Mississippi Biodiesel Feasibility Study A GIS Analysis

Transcription

1 Mississippi Biodiesel Feasibility Study A GIS Analysis Mississippi State University GeoResources Institute Jim Steil, M.S. Extension GIS Specialist Presented To The MISSISSIPPI BIOMASS COUNCIL

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary... Introduction... Statement of Work... 4 What is GIS?... Objectives... 6 Methodology... 7 Results... Appendices... TABLES AND MAPS Map : Total Potential Biodiesel Production (Restaurant)... Map : Estimated Soybean Production... Map : Total Potential Biodiesel Production (Soybeans)... 4 Map 4: Combined Total Potential Biodiesel Production... Map : Navigable Waterways and Ports... 6 Map 6: Active Rail Lines... 7 Map 7: Major Highways... 8 Map 8: Major Electric Transmission Lines... 9 Map 9: Combined Weighted Scores... Map : Cumulative Weighted Scores Over the Total Combined Potential... Note: Due to the sensitive nature of the data, Map 8 is not available in this report.

3 MISSISSIPPI BIODIESEL FEASIBILITY STUDY Executive Summary GIS (Geographical Information Systems) use traditional data from spreadsheets which can be queried, displayed and analyzed in map form to more dramatically demonstrate the spatial relationships of specific elements. It has been said that if a picture is worth a thousand words, a map must be worth,. This study uses GIS and maps to examine the spatial distribution of input resources in combination with proximity to infrastructure considered favorable to the production of biodiesel production to determine which counties in Mississippi which might be best suited for the possible location of a biodiesel production facility. Map [Cumulative Weighted Scores over the Combined Total Potential Biodiesel Production per County in Gallons] indicates that the Delta region of Mississippi, (Washington and Bolivar Counties in particular), is most conducive to the location of a biodiesel production facility based on the criteria established by the Mississippi Biomass Council. Leake County in central Mississippi was determined to be the least desirable location.

4 MISSISSIPPI BIODIESEL FEASIBILITY STUDY Introduction The GeoResources Institute (GRI) at Mississippi State University combines missions and expertise areas of the Remote Sensing Technologies Center (RSTC), Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), Computational Geospatial Technologies Center (CGST), and Visualization, Analysis, and Imaging Laboratory (VAIL). Established three years ago, the Remote Sensing Technologies Center has gained widespread recognition for its partnership efforts with a variety of private industries and public sector agencies. The alliances have involved a number of high-profile remote sensing and geospatial projects related to agriculture, forestry, environment issues, state and local government and transportation. The federally mandated Water Resources Research Institute is a part of a national network administered through the United States Geological Survey. Each state institute is charged with recruiting and training water scientists, exploring new approaches to water problems and providing water-related research results to water managers and the public. The Computational Geospatial Technologies Center, a part of the university s Engineering Research Center (ERC), works with government, commercial and public interests to research, develop, and validate computational geospatial information products. It also helps apply those products to terrestrial, hydrologic, oceanic, and atmospheric processes. Also at the ERC, the Visualization, Analysis, and Imaging Laboratory s work includes the use of high performance computing to apply state-of-the-art scientific

5 visualization to real world problems, such as -D forest canopy structure and ocean flow changes. MSU, GeoResources Institute (GRI) welcomes the opportunity to participate and provide professional services in the Mississippi Biodiesel Feasibility Study. The data provided to GRI has been spatially enabled for some simple analysis and graphical representation of the results. While the data provided to GRI by Alcorn State University (ASU) is extensive, it is not comprehensive. Statement of Work In support of the activities of the Mississippi Biomass Council (MBC), the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), the Mississippi Technology Alliance Mississippi Alternative Energy Enterprise (MTA-MAEE) and others the GeoResources Institute (GRI) will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to catalogue the availability of existing alternative oil and fat feedstocks and prioritize potential locations of value-added biodiesel production facilities within the State of Mississippi by performing the following tasks. I. Create a comprehensive GIS database for use in this and future Biodiesel studies. a. Using a database created by MBC or their designees containing the i. Location ii. Availability and iii. Quantity 4

