Schultz, Ronald R.

The object of this study was to investigate various physical
and botanical parameters of doming in stands of cypress
trees (Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Richard) in southeastern
Florida and to develop basic data about these
small swamps. Analysis of doming was made in relation to
topography, substrate, microclimate, soil moisture, soil
acidity, soil nutrients, vegetation, size and distribution
of cypress, and cypress ages, growth rates, and fire
traumas. Study results were compared with competing
theories of doming and it was concluded that the theory
of differential marginal fire promulgated by Kurz and
Wagner best fits the data set.

The main purpose of this thesis is to create an information visualization of Hurricane Andrew's path across South Florida in August 1992. Information visualization is a technique used to present data in a visual format. Information visualizations communicate scientific information to nonscientific communities in business, industry, and government. The information visualization created is a computer animation of Hurricane Andrew's development and track across South Florida. The animation will be created from LANDSAT Multispectral Scanner imagery of South Florida and from GOES-7 Infrared imagery of Hurricane Andrew. The project goal is to combine two sets of satellite imagery with different spatial and spectral characteristics into one meaningful representation of Andrew's track across South Florida on August 23-24, 1992.

Congressional redistricting has become one of the many flashpoints resulting from Florida's uneven and ethnically diverse population growth. The Fourteenth Amendment's declaration that government may not "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws" seems to have been taken to the extreme by creating congressional districts specifically based on race and ethnicity. This paper investigates alternatives to racial/ethnic gerrymandering. Methods such as proportional representation, cumulative and preference voting, including multi-member districts will be considered. The study contends that even conventional districts can provide fair representation when based on major man-made and natural geographic features.

Florida's population growth has been spatially and temporally uneven. Significant growth occurred in different regions of the state during certain periods of time. This differential growth was a result of specific socioeconomic conditions that varied both temporally and spatially. Florida was granted statehood 1845 and served as the southern extension of the plantation system. Growth was high in the northern regions of Florida during the antebellum years. After reconstruction, railroad infrastructure was developed that connected the distant reaches of the state with each other and the rest of the country. This facilitated the growth of the central regions of the peninsula. The construction of roads and the popularity of the automobile brought settlers and land developers to the southern regions of Florida in the early twentieth century. After a growth slump during the Depression, activities of World War II once again stimulated growth in the state, especially in the southeastern peninsula. The recent phenomenon of elderly migration has shifted growth to the less populated areas of the southwestern peninsula.

An underwater survey was performed between July 1987 and August 1990 focusing on the entire nearshore reef tract situated along the shoreline of Palm Beach County, Florida. Transects, aligned on Florida Department of Natural Resources survey monuments, commenced from the high water mark waterward to the 4 meter isobath. A total of 125 of the 228 transects were found to contain nearshore reefs. A matrix of reef characteristics was created based upon the value of six indices including reef width and profile, biodiversity, beach width, public access and an assessment of the historical permanence of the reef. This matrix, based on "z" scores, provided a means of comparing each nearshore reef transect station within the County. This evaluative scheme was used to develop recommendations for the protection and management of the nearshore reefs.

This paper presents a comprehensive population projection framework for small area population estimates and projections. Interested professionals can learn a progression of research tasks and considerations that will lead to the development of a reliable projection model. This monograph offers a range of technical aspects from simple non-component to more complex component methodologies. The idiosyncrasies of small area projections will be emphasized. There exists a significant demand for simple, relevant substate population projections. Local public and private planning sectors have suffered from the irrelevance of national projection models. This thesis illuminates the data requirements, techniques and practical considerations in the choice of a population projection model. Local government's comprehensive plans, according to Florida law, must analyze existing conditions and project future needs based on population projections. Many pragmatic applications of population projections can lead to the effective implementation of comprehensive plans.

The objective of this thesis is to understand and describe the geographic properties of regional malls in Broward County, Florida. The paper investigates the unique character of regional malls and defines regional malls in South Florida as atypical of the industry standard. First, the various definitions of "regional mall" are presented. The history of the diffusion of shopping centers in the United States and the expansion of malls in Southeast Florida is described. A review of the principal theories of central place systems and the location and classification of malls is provided. The shopping centers in Broward County and their market area characteristics are discussed. The internal store placement within each mall is examined. Broward regional malls are much larger for their trade areas than the industry standard.

Today, many municipalities are confronted with a situation whereby their landfills are facing mandatory closure. The topic of post-closure uses for these sites is addressed in this paper through a review of other closed sites and an indepth analysis of the two study sites in Lake Worth, Florida. The review of converted sites indicates a strong preference of municipalities to transform these trash sites into recreational facilities. The indepth analysis of the two study sites involved an examination of the closure restrictions, inherent characteristics of landfills including the creation of methane gas, possible groundwater contamination and settlement of the waste, and inventory of surrounding land uses including history and current site conditions. This analysis concluded that a recreational conversion at both sites was not only feasible but the best use for the two sites resulting in the development of two conceptual plans for each location.

An analysis of five loan types from twenty-six lending institutions
in 125 census tracts of Broward County revealed that
lending was concentrated in coastal and western tracts, less
in central tracts. Western tract loan activity was greater
than average because this area is undergoing conversion from
agricultural to urban land uses. Coastal tracts had greater
than average rates because of continued expansion of condominium
development. Central tracts are mainly commercial,
industrial or lower value single-family dwellings and have
large black populations. High positive correlations were
found among lending rates and income; moderate positive
correlations with age and household size; moderate negative
with percent black. Geographic discrimination in lending
("redlining") may be suspected, but insufficient quality and
quantity of data render such conclusions tentative.

This thesis describes the development of a geographic information
system for school planning and boundary analysis. The
focus of the thesis is on a geographic information system as a
problem solving tool . The empirical analysis deals with middle
school student projections and assignments in Broward County,
Florida. Chapter I of the thesis defines the nature of a geographic
information system. Chapter II explains the development
of a geographic information system for Broward County schools.
Chapter III applies the geographic information system for projecting
student enrollment and develops an application for school
boundary determination. Chapter IV details the results of a linear
programming approach to school boundary analysis. The concluding
chapter discusses advantages and disadvantages of the geographic
information system and examines additional areas of research.