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Pan American Center for Earth and Environmental
Studies (PACES)
University of Texas at El Paso
Principal Investigator: Dr. Scott Starks
Co-Investigators: Dr. Ann Gates, Dr. G. Randy Keller and Dr. Vladik Kreinovich
Bhutanese Architecture of UTEP Campus.
Background:
Established in 1995, PACES is an interdisciplinary
research center whose primary research objective is to
expand the scientific knowledge of the Earth system
using the unique vantage point of space, with an
emphasis on the Southwestern United States and
Northern Mexico border region. Significant remote
sensing, geophysical, geological, and environmental
data generated by NASA, other agencies, and
institutions have been assembled to support this
objective. In addition, PACES investigators conduct
studies aimed at adapting and developing intelligent
software and support tools to support the storage,
fusion, manipulation, and analysis of remotely sensed
and other data. The Center seeks to provide expanded
educational opportunities about NASA technology and
the Earth system to a diverse population of students at
all levels.
Dissemination Efforts:
As a NASA University Research Center on the campus of
the University of Texas at El Paso, a primary function of
PACES is to disseminate data about the Earth system and
enable the productive use of science and technology in
the public and private sectors. To this end, PACES
maintains a large collection of satellite imagery and
related data covering most of the Southwestern United
States and Northern Mexico.
The International Border Plays a Major Role in Environmental Research at PACES.
Environmental Research Themes:
• Investigations on the effects on the use of untreated
sewage effluent for crop irrigation on ground water quality.
• Analysis of changes that affect the quantity and quality of
surface water in the Rio Grande basin (Elephant Butte to
Big Bend.)
• Characterization of ambient particulate matter in the Paso
del Norte Air Basin.
• Studies of land use changes through remote sensing.
• GIS applications to help analyze changes that affect water
quality in the El Paso/Juarez metropolitan area.
Landsat TM Image of El Paso/Ciudad Juarez Border Region
Lake Lucero, White Sands National Monument
Goals and Objectives:
• Expand scientific knowledge of the Earth system using the
unique vantage point of space (with an emphasis on the
Southwestern United States/Northern Mexico border
region.)
• Provide expanded educational opportunities about NASA
technology and the Earth system to a diverse population of
students at all levels.
• Enable the productive use of science and technology
relevant to NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise in the public
and private sectors.
The Rio Grande Rift: A Natural Laboratory for
Geological Science
• Fault-bounded troughs or grabens localize water
resources such as rivers, lakes and ground water.
• As rift zones evolve, volcanism and earthquake activity
are by-products.
• As rifting extends the Earth’s upper crust, large areas
subside leading to the development of a series of large
sedimentary basins containing water resources.
• The Rio Grande rift/Rio Grande corridor region is the
major focus area for the Center.
PACES Scholars field trip to Ames Research Center
Significant Accomplishments
• 16 Doctoral, 30 Masters and over 100 Undergraduat
students have received research assistantships.
• 30 Faculty from 10 Departments: Summer support.
• 182 Refereed Journal Articles/Chapters since 2000.
• $3,889,706 in aligned support since 2000.
• Laboratories to support Remote Sensing/GIS.
• PhD in ESE established; Courses in RS/GIS.
• GEOINFORMATICS: Interdisciplinary research.
• Desalination Plant Proposal: Benefit to society.