Research Proposal

Introduction
Throughout our earth deforestation and air quality are both very hot topic issues. We know that trees help air quality by sequestering carbon but my study will see if there is a direct connection to the amount of canopy cover in an area to the air quality in that specific area. I will be using data from NLCD, specifically the canopy cover data for tree abundance. For air quality I will be using EPAair quality data.

Objectives:
-See if there is a direct correlation between trees within a specific area and air quality in that specific area.
- Further information about how much forest in the United States is actually there still.

Methodology
- I will use GIS to display both the forest cover and air quality in two separate maps.
- I will use spatial analysis to see if there is a correlation between the two.

Deliverables
-Three maps with one showing canopy cover, one showing air quality and the third a spatial analysis map, all of which will be of the United States.

Work Plan
Week 1             Gather data for final research and add it into GIS
Week 2             Start making basic map of canopy cover
Week 3             Finish basic map of canopy cover and start air quality map
Week 4             Finish air quality map and begin using spatial analysis for map3
Week 5             Finish spatial analysis and edit maps to look professional
Week 6             Finish edits and hand in final research

Data Sources
NLCD canopy cover data
EPA air quality GIS data