6 Of oilseed feedstocks and other alternative oil and fat feedstocks, a GIS database compatible with the MDA GIS will be created. b. Working with Mr. Pete Kohn, the GIS manager of MDA, and any other designated personnel, a GIS of Mississippi s infrastructure elements will be assembled in support of site suitability studies. The GIS infrastructure data will be compatible with all existing MDA GIS data. GIS layers required for analysis would include: i. Roads (Interstates and major highways) ii. Railroads iii. River Systems and Ports iv. Utilities (major electric transmission lines) II. Use GIS to determine the current best locations within the state for valueadded Biodiesel production facilities. What is GIS? Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are an assemblage of computer hardware, software, data, procedures and people used to graphically present complex information for use by decision-makers. GIS have been in existence for over years but have become increasingly common with the affordability of more powerful computers and availability of common datasets through the Internet. By using GIS, traditional data from spreadsheets can be queried, displayed and analyzed in map form to more dramatically demonstrate the spatial relationships of specific elements.

7 Due to the digital nature of the GIS data files, most descriptions of GIS data are illustrated by describing a concept of layers of information on a digital map. For example, hydrography or water features would be overlain by road or highway features just as in the real world. Railroads would overlie highways and electric transmission lines would lie above the railroads. Using this concept, all the layers maintain their spatial integrity and relationships. It is then easily determined where an electric line crosses a road or traverses within a given distance of a rail line. Geospatial data (data with a relation to a specific place or area in relation to the earth s surface) have two components; a geometric component (point, line or polygon) of the feature of interest and the associated attribute information. The combination of these two elements (geometry and attributes) is what gives GIS a unique ability in information technology. By using Boolean (or logical) queries on the attributes of features, GIS is then able to display a thematic map to graphically depict the information in an easy to interpret map form. When the queries are strung together in an interdependent manor, the power becomes even more evident. For example, in this analysis we want to know which counties have the highest amounts of oil feedstocks available AND proximity to waterways AND proximity to rail transport AND proximity to major electrical transmission lines. Objectives Using GIS we will create a series of maps depicting the county/counties where conditions favorable to the location of a possible value-added biodiesel production facility in Mississippi exist. With these maps, one will be able to visually evaluate sites 6

8 based on defined criteria. With the creation of these GIS datasets, future refinements to the weighing of criteria and considerations of what other elements might be considered essential or influential in site suitability will also be made possible. Methodology The data and information for this project are required to be compatible with the existing GIS efforts of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA). MDA uses a map projection unique to Mississippi known as the Mississippi Trans-Mercator projection (MSTM) also known as the MARIS projection after the state agency which serves as the GIS data clearinghouse for the state. MARIS (Mississippi Automated Resource Information System) is the base data source for most every statewide GIS effort in Mississippi. Working with MDA and MARIS, base data layers were assembled for; ) County borders ) Major Rivers and Ports ) Major highways 4) Active Rail lines ) Major electrical transmission lines These layers serve as the base map data for the analysis of oil feedstock availability. Oil feedstock sources were compiled from two sources for this study. First, from the Alcorn State University portion of the Mississippi Biodiesel Feasibility Study the total potential biodiesel production in gallons per county was spatially enabled for use in the GIS. This data was based on available grease from restaurants as reported by the two 7

9 leading recycling plants of the state, Griffin Industries, Inc. (Jackson, MS) and Gold Coast Commodities, Inc. (Brandon, MS). The second source was from the estimate of soybean production for Mississippi as provided by the Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Service. The soybean estimates were tabulated as thousands of bushels per county. Counties with production considered relatively insignificant were combined in groups to tally the statewide total and ignored for this study as their individual productions were not significant enough to affect the sighting of a potential value-added biodiesel production facility. According to a pending report from Frazier-Barnes & Associates, % of total soybean production would be available as a raw material for the production of biodiesel. Another statistic from this report is that. gallons of biodiesel can be produced from each bushel of soybeans. This study used these methods to convert total soybean production into probable biodiesel production in gallons. This allows for a single number per county to estimate the total amount of biodiesel likely to be produced in a county per year. Appendix A is attached to demonstrate how soybean production for other years to show that unlike many crops, soybean production is relatively consistent from year to year and fairly stable indicator of future supply. GIS analysis uses a weighting of criteria to determine the location(s) best suited to a specific purpose. Proximity to infrastructure important to a potential biodiesel facility was then weighted in the following manor. If a county contained a port, it was given a value of due to the potential importance of waterways as a means of bringing in raw materials. If a county contained a navigable waterway, it was given a value of. This is slightly less than that of a port as the presence of a navigable waterway is considered important, but not as desirable as a port where materials could be more readily loaded and 8

