Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Application of Geographic Information Systems to the Assessment of Social Impacts. Advisor: Dr. Christopher Brown.
  • Coontz, Carlos. 2014. Elementary School Walkability in Las Cruces, New Mexico: A Geographical Analysis from 1948 to 1999. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Habrock, Christopher. 2013. An Analysis of Migration from the Caucasus to Russia. Advisor: Dr. Mike Demers.
  • Rivera, Alanna. 2013. Catholicism and the Religious Landscape of New Mexico: 1910-2010. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Richman, Rebecca. 2013. Spatial and Temporal Analysis of the Mosquito Vectors of Sylvatic Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses in Senegal. Advisors: Dr. Michaela Buenemann and Dr. Kathryn Hanley (Biology).
  • Estrada, Daniel. 2012. The Effects of Commuter Rail Ridership on Interstate 10 in the El Paso-Las Cruces Metropolitan Area. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Heil, Mark. 2012. A Geospatial Analysis of Litter and Sociological Factors Within San Juan County, New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Christopher Brown.
  • Merker, Kelley. 2012. Neighborhood Walkability in Las Cruces, NM: An Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Gonzalez, Leandro. 2012. An Analysis of the Sociolinguistic Geography of Galicia, Spain. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Williams, Jon. 2011. The Geography of Buddhism as a Proxy for Spiritual Awakening in the Four Corners States. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Hestir, Kristen. 2011. Land Cover Classification and Change Detection in Drylands: An Evaluation of Remote Sensing Approaches. Advisor: Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Hart, Robert. 2011. A Spatial & Temporal Analysis of Vehicular Deaths on the Navajo Reservation. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Webb, Daniel. 2011. Land Tenure in the Historical Geography of Mesilla, NM. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Burek, Brian. 2011. Predictive Vegetation Models for the Todsen’s Pennyroyal. Advisor: Dr. Chris Brown.
  • Patterson, Anna. 2011. Limitations of Assessing Synthetic Natural Boundaries in the Chihuahuan Desert. Advisor: Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • McCarville, Dennis. 2011. Landsat Thermal Infrared Imagery: New Approaches for its Atmospheric Correction & Use for Rapid Irrigation Area Assessment. Advisor Dr. Michaela Buenemann.
  • Heather Glaze. 2010. Habitat Fragmentation Effects of Burrowing Owl Productivity in the Great Plains. Thesis Advisors: Dr. Dan Dugas and Dr. Christopher Brown
  • DeVries, Monique. 2010. Habitat Fragmentation Effects on the Burrowing Owl Productivity in the Great Plains. Advisor: Dr. Carol Campbell.
  • Kenney, Matthew. 2010. The Las Cruces Country Club Three Land Use Options for a Former Golf Course in a Low Density Southwestern City. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Carr, Randy 2009. A Comparison of Bicycle Suitability and Shortest Paths Leading to the New Mexico State University Main Campus. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Lloyd, Brent 2009. Use of Remote Sensing Techniques to Quantify Border Impacts from 2002 to 2007 atCoronado National Memorial. Advisor: Dr. Carol Campbell.
  • Thomas, Caerillion. 2008. An Archaeological Predictive Model & Spatial & Temporal Analysis of Settlement Patterns in the Canada Alamosa Area of the Southwest. Advisor: Dr. Dan Dugas.
  • Robinson, Dana 2008. Comparison of Remote Sensing Techniques for Detection of Tamarisk ( Tamarix spp.) in White Sands National Monument. Advisor: Dr. Carol Campbell.
  • Verdecchia, Elizabeth 2008. Inundation Maps and Flood Risk Assessment Using GIS and Hydraulic Modeling Downstream of Amistad Dam, Texas. Advisor: Dr. Chris Brown.
  • Chacon, Jose 2008. A GIS Design Study for the Las Cruces District Office of the BLM. Advisor: Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • Beatty, Jennifer 2008. A Proposed Configuration of a Public Health GIS for the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Edwards, Zach 2008. A GIS Model for Predicting Relative Potential Risk of West Nile Virus by Identifying Suitable Mosquito Vector Habitat in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Chris Brown.
  • Sullivan, Kendra 2008. Management Challenges at the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Advisor: Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Korbulic, Quinn 2007. Sprawl Versus Smart Growth: Forecasting Urban Development Using the UrbanSim Land Use Model in El Paso, Texas. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Gronemeyer, Peg 2007. The Role of Vegetation Cover in the Spatial Distribution of African Wild Dogs,   Lycaon pitus. Advisor: Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • Will, Dawn 2007. Modeling Impermeable Surface Changes in an Arroyo System. Las Cruces, New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Dan Dugas.
  • Koehler, Nori L. 2007. Impacts of Cattle Grazing on   Oputia macrocentra  Mounds in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert. Advisor: Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • Rachal, David. 2007. Dune Pattern Dynamics on a Multi-Decadal Scale at the White Sands Dune Field, New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Dan Dugas.
