Photos from the 2003 East Tennessee Collegiate Division Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science held at Pellissippi State Technical Community College
4/11/2003
Thomas Becktold and C. Daniel Chase, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Second Place Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation
ABSTRACT
Analysis of the Change in Land Use of a Wetland Area from 1939-1980
Aerial photographs obtained from the Tennessee Valley Authority were scanned, georeferenced, and then manually analyzed with ArcGIS software to create overlays for each year's land use. The change in area usage from 1939 to 1980 is analyzed based on the areas calculated from each available photograph. The area evaluated is the present day area surrounding the intersection of I-75 and I-24 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, south to Exit 1 of I-75 in East Ridge, Tennessee. While today this is a highly congested commercial and residential area, in 1939 it was a mix of agricultural and sparsely populated residential areas. The South Chickamauga Creek meanders through this area and is well known for its spring flooding historically. The wetlands surrounding the creek have been highly impacted by the build-up of the surrounding area.
