Eric Tate
My research lies at the confluence of environmental hazards and society, primarily through the development of geospatial models of flood hazards, vulnerability, and resilience. The prevailing structure of hazards research and practice, as either physical or social, is artificial. 'Natural' disasters result from interactions and feedbacks between physical and social processes, so hazards research should reflect this reality. My research interests tend to fall into three general areas:
- Vulnerability, resilience, and sustainability indicators
- Flood hazard mitigation
- Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for geospatial models
At UI, I'm a member of the water sustainability cluster, and faculty affiliate with IIHR – Hydroscience & Engineering and the Center for Global and Environmental Research.
- Contemporary Environmental Issues (GEOG 1070): explores the leading global environmental challenges of our time, focusing on causes, consequences, and solutions.
- Water Resources (GEOG 2930): processes and practices underlying the management of freshwater resources.
- Hazards and Society (GEOG 3760): how societies plan for, experience, and respond to natural and technological hazards.
- Environmental Justice (GEOG 4770): relationships between environmental hazards & amenities, and marginalized groups & communities, in domestic and international settings.
Current students:
- Federico Antolini (PhD)
- Oronde Drakes (PhD)
- Rebecca Kauten (PhD)
- Cristina Muñoz (PhD)
- Asif Rahman (PhD)
Graduates:
- Md. Abu Sayeed Maroof, M.A. (2016): "Assessing the Influence of Parameters for Agricultural Loss Estimation due to Flood"
- Federico Antolini, M.A. (2015): "Geospatial modeling to assess location suitability in a detention system of small reservoirs"
- US National Science Foundation. 2016-2021. Co-PI for "NRT-INFEWS: Paths to sustainable food-energy-water systems in resource-limited communities." $2,999,869. With David Cwiertny (PI), and Co-PIs Michelle Scherer, Craig Just, and Gabriele Villarini
- US Department of Housing & Urban Development. 2016-2021. Co-I for "Iowa Watershed Approach for Urban and Rural Resilience." $6,471,876. With Larry Weber (PI), and Co-Is Craig Just, Julie Kearney, Valerie Decker, Ibrahim Demir, Keith Schilling, Allen Bradley, Christopher Jones, and Witold Krajewski.
- Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research. 2016-18. PI for "Quantifying Salinization Vulnerability of Municipal Water Supplies from Winter Road Maintenance: A Case Study in Eastern Iowa." $34,103.
- The Nature Conservancy. 2015-2017. PI for “Economic Benefits of Agricultural Practices Flood Loss Estimation for the Middle Cedar River Watershed.” $47,017. With Nathan Young (Co-PI).
- National Science Foundation, WSC-Category 1. 2014-2017. Senior Personnel for "Decision Processes, Climate Change, and Water Resources in the Agricultural Midwest." $599,383. "Collaborative Research" with Adam Ward (PI), Co-PIs Kajsa Dalrymple and Scott Spak, and Senior Personnel Sara Mitchell, Heather Sander, Ananya Sen Gupta, and Aaron Strong.
- National Science Foundation, IMEE. 2013-2017. PI for "Measuring Social Vulnerability - Reducing Uncertainty and Validating Indicators." $166,840. "Collaborative Research" with Chris Emrich (University of Central Florida), Seth Spielman (University of Colorado), and David Folch (Florida State University).
* Denotes a UI geography student
Bitterman, P.*, E. Tate, K.J. Van Meter, and N. Basu (2016). "Water security and rainwater harvesting: A conceptual framework and candidate indicators." Applied Geography, 76: 75-84.
Carrel, M., S.G. Young*, and E. Tate (2016). "Pigs in Space: Determining the Environmental Justice Landscape of Swine Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in Iowa." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(9): 849.
Muñoz, C.* and E. Tate (2016). "Unequal Recovery? Federal Resource Distribution after a Midwest Flood Disaster." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(5): 507.
Tate, E., A. Strong, T. Kraus, and H. Xiong* (2016). "Flood Recovery and Property Acquisition in Cedar Rapids, Iowa." Natural Hazards, 80(3): 2055-2079.
Rufat, S., Tate, E., C.G. Burton, and A.S. Maroof* (2015). "Social vulnerability to floods: Review of case studies and implications for measurement." International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 14(4): 470-486.
Tate, E., C. Muñoz*, and J. Suchan* (2014). "Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis of the HAZUS-MH Flood Model." Natural Hazards Review, 16(3): 04014030.
Van Meter, K.J., N.B. Basu, E. Tate, and J. Wyckoff* (2014). "Monsoon Harvests: The Living Legacies of Rainwater Harvesting Systems in South India." Environmental Science & Technology, 48(8): 4217−4225.
Tate, E. (2013). "Uncertainty Analysis for a Social Vulnerability Index." Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 103(3): 526-543.
Tate, E. (2012). "Social vulnerability indices: a comparative assessment using uncertainty and sensitivity analysis." Natural Hazards, 63(2): 325-347.