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Project
Summary
We
got a grant to acoustically monitor the Escalante Grand Staircase National
Monument to just get an idea of the sounds that are there and how they affect
what’s around them. We go out into the Monument and set up multiple recording
devices and leave them there for about two months. Once their recording time is
done, we bring the data into a sound lab and go over the patterns and
irregularities.
Project
Highlights
This
is your opportunity to highlight the best part of your project.
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Going
over all this soundscaping stuff, you really get to here a lot of really neat,
and creepy things.
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I
learned about how much sound influences our daily lives and how I will better control
what sounds are in my life.
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This
will prepare me for the future, because I have a better understanding of the
natural world, so I won’t be so loud when I’m recreating.
From My
Journal
“we headed out into the dark abyss of a national
monument only using the bright full moon light, and we hiked with all of the
batteries to change the old ones out and take down another so we headed out
into the dark abyss of a national monument only using the bright full moon
light, and we hiked with all of the batteries to change the old ones out and
take down another site.”
digital portfolio
Journal Entries-
09/24/15
This was the first day, and we were
trained with the equipment, the computer software, and given an overall runt
through of the whole process. Mace showed us on maps where there were already
sites, where the current projects are, and where the future ones are going to
be. This is going to be a fun, and exciting time learning how all of the
equipment and stuff works, but I’m really excited to head out into the field
and go gather the soundscaping research!
09/26/15
This was the first time that I was
able to go out into the Escalante Grand staircase national monument and I was
amazed by how vast, remote, dreary and beautiful it was. It blows my mind how
the stair case is as big as some eastern states. The drive the first time down
to Escalante seemed to go by faster than I thought it would, because I was so
impressed by all of the mountains and desert landscapes that I had never seen
before that trip. When we got to the campground area where our group was, we
set up our tents, got acquainted with the area, and then hung around camp until
the rest of the group made it (since they had to leave later than us because of
classes.) When everyone arrived, they also set up their tents we had a short
little, “get to know each other” session, because a lot of us where new to the
whole soundscaping thing. Once we got that over with, we headed out into the
dark abyss of a national monument only using the bright full moon light, and we
hiked with all of the batteries to change the old ones out and take down
another site that was right by it. We were able to successfully take down the
old site, put new batteries in the other, and the hike back was pretty
interesting, because we got a little lost, but found our way back to camp.
Slept, woke up the next morning and came back to cedar to watch SUU win the
homecoming game!
10/3/15
The second time I was able to be out
in the field, was just a day trip to where we drove down and were looking to
put up a new site somewhere in the Escalante River area. It was really fun
walking down the river seeing the incredible canyon like walls, and trying to
find the perfect place to set up the equipment. The site had to be in an area
that was away from the trail, so people wouldn’t be able to mess with it so
easily, had to be in an area that wasn’t getting blasted by wind, somewhere
that didn’t echo, somewhere that had a slow moving water, so the microphone
didn’t just pick up wind and water. We found an area tucked away behind a cool
rock wall formation and set it up there after scouting a few other options. We
successfully put up the new site, hiked back a few miles to the cars, and came
back home to Cedar.
Soundscaping
For my
edge project, I was able to help out Professor Briton Mace, by helping out on
his soundscaping trips. I first heard about soundscaping when I was in his
Environmental Psychology class and he showed us some of the research he has
gathered over the years. He also let us use some of the sound equipment and go
around campus to see what sounds we could hear with the equipment that we
normally don’t pick up on. I have been able to help out with a few soundscaping
trips out in the Escalante grand staircase National monument. While we were
out, we were able to set up new acoustic monitoring sites, and take down old
ones to bring back to the sound lab and go over the last two months of data.
I found an article from SUU.edu, and it does a great job of
explaining what we do, and why.
http://www.suu.edu/news/2015/02/professor-researches-soundscapes-in-national-park.html
“Mace is
researching the soundscapes of Utah’s national parks, and has found a way to
utilize the sounds to increase visitor safety and help park administration know
where improvements are needed.”
”Though recent research has been conducted by National
Park Service to learn the sound levels heard from coast to coast on the average
summers day, the research did not get into the details that can truly help park
administration in Utah.
This is where Mace and his crew will come in. The soundscape
research being conducted by the Southern Utah University team will give
specific information on what trails, observational points and other popular
areas are in need of improvements, information that the Park Service is in need
of, according to Mace.
