GIS Research Scientist
Biography
James Whitacre is the GIS Research Scientist for Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where he primarily manages the GIS Lab at Powdermill Nature Reserve, the Museum’s environmental research center. For over a decade, the GIS Lab at Powdermill has produced numerous geospatial projects on the Nature Reserve and throughout the region in forest ecology, stream ecology, and avian research, among other topics. The GIS Lab also maintains numerous geospatial datasets that can be used for geospatial research and analysis. Additionally, Whitacre supports museum staff and affiliated researchers with geospatial technologies and needs. This is Whitacre’s second appointment at the Museum as he was formerly the GIS Manager from 2011 to 2014. During that time, he was instrumental in developing the Pennsylvania Unconventional Natural Gas Wells dataset, which has been used in numerous research projects and publications.
Before returning to the Museum in 2018, Whitacre was the GIS Specialist for the Main Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he provided GIS consultations for researchers and scholars, taught GIS workshops, managed the Library’s geospatial data, and served as a central resource for the University’s GIS community to promote the use of GIS in research. Whitacre holds a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University; and a Master of Science in Geography, concentrating on GIS and cartography, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Publications (Peer-Reviewed)
PUBLICATIONS
Fotis, A. T., Murphy, S. J., Ricart, R. D., Krishnadas, M., Whitacre, J., Wenzel, J. W., Queenborough, S. A. and Comita, L. S. 2017. Aboveground biomass is driven by mass-ratio effects and stand structural attributes in a temperate deciduous forest. Journal of Ecology, 00:1–10. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12847
Calinger, K., Calhoon, E., Chang, H-C., Whitacre, J., Wenzel, J., Comita, L., and Queenborough, S. A. 2015. Historic Mining and Agriculture as Indicators of Occurrence and Abundance of Widespread Invasive Plant Species. PLoS ONE 10(6): e0128161. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128161
Miller, I. M., Pence, J., Mohaghegh, Z., Whitacre, J. V., and Kee, E. 2015. Using GIS to integrate social factors with level 3 PRA for emergency response. Safety and Reliability of Complex Engineered Systems, 3927-3934. doi: 10.1201/b19094-515
Murphy, S. J., Audino, L. D., Whitacre, J., Eck, J. L., Wenzel, J. W., Queenborough, S. A., and Comita, L. S. 2015. Species associations structured by environment and land-use history promote beta-diversity in a temperate forest. Ecology, 96: 705–715. doi:10.1890/14-0695.1
Slyder, J., Whitacre, J., and Wenzel, J. 2015. Painting a Clearer Picture of Shale Gas Development. ArcNews 37 (1): 20-21. http://www.esri.com/esri-news/arcnews/spring15articles/painting-a-clearer-picture-of-shale-gas-development
CARTOGRAPHIC PUBLICATIONS
Fouke, B. W. and Whitacre, J. V. 2016. Untitled maps [maps]. Scale not given. In: Fouke, B. W., and Murphy, T. 2016. The Art of Yellowstone Science: Mammoth Hot Springs as a Window on the Universe. Livingston, MT: Crystal Creek Press. Pages 30, 32, 204, 206.
Whitacre, J. V. 2015. Central America and the Caribbean [map] and Cuban Delegation Travel Routes. Scale not given. In: Sotomayor, A. 2016. The Sovereign Colony: Olympic Sport, National Identity, and International Politics in Puerto Rico. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. Page xxi and 183.
Whitacre, J. V. 2015. Location of the BB community forest in South West Cameroon [map]. Scale not given. In: Nuesiri, E. O. 2014. Monetary and non-monetary benefits from the Bimbia-Bonadikombo community forest, Cameroon: policy implications relevant for carbon emissions reduction programmes. Community Development Journal 50(4): 661-676. doi: 10.1093/cdj/bsu061. Page 664.
Whitacre, J. V., and Bowser, M. 2012. Black Birch Trail [map]. Scale not given. Rector, PA: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. In: Peterson, G. N. 2014. GIS Cartography: A Guide to Effective Map Design. Second edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Page 276.
Whitacre, J. V. 2012. Yellow Creek State Park Fishing and Trail Map [map]. 1:5,000 and 1:8,000. Indiana, PA: Whitacre Cartographic.
DATA PUBLICATIONS
Whitacre, J. V. and Slyder, J. B. (2013-2017). Carnegie Museum of Natural History Pennsylvania Unconventional Natural Gas Wells Geodatabase [computer file]. Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Available download: URL: http://maps.carnegiemnh.org/index.php/projects/unconventional-wells/.