Michael Bierwagen is currently an undergraduate senior in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University majoring in Earth and Space Exploration with a concentration in Geological Sciences. Michael’s ASU/NASA Space Grant project involves investigating the neotectonics and geomorphology of Sierra Nombre de Dios in northern Honduras. This active mountain range poses significant hazard to the city of La Ceiba, the fourth largest city in the nation of Honduras.
The primary component of this project consists of constructing a bilingual (English and Spanish) map set as an outreach tool to be utilized by “The Lodge at Pico Bonito” ecotourism lodge located in the region. The map set will be designed to educate locals and visitors of the geologic and natural hazards (seismic, flooding, and landslide hazards) of the region. The map set will also include a regional map showing the plate tectonics and seismicity of the North American/Caribbean plate boundary, a neotectonic map illustrating uplift patterns and active faults in Sierra Nombre de Dios, and a geomorphic map highlighting faults and alluvial fans in the near vicinity of the ecolodge. The project will utilize GIS software in conjunction with NASA products including TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) data, SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) data, ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) data, and other remote sensing imagery derived from NASA satellites.ontractors.