Monday, September 21, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Do we have to draw you a map?

An MTSU researcher, two undergraduates, a high school student and a high school teachers have produced a land cover map of the Blackman area that is considerably more accurate than the best map currently downloadable from the federal government. Dr. Mark Abolins, associate professor of geosciences, and his teammates used a Landsat image and a June 2009 Rutherford County road map to create a land cover map depicting developed, agricultural and forested land within a 10-square kilometer (3.9 square mile) area. “We generated a bunch of random locations, downloaded them onto GPS units, and then the students found each of those 519 locations and observed them from a road or the closest point they could approach it,” says Abolins. The new map has an overall accuracy of 73 to 82 percent. The federal government’s map is only 44 to 52 percent accurate.

Contact Abolins at 615-594-4210.
mabolins@mtsu.edu

Claim jumpers

In the week ending Sept. 5, seasonally adjusted weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance in Tennessee was 11,001 compared with 11,221 in the previous week. The four-week moving average dropped to 11,188, the fourth consecutive decline. Before seasonal adjustment, initial claims climbed to 8,024 for the week. Continued claims for unemployment insurance (insured unemployment after seasonal adjustment) are 92,270, down from 96,046 in the previous week. The four-week moving average declined to 96,772, the lowest level since the week of Jan. 31. Before seasonal adjustment, continued claims dropped to 84,449.

Contact the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2610.

Happy days aren’t quite here again.

Consumer confidence is up, but that good feeling might not necessarily translate into increased spending. MTSU’s latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index rose to 142 in September from 113 in May. The poll of 450 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties was conducted the evenings of Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 16. Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the Office of Consumer Research, says, “Unfortunately, negative views of the current economy, fears about the current job market and future contractions in the job market, and concerns about personal finances suggest that many local consumers are still keeping a tight grip on their wallets. … Retailers might still have to wait a number of months before increases in consumer confidence will lead to dramatic increases in consumer spending.”

Contact Graeff at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Temkin will lecture on his work at 7:30 p.m. today, Sept. 21, in Room 221 of the LRC with a reception to follow in the gallery. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

CROP ROTATION--Officials in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience today postponed their second Field Day until Thursday, Sept. 24, because of the rain that has covered the Middle Tennessee region all week. Ag school director Dr. Warren Gill says the event will move to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Agricultural Laboratory Farm, 3301 Guy James Rd. More than 80 people had registered to attend as of Sept. 16, Gill says, adding that others can register to attend by calling Dr. Jessica Carter at 615-898-2419, the University of Tennessee Extension office at 615-898-7710 or Gill at 615-898-2404.

PRESSING ON--The legacy of MTSU’s working replica of an 18th century printing press will be explained through photos and prints as part of an exhibit at the main branch of the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St., through Sunday, Sept. 27. The exhibit is titled “Telling the Story: Letterpress Printing and Community.” The university’s segment will include the story of letterpress printing at MTSU. The works of current MTSU art students; alumni; visiting artists; faculty; elementary, middle- and high-school teachers and students who printed on the James E. Walker Library’s unique device will be highlighted. A reproduction of the English common press used by Benjamin Franklin in the early 1700s, the printing press was handcrafted in 2004 and 2005 out of chestnut and white oak wood from a 100-year-old house in Virginia. Contact Kristen Keene at 615-898-5376 or kkeene@mtsu.edu.