RESEARCH

RESEARCH

Dr. Luo’s current research focuses on terrestrial and Martian surface processes, GIS application in public health and linguistic geography, and Web-based technology in enhancing teaching and learning. Most of his research topics are interdisciplinary in nature and involves collaboration with other researchers.

Specific areas include:

(1) building a global GIS database of drainage on Mars based on automatic valley network extraction algorithm and machine learning techniques (funded by NASA); collaborator: Dr. Tomasz Stepinski, Lunar and Planetary Institute

(2) modeling the role of groundwater seepage weathering in forming Martian valley networks and analyzing their morphometric attributes to infer their origin and past climate conditions (funded by NASA); collaborators: Dr. Alan Howard, University of Virginia, Dr. Tomasz Stepinski, Lunar and Planetary Institute;

(3) deriving theoretical flood potential from watershed topography; Collaborator: Dr. John Harlin;

(4) simulating landform evolution using cellular automata model (funded by NSF, http://www.niu.edu/landform); Collaborators: Dr. Kirk Duffin, Computer Science, NIU, Dr. Jay Stravers, Geology, NIU;

(5) applying GIS technology to identify physician shortage areas (funded by HHS); Collaborators: Dr. Fahui Wang, Louisiana State University, Dr. Carolinda Douglass, Allied Health, NIU;

(6) using GIS to investigate the spatial patterns of Tai place names, Tai language change, and their relationship wet rice agriculture, and water resources in southern China and southeast Asia (funded by NSF, http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/TaiLanguage/); Collaborators: Dr. John Hartmann, Foreign Language, NIU, Dr. Fahui Wang, LSU;

(7) developing models and modules that will utilize NASA’s EOS data through Web service technology for higher education and research (http://geobrain.laits.gmu.edu/); Collaborator: Dr. Liping Di, George Mason University;

(8) involving high school teachers and students in learning the process of scientific research using real NASA data in a WebGIS environment (http://marsproject.niu.edu/); Collaborators: Dr. Kathy Kitts, Dr. Wei-cheng Hung, Mr. Phil Young and Mr. Rick Schwantes (all from NIU)

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

In Print

Luo, W. and Y. Qi, 2009, “An enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method for measuring spatial accessibility to primary care physicians,” Health & Place, v. 15, p. 1100–1107, doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2009.06.002. (PDF)

Luo, W., F. Wang,, J. Hartmann, 2009, “Terrain Characteristics of Watershed Basins Containing Tai Place Names,” GeoJournal, DOI 10.1007/s10708-009-9291-8 (PDF)

Luo, W. and T. F. Stepinski, 2008, “Identification of geologic contrasts from landscape dissection pattern: an application to Cascade Range, Oregon,” Geomorphology. v. 99, p. 90-98, 10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.10.014. (PDF)

Luo, W., and A. D. Howard, 2008, "Computer simulation of the role of groundwater seepage in forming Martian valley networks," Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 113, E05002, doi:10.1029/2007JE002981. (PDF)

Kitts, K., W. Luo, W.C. Hung, 2008, "Did it ever rain on Mars? A Professional Development Opportunity for Teachers and an Actual NASA Research Opportunity for Middle and High School Students," The Earth Scientist, v. 27, n. 2, p. 17-20.

Luo, W., “Just-in-Time-Teaching (JiTT) Improves Students’ Performance in Classes - My adaptation of JiTT in 4 Geography Courses,” Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 56, n.2, p. 166-172. (PDF)

Luo, W. and M. Konen, 2007, “New results from from Using a Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM) in a General Education Physical Geography Course,” Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 55, n5, n.5, p. 423-425 (PDF of proof).

Luo, W., J. Hartmann, P. Huang, J. Liu, 2007, “Geographic Patterns of Zhuang [Tai] Kinship Terms in Guangxi and Border Areas in Southern China: A GIS Analysis of Language and Culture Change,” Social and Cultural Geography, v. 8, n. 4, p. 575-596. (PDF)

Wang, F., J.H. Hartmann, W. Luo, P. Huang, “GIS-based Spatial Analysis of Tai Place Names in Southern China: An Exploratory Study of Methodology,” Geographic Information Sciences, v. 12, n. 1, p. 1-9. (PDF)

Luo, W., and T. F. Stepinski (2006), “Topographically derived maps of valley networks and drainage density in the Mare Tyrrhenum quadrangle on Mars,” Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L18202, doi:10.1029/2006GL027346. (PDF)

Luo, W., Peronja, E., Duffin, K., Stravers, A. J., 2006, Incorporating Nonlinear Rules in a Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM), Computers and Geosciences, v. 32, n. 9, p. 1512-1518 (doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2005.12.012). (PDF)

Luo, W., and A. D. Howard, 2005, “Morphometric Analysis of Martian Valley Network Basins Using a Circularity Function”, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 110, E12S13, doi:10.1029/2005JE002506. (PDF).

Luo, W., Stravers, J., and K. Duffin, 2005, “Lessons Learned from Using a Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM) in a General Education Physical Geography Course,” Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 53, n. 5, p. 489-493. (PDF).

