Research

The objective of my research is to create a multi-scalar methodological tool that can assist coastal communities to examine water related climate change vulnerabilities and opportunities within the industrial and agricultural sectors. This tool can be used to encourage planning and policies that support eco-industrial networks in areas best suited given climate change projections.

Delta is located by the Fraser River and the coast, a region has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as an area below sea level with large populations at risk from water-related climate change impacts. This research can be used directly to inform current adaptive planning efforts and the Community Energy and Emission Plan (CEEP) which seeks solutions to meet British Columbia green house gas reduction targets.

The research addresses the following questions through a GIS based analysis of multiple data sets from industry, agriculture and government.

1. What are the vulnerabilities to water-related climate change risks of existing industrial and agricultural systems in Delta BC (sea level rise, severe storm events, flooding, salination and drought)? 
2. What are the zones most suitable for developing eco-industrial networks based on the criteria of low vulnerability to water related climate change impacts in Delta BC?
3. What sectors can provide renewable energy production or reuse options in zones most suitable for eco-industrial networks? What other resources might be exchanged between these sectors and others?
4. How can climate change vulnerabilities be taken into account to inform potential to expand or adapt more appropriately in sites where eco-industrial networks precursors already exist?

Work Experience

Research:

Project Manager for Future Delta 2.0: Coordinating interdisiplinary research team at UBC Vancouver, UBC Okanagan and Simon Fraser University in the development of educational place-based climate change attaptation and mitigation video game

Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning at the Center for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) at UBC

Teaching:

• Teaching Assistant: University of British Columbia. September 2011 – April 2012. Applied Science 364: Applied Sustainability UBC as a Living Lab. Term 1: Curriculum Development, Project coordination with UBC operations staff. Term 2: Instructor and Project Supervisor

• Graduate Student Instructor: University of Michigan. Environment 350: The Built Environment. January 2008 – May 2008. Environment 201: Ecological Issues. September 2006 – December 2006

Professional:

• Landscape Architect: Ciclo Paisajismo. Buenos Aires, Argentina  2009-2010
• Geographic Information Systems Specialist: The Nature Conservancy. San Francisco, CA. 2008
• Outreach Educator: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. San Francisco, CA. 2006
• Habitat Restoration Intern: Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Nat. Parks Service). San Francisco, CA. 2004 – 2005
• Park Ranger – Interpretation. Environmental Educator and Graphic Designer. Acadia National Park and Saint Croix International Historic Site Bar Harbor, ME. 2003.  Oregon Caves National Monument
• Cave Junction, OR. 2002
• Photographer / International Project Manager. Italy, Denmark, France, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, United States . 2000 -2001

Publications

• LaValle A. Beltemacchi A. Ishihara Y. Kiley O. Hiipakka-Squires A. Wagman M. (2008). Visions of Argo: Alternative Futures for Ann Arbor’s Riverfront . Masters Thesis. University of Michigan. (Identifier:149)  
• Knott J. LaValle A. (1999). Pleasant Walks and Drives About Ann Arbor, with Judge Noah Cheever. Ann Arbor MI: Bentley Historical Library
• Photography published in: a) Mariotti, Rizolli Publishing Group. 2001. b) Global Black African Diaspora 2000 Series: Vol. I. Michigan State University Press. 2000