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USING GIS TO DETERMINE PLANTABLE AREA FOR PRAIRIE SWITCHGRASS BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN KENTUCKY RIGHTS-OF-WAY
Impact/Purpose:
To determine the area for switchgrass and the amount of biofuel that could be produced from the rights-of-way.
Description:
(1) The United States’ dependence on foreign fuel and other non-renewable resources has implications across disciplines including international relationships, the environment, and economics. Biofuels have been proposed as an alternative; however, land for biofuel production currently interferes with human and animal feed crop production. Right-of-ways have the unique potential to serve as areas for prairie switch grass biofuel production. (2) We propose to use GIS to determine area of road rights-of-way for prairie switch grass (Panicum virgatum) ethanol yield. These areas are currently mowed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet., (3) The use of biofuels in Kentucky could decrease our dependence on foreign sources of oil and other non-renewable resources, potentially reduce green-house gas emissions that contribute to global climate change, tax money used to pay for mowing rights-of-way may be used for other purposes, and to investigate alternatives to using corn or other crops that have an economic or environmental impact. (4) Results are easily quantifiable with GIS techniques. Several area determinations will be conducted to reach an average plantable area and will be subject to quality control measures. (5) This project will serve as an educational tool as it will be integrated into an ecology laboratory and a GIS course.