Desertification Process Investigation on Lordsburg Playa

The Lordsburg Playa in New Mexico is a recognized global hotspot for dust storms, contributing to 17 crash fatalities on I-10 in the area since 2014. In recent years, climate change has contributed to alterations in vegetation and weather dynamics, further influencing the frequency and intensity of dust events in the region. In response to the pressing need for improved traffic safety, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has implemented static and electronic message boards, a quicker warning system (i.e., the National Weather Service alerts, social media notifications, and website updates), rapid highway closures, and mitigation programs under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to revegetate the Lordsburg Playa area. While these initiatives have been very successful to date, NMDOT remains interested in exploring the relationships between desertification (caused by factors, such as drought, cattle grazing, and moisture loss) and the frequency of dust storms. Research like this could offer valuable insights into the factors influencing dust storms and desertification. By understanding these relationships, NMDOT can develop more effective safety measures to protect both drivers and the environment. To enhance traffic safety in the Lordsburg Playa area, the research project aims to leverage longitudinal satellite imagery for an in-depth analysis of desertification and its connection to dust storms. The goal of this research is to thoroughly investigate historical satellite imagery, such as Landsat and MODIS, climate data, such as precipitation and temperature data, and other data, such as greenness maps to reveal the connection between the desertification process and the frequency of dust storm activity in the Lordsburg Playa area. Specifically, this research focuses on addressing the following questions: how changes in vegetation and climate over time influence the dynamics of dust storms in the Lordsburg Playa area, and how information on vegetation and climate change can be used to predict dust storm events. Given the volume and format of the satellite data, climate data, and additional data, such as greenness maps involved in this study, the primary objective is to develop an automated analytical workflow that indicates to qualified data analysts or transportation engineers where and when a dust storm event may happen, along with its potential sources. The most effective way to present this information is through a web application that integrates all the data and analytical processes, displaying comprehensive results. Another objective is to promote workforce development on the use of remote sensing technologies for transportation infrastructure management and environmental management, and ultimately, improving the safety and durability and extending the life of transportation. The tasks involved in this project include: Task 1: Literature review of dust storms and desertification on the Lordsburg Playa; Task 2: Acquire Landsat satellite imagery, climate data, and other data; Task 3: Develop an automated coarse-scale dust storm alarm; Task 4: Conduct a medium-scale analysis of potential dust sources; Task 5: Develop guidebook for toolset implementation and final report, and Task 6: Technology Transfer.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.sptc.org/cy2-unm-01

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $150,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  CY2-UNM-01

  69A3552348306

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Southern Plains Transportation Center

  University of Oklahoma
  202 W Boyd St, Room 213A
  Norman, OK  United States  73019
• Project Managers:

  Dunn, Denise

• Performing Organizations:

  University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87131-0001
• Principal Investigators:

  Zhang, Su

• Start Date: 20241001
• Expected Completion Date: 20250930
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Deserts; Dust control; Image analysis; Landsat satellites; Storms; Vegetation; Web applications
• Geographic Terms: Lordsburg (New Mexico)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01941687
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Southern Plains Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: CY2-UNM-01, 69A3552348306
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 1 2025 4:47PM