By Blake Jackson
Kentucky State University researchers are making environmental data analysis more accessible with a new software program called FluxDash, developed by Research Associate Ife Familusi.
The desktop application simplifies the complex process of analyzing information collected from specialized research towers that monitor environmental conditions.
These towers use the eddy covariance method to measure carbon dioxide, water vapor, heat, and air movement between the land and the atmosphere.
The data helps scientists evaluate carbon storage, water use by plants, ecosystem recovery, and the effects of drought, weather changes, and human activity. However, processing this information traditionally requires advanced technical skills and multiple software platforms.
“Environmental data analysis can be intimidating for students and early-career researchers because it often requires several software environments, technical decisions, and processing steps,” Familusi said.
“FluxDash was created to bring those steps into one learning-focused platform so users can see what goes into the analysis without being overwhelmed by the entire technical depth at once.”
FluxDash enables users to transform raw environmental measurements into daily, monthly, and annual summaries. The software can estimate water movement from soil and plants into the atmosphere, determine whether landscapes absorb or release carbon, and generate charts, tables, and reports.
It also records each step of the analysis process, improving transparency and allowing researchers to reproduce results.
“FluxDash transforms a complicated research process into a more approachable teaching and analysis tool,” said Dr. Buddhi Gyawali, professor of geospatial applications, human dimensions, and climate studies.
“Students can begin working with important environmental information while also learning the scientific decisions behind the results.”
Familusi earned his Master of Science in Environmental Science and Technology from Kentucky State University in 2024 and now supports the university’s Soil Health Laboratory, Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Environmental Security, and land-reclamation research in Eastern Kentucky.
“FluxDash has strong potential as both a teaching aid and a practical research tool,” said Dr. Maheteme Gebremedhin, chair of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and associate professor of soil science. “It helps students understand how measurements collected in the field become meaningful information about the health and performance of an ecosystem.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-tlillico
Categories: Kentucky, Education