  • Ortiz, Marquita A. 2007. Impacts of Land Use Change on Water Resources and Traditional  Acequia  Culture in North-Central New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Chris Brown.
  • Koppa, Justin S. 2007. A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Two Distinct Biological Breeds of Cattle. Advisor: Dr. Dan Dugas.
  • Carranza, Antonio. 2006. U.S.-Mexico Binational Trade Corridors. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Gegenfurtner, Gary A. 2006. An Economic Analysis of the Impact of Colonias on Adjacent Land Values From 1999-2004 in Vado, Del Cerro, and La Mesa, New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Bourdon, Marc L. 2006. GIS Database Design for Use With the Urbanism Model: An El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization Case Study. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Biddison, Laura E. 2006. Descriptive Model of Winter Duck Habitat at Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Carol Campbell.
  • Kennedy, Kara R. 2005. Soil Salinity and Crop Production in Southern New Mexico:A Geographic Information Systems Analysis. Advisor: Dr. Chris Brown.
  • Botkin, Trent. 2004. Classification of an Incised Ephemeral Stream Channel in Southern New Mexico and Development of a Recovery Plan.
  • Callan, Ramana. 2004. A Comparison of Two Models to Predict the Habitat Distribution of Long-Nosed Bats ( Leptonycteris  spp.) in Southwestern New Mexico.
  • Fiore, Francis. 2004. A Conceptual GIS Design for the Liquid Waste Program, District 3, New Mexico Environment Department.
  • Hohstadt, David. 2004. A Geographic Analysis of Economic Development in the Colonias of New Mexico. Advisor: Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Hazelwood, Mickey. 2004. Integrating Conservation Easements and Limited Residential Development: A Land Evaluation Case Study on a Ranch in Southern New Mexico. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Maynard, Kate. 2003. A Model Conservation Easement Process: Cougar Mountain Ranch Case Study. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Lory, Kara. 2003. The Cultural Geography of the Homeless in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Fuller, Justin. 2003. Spatial Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Within a Desert Section of the Gila River in Southwestern New Mexico.
  • Lanser, Julie. 2003. Spectrally Driven Predictive GIS Habitat Models for Aplomado Falcons ( Falco femoralis) in Northern Chihuahua, México. Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • Romero, Mark A. 2003. Distance Decay and Travel Time of Auto Theft in Relation to the El Paso/Juarez International Border Crossing: A Crime Mapping Study in El Paso. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Hewitt, Ray. 2002. A Predictive Model of Archaeological Site Location Within the Cedar Mountain Range, New Mexico.
  • Campbell, Carol. 2002. The Avian Community of a Riparian Landscape in a Semi-Arid Region. Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • Laick, Matthew. 2001. Dune Front Movement Trends at White Sands, New Mexico.
  • Jackson, Erik C. 2001. The Relationships of Biopedoturbation to Desertification in the Chihuahuan Desert.
  • Rich, Matthew. 2001. A Model Cadastral Geographic Information System Process: The Torrance County Case Study. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Harper, Brian G. 2001. The Geography of Mobile Homes and the Influence of Land Use Regulations: A Rocky Mountain Region Study. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Hupy, Joseph P. 2001. Aeolian Particulate Matter as a Function of Soil Surface Texture and Vegetative Cover: Jornada Basin, New Mexico.
  • Kulas, Christina M. 2001. The Effects of Lehmann Lovegrass ( Eragrostis lehmanniana) on Semiarid Desert Ecosystems: Biopedorturbation as an Ecosystem Indicator.
  • Wall, Kenneth D. 2001. A Travel Demand Forecasting Model of the Las Cruces Urban Area. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Gaiser, Sandra L. 2000. A Geographic Information System Evaluation of the Commercial Performance Standards for the Dona Ana County Land Use Zoning Ordinance. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Keene, Amy. 2000. The Cultural Impress of Northern and Southern New Mexico Land Grant Villages. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Krogh, Sonya N. 2000. The Effects of Desertification on Banner-tail Kangaroo Rats ( Dipodomys spectabilis). Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Dappen, Patricia. 1999. Remote Sensing Techniques to Map and Monitor C3 and C4 Chihuahuan Desert Plant Communities Using NOAA/AVHRR /Satellite Data.
  • Davis, James M. 1999. Ant Biodiversity Along a Fragmented Arid Riparian Corridor.
  • Surface, Laura. 1999. A Survey of Land Use Adjacency Impacts on Wintering Birds in the Mesilla Valley, New Mexico.
  • Vincent, Jeffery. 1999. A Descriptive Geographic Information System Model of the Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus Grandis Grandis) in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.
  • Hangen, James E. 1999. A Biogeographical Survey of the Ants of the Tularosa Valley, NM. Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • Campbell, Ralph J. 1998. A Predictive GIS Model of Cougar Habitat, San Andres Mountains, New Mexico.
  • Dogan, Hakan Mete. 1998. Visualizing Spatio-Temporal Mesquite Variation on Desert Grasslands Under Different Grazing Management Applications.
