Author: Clay Schuler Major: Biological Engineering
Weather Stations for Urban Heat Island Measurements in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Blurb
For my research, I looked at measuring urban heat islands in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The urban heat island (UHI) effect is defined as a phenomenon that occurs when urban environments experience higher temperatures than the surrounding areas. To achieve this, I constructed three weather stations to measure temperature and other weather variables, and I placed these stations in locations around Fayetteville in the fall and winter months. My research showed inconclusive evidence of UHIs in winter months, but temperature differences during periods of warmer temperatures throughout December showed that UHI effects might be prominent in the summer months. After graduation, I am enrolling in the Walton College MBA Program. My goal in the future is to help Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas by advocating for methods to mitigate water pollution in the region. I want to promote green stormwater practices and other water quality management techniques so that the environment in and around Fayetteville can be enjoyed by future generations.
Blog
When browsing potential topics for my undergraduate research, I came across something called the urban heat island (UHI) effect. It fascinated me because cities all around the world were researching this phenomenon, which occurs when urban environments experience higher temperatures than the surrounding areas. Though the research was mostly addressed in relation to large cities, such as Phoenix, Shanghai, and Melbourne, I came across several articles that found a UHI presence in smaller towns. Very little research was available on UHIs in Fayetteville or Northwest Arkansas, so I wanted to look into quantifying the effects this phenomenon may have on my city. I presented this research idea to Dr. Brain Haggard, a biological engineering faculty mentor who I thought might be able to mentor me. He was ecstatic about the idea and agreed to mentor me throughout the process.
Completing this research came with some unexpected challenges. Because weather stations are quite expensive, I instead elected to purchase the supplies needed and construct my own weather stations. I am not very handy, so building the weather stations was a process of trial and error. I cut several pieces of wood incorrectly and often used the wrong screws for sensors. Throughout the entire process, however, I learned about many tools and techniques that greatly improved my craftsmanship, which is a skill set I will carry with me.
Another unexpected challenge of UHI research was the analysis of large datasets. Though I have experience with Microsoft Excel and basic coding, perusing through thousands of numbers is tedious and quickly causes brain cramps. For several weeks, I taught myself code that could be used to analyze and present the data in a coherent way. Though I am not a computer science major, I know that many careers in the STEM field utilize software and code, so I believe that the skillset I have developed will be beneficial in my career.
I was disappointed to find that UHIs did not have a strong presence in Fayetteville in the winter months, but temperature differences during periods of warmer temperatures throughout December could mean that UHIs are prominent in the summer months. I presented these findings to a faculty committee for my undergraduate honors thesis, which helped hone my public speaking skills. I was extremely nervous to present my work in front of faculty that I admired and respected, but I was proud of my work and wanted to share my findings with others. I learned about the importance of clear communication, as this allows for ideas and information to spread throughout the academic community and beyond.
My mentor is Dr. Brian Haggard, a faculty member of the biological engineering department. I had no prior research experience up to this point, so having someone with years of research knowledge was beneficial. Dr. Haggard would review my work and offer suggestions to help clarify my writing, which greatly improved my technical writing abilities. His suggestions for my presentation were also beneficial, as they made my slideshow more concise and easier to follow. Dr. Haggard also gave me access to his laboratory (the Arkansas Water Resource Center) to test my temperature sensors, which I would have been unable to do otherwise. I was able to compare his certified thermometer to my temperature sensors in a variety of conditions, including refrigerators and ovens. Having him as a mentor made the research process much more pleasant because he was able to draw on his experience when I was struggling or confused about an issue. Throughout the entire research project, Dr. Haggard was a tremendous help.
After college, I am enrolling in the Walton MBA program. In my career, I am looking to combine engineering and business to advocate for improved water quality mitigation strategies in the local Fayetteville community. Even though I am not pursuing a career in research, this experience will be valuable to my career because it taught me critical thinking, perseverance, and problem-solving skills that can be applied to any task. Research is an important part of our society because it allows for creativity and experimentation to flourish, and I am grateful that I was able to perform research in my undergraduate career.