Mace has already conducted research at Zion, Grand Canyon and
Bryce Canyon national parks, now he and his students have been asked by Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument administration to help with site
management and visitor approval ratings through soundscape analysis.”
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Austin Guevara
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Permanent Address:
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Contact
Information:
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Student Address:
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2476 W. Pine Meadow Place
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801-631-8672
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1480w center street #15
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Taylorsville, UT 84129
801-968-8715
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austinguevara@comcast.net
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Cedar City, UT 84721
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Education
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Southern Utah University, Cedar City,
Utah
Currently Enrolled, Outdoor Recreation
in Parks & Tourism Major Graduate May 2016
Snow College, Ephraim, Utah
Earned
Associates Degree May 2014
Taylorsville High School, Taylorsville,
Utah
Graduated June
2011
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Work
Experience
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Zion Ponderosa: Employed 2015
summer and fall, Spring of 2016 and Summer 2012. Recreation
Guide. Conduct, organize, lead, and
promote recreation activities with groups, families, individuals, and
employees. Activities include climbing wall, trampoline bungee, zipline, ATV
tours, canyoneering, hiking, horseback riding, Jeep tours, paintball, rodeo, and
shuttling them to and from the National Park.
Liberty Mountain. Employed Summer 2014. Warehouse
Clerk. Climbing gear, recreational,
and outdoor product order fulfillment.
Sheet Metal Specialties: Employed Summers and School Breaks of
2007- 2015.
Site Maintenance. Organize and clean the shop; maintain and
weed the grounds; complete small production projects using machinery such as a
drill press, punch, and small press brake; driving for pickups and deliveries;
and many other maintenance projects.
Achievements
l ORPT
Degree (Outdoor Recreation in Parks & Tourism) May 2016. My ORPT Degree is an interdisciplinary degree
program offered by the Department of Physical Education within the College of
Education and has included course work from Agriculture Science, Biology,
Communications, Geology, and Hotel and Hospitality Management.
l Wilderness
First Responder "WFR" Certification in May of 2015
l "Excellent
Customer Service" Award from Zion Ponderosa
l Eagle
Scout Award
l Honor
and High Honor Roll Awards
l Athletic
Letter, Baseball, 2009, 2010, 2011
and Athletic Letter, Basketball, 2011
l MVP,
2010 American Legion State Baseball Tournament
l Honorable
Mention All-State 2011, Baseball; 2nd Team All-Region 2011, Baseball
l "Excellence
in Basketball and Baseball" award from Utah Army National Guard
Activities
l SUU
Wildlife Club. Working with the Division
of Natural Resources on captures and releases, including pheasants for the
youth opener, Desert Big Horn for data gathering (blood check, disease check,
radio collars)
l Soundscape
Research. Part of a soundscape research
team in Utah's National Parks. Currently
conducting research in Escalante-Grand Staircase National Park to help increase
visitor safety and help Park administration know where improvements are
needed. We are using physical sound
equipment to do acoustic monitoring of sites to gather data to see how humans
and animals are affected by sound.
l Sand
Hollow Reservoir, assisting the Rangers with various duties as part of a
practicum for my Degree.
l Snowboarding,
rappelling, canyoneering, hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing, and
other sports
l Competitive
Baseball, 1996 - 2011 and Competitive Basketball, 1998 - 2011
l Seminary
Council, Taylorsville High School Seminary, 2010-2011
Skills
l Wilderness
First Responder "WFR" certified in 2015 through the Wilderness
Medicine Training Center at Bryce Canyon National Park. I am certified in wilderness medicine
including basic pharmacology, patient assessment, environmental hazards and
medical simulations. Certified in
medical protocols for situations requiring extended patient management in
extreme environments with limited equipment.
l CPR
certified
l Friendly,
fun, outgoing, high-energy personality
l Dedication,
commitment, and determination
l Photography
l Public
Speaking
l Computer
Skills inclu
l including
Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, Adobe PhotoShop, etc.
Reference list
Jake Millard, Recreation
Manager at the Zion Ponderosa-
Work- 1(800-293-5444)
Cell-(435-691-2410)
Waisea Lesuma,
Assistant Principal at Taylorsville High School-
Cell- 1(801) 783-9711
Ryan Aagard, at Sheet Metal Specialties-
Work- (801)-972-4745
Yes, you read it right.. equality is a lie...
(pics from MLK Weekend)
