UGA researcher and Dacula resident leading Rowen climate study

Originally published in the Gwinnett Daily Post.

A Dacula resident who is a University of Georgia professor and a nationally recognized expert on climate will lead an effort at the Rowen development to study how early stage development can affect not only the land and water, but also the local weather.

J. Marshall Shepherd will lead the two-year Hydrometeorology and Land Cover Change Observational Study, or HALOS for short, at the Rowen site. The Rowen Foundation is teaming up with UGA on the study, which officials expect will help shape climate-resilient infrastructure development in Georgia.

“Rowen is leading the way when it comes to developing a community where sustainability and environmental stewardship are core principles, integrated into site planning and future developments,” Shepherd, who has a doctorate in physical meteorology from Florida State University, said. “This study will provide valuable insights into how large-scale construction projects alter local ecosystems.”

This climate study is the fifth learning lab project to be conducted at Rowen, which is a sprawling 2,000-acre mixed use “knowledge community” in eastern Gwinnett that will be gradually built out over several decades.

Rowen is similar to the Research Triangle in North Carolina, but Rowen will be centered around studying agriculture, biomedicine and the environment issues.

The idea is that HALOS will create baseline data that can be used to monitor how a large-scale development will impact the climate around it.

Shepherd, who is with UGA’s Atmospheric Sciences and Geography Department, and investigators from UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Odum School of Ecology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and College of Engineering will study local weather, geography and watershed properties at Rowen in real-time to see what impact building construction has on the area.

The researchers will use satellite imagery, drones and real-time sending instruments to monitor the environment through the end of 2027.

The idea is to see what impacts urban heat islands have on an area and how air quality, flooding and water quality at Rowen are affected from early-stage construction through future growth.

The data collected during the study will be shared not only with local government officials but also K-12 students and teachers so they can have real-time experiential learning opportunities.

Weatherstem, which Rowen officials described as “an industry leader in scientific instrumentation,” will provide all of the equipment and technology for the study.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Georgia and Weatherstem on this important project,” Rowen President and CEO Mason Ailstock said. “The HALOS study will help shape data-driven, climate-resilient development strategies to serve as a nationwide model for sustainable practices on large-scale projects.