Research Projects

Water Supply, Community Growth, and Climate Change

    Co-investigating with Dr. Laura Stroup, we are researching best practices for water managers to gauge supply with growing demand and changing supply regimens in arid and semi-arid conditions in Texas and other areas in this region. This study explores the relationship between individual utility characteristics and chosen adaptations in the context of the rapidly growing Austin- San Antonio corridor. 

Commodification, Water, and Retail

    One of the more significant tourist destinations in Texas is the River Walk in San Antonio. It is a commercial landscape following the pseudo-natural path of the San Antonio River. The River is a romantic and keen visual identifier giving this commercial landscape a festive feel. This River Walk idea is being copied to revitalize or define other regional tourist/shopping landscapes. I will be surveying visitors to San Antonio's River Walk, Oklahoma City's Bricktown  to identify how shoppers perceive the River and better understand how we use water as a commodity in reinventing commercial landscapes.

Dog Parks and Community Development

    It is widely known that dog parks stimulate interaction between dog aficionados in an area, yet many places still are slow in developing good recreational spaces dedicated to off-leash dog areas. I will be investigating what makes a good community dog park and begin a rating system for dog facilities based on amenities for both humans and dogs.