  • Munyan, John J. 1998. A Comparative Factor Analysis of Selected Border Cities of the United States. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Hale, Kent. 1998. Land Use Change: Open Space and the Mesilla New Mexico Greenbelt. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Huck, Terence W. Jr. 1998. Evaluation of Interannual Precipitation and NDVI Using AVHRR Satellite Data.
  • Haasz, Dana. 1997. Evaluation of the Xeriscape Program in El Paso, Texas.
  • Heckman, Lorretta M. 1997. A Geomorphic Assessment of the Aguirre Spring Debris Flow of August 14th, 1991. Dr. Jerry Mueller.
  • Kessler, Damian F. 1997. A Spatial Filtering Technique for Removal of Atmospheric Path Radiance in Meteorological Satellite Imagery.
  • Trebec, JD. 1997. The Effect of Maquiladora Industrial Parks on the Urban Edge Development of Ciudad Jaurez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Beavers, Michael. 1996. Visualizing Spatio-Temporal Forage Conditions on a Continuously Grazed Desert Grassland Pasture. Advisor: Dr. Mike DeMers
  • Bennett, Karen. 1996. “GIS” Applications in Rural Addressing. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Groothousen, Rhonda. 1996. Landcover Change in the Rio Grande River Valley of Doña Ana County, NM. Advisor: Dr. Mike DeMers.
  • Luhan, David. 1996. An Integrated Information System Methodology To Determine Land Use Change in Anthony, New Mexico-Texas. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Stovall, Russell T. 1996. The Distribution and Range of Escobaria Villardii — An Endemic Cactus of the Sacramento Escarpment.
  • Iverson, Valerie A. 1995. A Cluster Analysis of New Mexico Counties by Economic Characteristics. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Ransom, Robin Y. 1995. Map Design Analysis. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Vickery, Donald. 1995. Mapping Plains-Mesa Grasslands of New Mexico Using High Temporal Resolution Satellite Data.
  • Greenlee, Janet C. 1994. Spatial Characteristics of Montane Forest Communities in the Organ Mountains, New Mexico Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology. Dr. Al Peters.
  • Weber, Robert Mark. 1994. Improving Landsat Classification Results Using Digital Elevation Model Data.
  • Miller, Mark Eugene. 1994. Historic Vegetation Change in the Negrito Creek Watershed, New Mexico. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Eggerton, Julie, 1993. Identification of Riparian Areas and Associated Springs With the Aid of Satellite Imagery, Concentration in the Mountainous Regions of White Sands Missile Range.
  • Herman, Thomas M. 1993. Use of Field Evaluation Methods to Direct Management of Recreational Use of the Sierra Ancha Wilderness, Tonto National Forest, Arizona. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Johnson, Annette J. 1993. A Geomorphic Approach to Hillside Planning in an Arid Environment. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Trejo, Antonio. 1993. Effects of Urbanization of Sediment Accumulation in Arid Flood Control Dams El Paso, Texas. Dr. Jerry Mueller.
  • Bash, Dallas W., Jr. 1992. A Classification of Canopy Architecture Types in Desert Rangeland Using Satellite Imagery. Dr. Al Peters.
  • Haywood, Douglas N. 1992. A Geographic Information Systems Approach to Land Exchanges in the Lincoln National Forest. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Kipp, John M., Jr. 1992. Lithologic Discrimination Using Radar and Digital Elevation Data in the Organ Mts., New Mexico.
  • Lee, Martin E., 1992. Complex Terrain Wind Model Evaluation. Dr. Jerry Mueller.
  • Manning, Richard J. 1992. An Application of a Vector Geographic Information System for Evaluating Elk Summer Habitat. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Mason, James B. 1992. Effectiveness of Vegetation Indices Derived from Coarse-Resolution Satellite Data on Arid Range Land.
  • Moline, Jeffrey L. 1992. Islands in Islands: The Geography of Old-Growth Forests in the Sacramento Division of the Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico. Dr. Jack Wright.
  • Divyak, Janine R. 1991. Evaluating of New Mexico Communities as Potential Retirement Locations. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Eve, Marlen D. 1991. Assessing Drought Impact on Native Plant Communities of New Mexico Using AVHRR Data. Dr. Al Peters.
  • Kelley, Michael S. 1991. Coarse Spatial Resolution Satellite Remote Sensing of Drought Conditions in New Mexico: 1987-89. Dr. Al Peters.
  • Woelfel, Gloria B. 1991. A Geographical Approach to Mescalero-Apache Bio-Cultural Skills. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Phiri, Godfrey S. 1990. Development of a Modified Land Evaluation System for Application in Malawi: A case Study in Quay County, New Mexico. Dr. Robert Czerniak.
  • Lochra, Albert C. 1990. Urbanization and Flood Hazard in the Sand Hill Arroyo Watershed, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
  • Metzler, Frank T. 1989. Expansive Soils Hazard in the Town on Mesilla, New Significance, Perception, Distribution, Mitigation. Dr. Robert Czerniak.