Capstone student projects address environmental injustice, water contamination, and air pollution
Students in Professor Jake Dialesandro's section collaborated with local organizations on three impactful projects that addressed critical environmental issues. These initiatives leveraged advanced analytical and geospatial techniques to provide valuable insights. One team collaborated with CRLA's new Tulare office to assess park access and green space benefits in Seville, California. They utilized GIS and remote sensing to measure air and water quality, modeling the positive impacts of potential green space additions and developing a cost-effective analysis for land acquisition. Another capstone team focused on extreme heat and air quality in Modesto. Using data from Purple Air and Sentinel Satellites, they identified optimal air quality monitoring sites and conducted an inequity analysis, highlighting the disproportionate impact on disadvantaged communities. Finally, a third team monitored riparian environmental changes along the Salinas River corridor in Monterey County from 2000-2025. This project utilized high-resolution satellite imagery (Landsat, Sentinel, NAIP) and analyzed nitrate data to evaluate the impact of nitrogen fertilizer on ground and surface water quality.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all our partner organizations and community mentors for their invaluable collaboration. You can download the students' final capstone posters by clicking on the project titles.
Authors: Eloise McKinnon, Joshua Wang, Sistine Noel, Caylee Sanders, and Stephanie Davis
Community Partners: California Rural Legal Assistance
Abstract: Seville is a rural, unincorporated township in Tulare County, California. As a primarily Spanish-speaking community where the median income is less than 60% of the statewide median, residents have limited advocacy ability and experience disproportionate environmental impacts. In collaboration with CRLA, Seville has been awarded a NOAA grant to develop a green space within the community. Studies indicate that green spaces aid in carbon sequestration, groundwater filtration, mitigate urban heat island effects, and contribute to recreational and psychological benefits for communities. We utilized high-resolution satellite imagery in GEE to analyze local air contaminants (O3, SO2, CO) and map vegetation cover, and GAMA groundwater data to analyze water contaminants (NO2, U, Cr(VI), Ra2). Using spatial analysis tools in ArcGIS, we generated comprehensive maps to identify and display environmental hazard levels in relation to vulnerable demographics. We also consulted zoning and parcel data from the county to analyze ideal lots within our target parameters. Our results showed that Seville experiences elevated levels of most contaminants and lacks sufficient tree cover, highlighting the value in a green space. We identified 3 primary site options for a 2 to 3-acre community park that would contain around 15-30 trees per acre. Using I-Tree planting and tree species analysis, we’ve determined that our park could provide substantial benefits over time, including improving air quality, cooling heat and stormwater retention, as well as providing other ecosystem services.
ASSESSING HEAT EXPOSURE AND AIR QUALITY IN STANISLAUS COUNTY
Authors: Andréa Georgenes, Andrew Edwardson, Billy Wagner, and Ellie Fox
Project Partner: Valley Improvement Project
Abstract: Extreme heat has the highest mortality rate out of any other weather related event, contributing substantially to mortality and morbidity, particularly among individuals with limited resources for adaptation and mitigation, including disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged communities are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat, which often exacerbates poor air quality and leads to serious health issues, including asthma and other respiratory problems. Climate models also predict temperatures of extreme heat events to increase significantly by the mid and late 21st century. During extreme heat events, air quality worsens as levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) rise, further endangering public health. This study partners with Valley Improvement Project, focusing on Modesto, California, a medium-sized city in California’s San Joaquin Valley, which is particularly vulnerable due to its demographic composition, including a large number of low-income residents, residents speaking English as a second language, and high poverty rates. To assess the impacts of extreme heat and air quality in Modesto, this research utilized PurpleAir sensors for real-time air quality monitoring, satellite thermal remote sensing data, climate projections to model future conditions, and other biophysical and socio demographic variables. Our preliminary research shows that the disadvantaged community temperatures during an extreme heat event are 2.8 ℃ warmer than wealthier communities.
Photo caption: Billy Wagner, Andréa Gerogenes, Ellie Fox, and Andrew Edwardson present their research at the Winter Research Symposium
Authors: Mia Ingram, Elyse Kenyon, Aidan Klein, and Hanna Jung
Project Partner: Monterey Water Keeper
Abstract: The Salinas River valley is one of the most productive agricultural valleys in the world, producing between 9-10 billion dollars annually. Based on the robust agricultural economy, high amounts of nitrate through fertilization are applied to the soil. Combined with a changing climate the riparian habitat has faced degradation overtime. Within our research, we looked into the riparian health of the Salinas River way within Monterey County. The amounts of nitrate used ranged up to 1450 pounds per ranch acre. The data within Monterey County showed that there were economic benefits to the fertilizers used within the local agriculture efforts, however there were environmental ramifications due to the nitrate usage. The agricultural plots that we analyzed consisted mainly of berry crops, vineyards and deciduous fruits and nuts. To complete this project, there were a plethora of methods used in order to visualize and map out the data. By comparing these years and the levels of pollution in the water, we identified a possible connection between climate change and worsened water quality in Monterey County. To assess land use, vegetation, and environmental changes over time, we utilized high-resolution satellite imagery, local agricultural monitoring systems and regional environmental databases, US Census and Cropscape data.