This year George A. Smathers Library celebrates the 25th anniversary of spatial data services in the Libraries and the Library’s GIS Librarian, Joe Aufmuth. During this time the service has aided many faculty, staff, and students with research and course work. Spatial data, any data with a location, is used by many disciplines. Researchers use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tools to collect and analyze data based on its location. Using these tools, Aufmuth creates and analyzes spatial data layers and outputs maps for research thesis, dissertations, journal articles, and books.
Mapping Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) chemical distribution and concentrations is an example of collaboration between the Libraries and UF’s Dr. John Bowden’s research group. PFAS, an environmentally persistent chemical, is used in many applications and has potential health concerns. John A. Bowden, Ph.D., an associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, guides a team of degree-seeking students and citizen scientists to collect and analyze water and animal samples. The results of the samples’ PFAS chemical analysis are provided to the GIS librarian to map the locations and concentrations of the chemical as well as mapping predictions of PFAS distribution. These maps support undergraduate senior projects, thesis, and dissertations, as well as peer reviewed journal articles. “Students learn how to better communicate what they need for maps and figures and also how to better collaborate. The maps made can succinctly show the spatial data and help tell the story more effectively,” Bowden said.
Their collaboration began in late summer of 2020 when Dr. Bowden needed help mapping PFAS sampling results for two Pensacola research papers. He found Aufmuth while searching for mapping help on the library’s web page. Bowden emphasized the importance of collaborating across disciplines. “Collaboration is key. I don’t always have the time to become a master of new techniques and be able to do them to the best possible way. That’s why I try to collaborate with the best. And collaboration means all are invested in the work and with everyone invested, it means that we have a team providing the best work and the best outputs. Plus, with students part of the collaboration, they learn how to communicate and interact with collaborators, which helps build additional skills.”
“Part of our problem sometimes is that we have important chemical data but sometimes the connection to the lay public is challenging. And sometimes it’s hard to convey on a geographic perspective. These maps are the solution,” Bowden said.
You can learn more by reading the paper, Statewide Surveillance and Mapping of PFAS in Florida Surface Water.