Wang, F. and W. Luo, 2005, “Assessing Spatial and Nonspatial Factors for Healthcare Access in Illinois: Towards an Integrated Approach to Defining Health Professional Shortage Areas,” Health and Place, v. 11, n. 2, p. 131-146 (doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2004.02.003). (PDF)

Luo, W., F. Wang, and C. Douglass, 2004, “Temporal Changes of Access to Primary Health Care in Illinois (1990-2000) and Policy Implications,” Journal of Medical Systems. v. 28, n. 3, p. 287-299. (PDF)

Luo, W., K.L. Duffin, E. Peronja, J.A. Stravers, and G.M. Henry, 2004, “A Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM),” Computers and Geosciences. v. 30, n. 3, p. 215-220. (scanned PDF)

Luo, W., 2004, “Using a GIS-based Floating Catchment Method to Assess Areas with Shortage of Physicians,” Health and Place, v. 10, n. 1, p. 1-11. (PDF)

Luo, W. and F. Wang, 2003, “Measures of Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare in a GIS Environment: Synthesis and a Case Study in Chicago Region,” Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 2003, v. 30, n .6, p. 865 – 884. (PDF)

Luo, W. and J.M. Harlin, 2003, “A Theoretical Travel Time based on Watershed Hypsometry,” Journal of American Water Resources Association, v.39, n. 4, 785-792. (PDF)

Luo, W., 2002, “Hypsometric Analysis of Margaritifer Sinus and Origin of Valley Networks,” Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets, v. 107, n. 10, p. 1-1~1-10, doi:10.1029/2001JE001500. (PDF)

Luo, W., 2001, “LANDSAP: A Coupled Surface and Subsurface Cellular Automata Model for Landform Simulation,” Computers and Geosciences, v. 27, n.3, 363-367. (PDF)

Luo W., J.F. Hartmann, J. Li, and V. Sysamouth, 2000, “GIS Mapping and Analysis of Tai Linguistic and Settlement Pattern of Southern China,” Geographic Information Sciences, v. 6, n. 2, p. 129-136. (PDF)

Harlin, J. and W. Luo, 2000, “Predicting Time to Hydrograph Peak from Basin Energy Potential: A Hypsometric Approach,” Papers and Proceedings of the Applied Geography Conferences, v. 23: p. 224-229.

Luo, W., 2000, “Quantifying Groundwater Sapping Processes with a Hypsometric Analysis Technique,” Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets, v. 105, n. 1, p. 1685-1694. (PDF)

Luo, W., 1998, “The Automation of Hypsometric Analysis with a Geographic Information System (GIS),” Computers and Geosciences, v. 24, n.8, p. 815-821.

Luo, W., R.E. Arvidson, M. Sultan, R. Becker, M.K. Crombie, N. Sturchio, Z.E. Alfy, 1997, “Groundwater Sapping Processes, Western Desert, Egypt,” Geological Society of America Bulletin, January, v. 109, n. 1, p. 43-62. (scanned PDF)

Arvidson, R.E., R. Becker, A. Shanabrook, W. Luo, N. Sturchio, M. Sultan, Z. Lofty, A.M. Mahmoud and Z.E. Alfy, 1994, “Eustatic Sea Level and Tectonic Controls on Quaternary Landscapes, Red Sea Coast, Eastern Desert, Egypt,” Journal of Geophysical Research – Solid Earth, v. 99, n. 6, p. 12175-12190. (PDF)

Accepted

Luo, W. and T. Stepinski, Computer-Generated Global Map of Valley Networks on Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research, accepted and in press.

Luo, W., X. Li, L. Di, T. Stepinski, “Webservice for Stream Extraction from Digital Elevation Model data,” GeoJournal, accepted and in press.

Luo, W., B. Grudzinski, and D. Pederson, “Estimating hydraulic conductivity from drainage patterns derived from a DEM - A case study in the Oregon Cascades,” Geology, accepted pending minor revision.

FUNDED (bold dates indicate active grants)

05/08 – 05/11 PI (with Co-I Tomasz Stepinski at Lunar and Planetary Inst.), Global GIS Database of Drainage on Mars, NASA – Mars Data Analysis Program ($353,401)

09/06 – 02/09 Co-PI (with PI John F. Hartmann and Co-PI Fahui Wang), A Regional Approach to Spatial Analysis of Tai Toponyms in Southern China and Southeast Asia Using GIS, NSF – Human and Social Dynamics ($124,963)

02/04 – 01/09 Co-PI (with PI Liping Di at George Mason Univ.), Mobilization of NASA EOS Data and Information through Web Services and Knowledge Management Technologies for Higher Education Teaching and Research, NASA – Earth Science REASoN: Research, Education and Applications Solutions Network: A Distributed Network of Data and Information Providers for Earth Science Enterprise Science, Applications and Education ($70,000, subcontract)

05/05 – 05/08 PI (with Co-I Kathy Kitts), MARS Valley Networks Project: Martian Valley Network Analysis Run-off or Sapping? NASA – Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) program ($30,000)

05/04 – 05/08 PI (with Collaborators Alan Howard at Univ. of Virginia and Ray Arvidson at Washington Univ.), Comprehensive Morphometric Analysis of Martian Valley Network Basins: Evaluating Relative Role of Groundwater Sapping vs. Surface Runoff, NASA – Mars Data Analysis Program ($187,032)

03/02 – 02/04 Principal Investigator (with Kirk Duffin and Jay Stravers), “Web-Based Interactive Simulation of Landform Evolution,” Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program, National Science Foundation ($75,000)

09/01 – 08/03 Principal Investigator (with Fahui Wang and Carolinda Douglas), “Primary Care Physician Shortage & Spatial Accessibility,” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Department of Health and Human Services ($100,000)

06/00 – 05/01 Principal Investigator, “Physician Shortage Area and Health Care Accessibility: A GIS approach,” NIU-Social Science Research Institute, Faculty Fellowship for 2000-2001 ($11,956)