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Candidate:
John E. Daniels
Degree of:
Doctor of Philosophy
Department: Statistics
Title: Determination of Spatial Strata for Environmental
Regulatory Purposes
Committee:
Dr. Michael Stoline, Chair
Dr. Daniel Mihalko
Dr. Alan Kehew
Dr. Charles Emerson
Dr. Robert Buck
Date: Monday,
July 9, 2003, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
6625 Everett Tower (Alavi Commons Room)
Abstract:
This dissertation introduces spatial strata modeling,
a technique that combines spatial statistics, cluster analysis, and
geographic information system theories to analyze the background level
of naturally occurring contaminants of concern (COCs). The goal of spatial
strata modeling is to divide a geographic area into mutually exclusive
geographic zones (spatial strata); with each stratum representing a
different level of COC concentration. To represent these background
concentrations, unbiased estimates of the 95th percentile and 95% Upper
Confidence Limit of the Mean are determined for each stratum. Data provided
by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality describing the spatial
location and arsenic concentrations of 219 Michigan residential soil
sites (arsenic data) is analyzed using the spatial strata modeling method
introduced here. In addition, various infill sampling strategies will
be investigated using the arsenic data as an example. An optimal infill
sampling strategy is recommended in order to improve the accuracy of
the spatial strata modeling method.
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