Geography ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-29-2025

Abstract

Story maps, a powerful tool for communicating environmental narratives, are often commercial and lack many interactive functions. We integrate a data-driven and interactive geovisualization within an open-source story map created from high-attribute citizen science datasets. This story map creates a backend programming infrastructure for accessible, open-source science communication tools. Our story map intuitively communicates the findings from our web map application (app) portion of the story map to the public and helps reveal findings from the iNaturalist datasets. Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States is a demonstrative case study, but our tools can be flexibly adapted to other cities. Geovisualizations revealed that urban biodiversity was highly represented in areas with conserved natural features and managed natural areas. We strategically leverage interactivity through geovisualization to reveal geospatial patterns using our open-source story map. We hope that our new story map programming infrastructure will inspire scholars to communicate science through open-source tools.

Degree Name

Geography

Department Name

Geography

Level of Degree

Masters

First Committee Member (Chair)

Dr. Liping Yang

Second Committee Member

Dr. Chris Duvall

Third Committee Member

Dr. Maria K. Lane

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

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