10 unloaded. The maximum score given for a county containing both a port and navigable waterway is as to have a port one must also have a navigable waterway. When a county contained an active rail line it was given a score of. Rail transport is considered as a preferable travel mode for the large volumes of materials that would presumably enter and leave such a facility. Counties containing a major highway were given a score of. This score is lower as truck travel would be more costly and less desirable than rail or water, but presence of a major highway deserves more points than those counties with none. Presence of a major electrical transmission line in a county was given a score of. Availability of large amounts of electricity is considered crucial for a potential biodiesel production facility. This weighting method would allow a county a maximum score of seven (7). Port Score Navigable Waterway Score Active Railroad Score Major Highway Score Transmission Line Score Table Weighting Values for Infrastructure Proximity Total scores for proximity to important infrastructure are then overlain the total biodiesel production potential per county to show which counties might be most suited to a value-added biodiesel production facility. This method is common in GIS analysis. The weighting of the criteria can easily be changed for future analysis as well as the exclusion 9

11 of existing criteria or the inclusion of other factors not considered in this study. This study as with most st run GIS analysis is meant to be a preliminary visualization tool which will more than likely lead to further refinements for a more detailed and precise examination of the factors to be taken into consideration for the location of a biodiesel production facility. A series of maps is then created to show first the individual components under consideration and then the final resulting combination. For this study, ArcView version. and ArcInfo version 8. from Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) were used as the GIS software. Results Map shows the Total Annual Potential Biodiesel Production from Yellow Grease per County in Gallons based on the information collected by Alcorn State University using restaurants as the source for oil feedstocks. Map displays the Estimated Production of Soybeans per County in Bushels. Map is of the Total Annual Potential Biodiesel Production per County in Gallons based on county soybean production. Map 4 is the Combined Total Annual Potential Biodiesel Production per County in Gallons based on the combination of restaurants and soybeans as oil feedstocks. Map depicts the Navigable Waterways and Ports of Mississippi with weighted scores. Map 6 shows the Active Rail Lines in Mississippi with Weighted Scores. Map 7 is of Major Highways of Mississippi with Weighted Scores. Map 8 shows the Major Electrical Transmission Lines and Power Companies of Mississippi with Weighted Scores. Map 9 shows the Total Weighted Scores based on a County s Containing

12 Infrastructure Elements Considered Favorable to Biodiesel Production. Map is the final product depicting Cumulative Weighted Scores over the Combined Total Annual Potential Biodiesel Production per County in Gallons. Based on visual analysis of Map depicting Cumulative Weighted Scores based over the Combined Total Potential Biodiesel Production per County in Gallons two counties [Washington & Bolivar] tie for being most suited to biodiesel production based on our criteria of proximity to supply of oil feedstock and supporting infrastructure. Leake County was the least desirable county based on these same criteria. Most GIS analyses lead to a tweaking of the weighting of criteria and multiple scenarios in an effort to best determine a site s comparative advantage for a specific purpose. The GIS data from this analysis will be given to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) for future use and analysis as needed.

13 Total Annual Potential Biodiesel Production from Yellow Grease per County in Gallons 98,68 Based on Data from Alcorn State University,749 9,94 48,46 7,4 4,49,96 8,8 4,66 4, 6,96,496 6,67 8,7 6,77 4,77 7,7 9,49 6,89,9 9,7 4,66 4,8 4,7 4,4 7,8 6,7 99,4,74,46,97,7 4,6 7,69 Gallons 7-8,76 8,77 8,46 8,47 6,7 6,74 -,749,7,98,99 49, 49, - 8,948 9, 4,7 7 6,7,48,67,68 44,,8 9,66,79 6,7, 8,46 6,47 4, 86, 7,486,9 8,76 4, 4,77,88 8,9 4,,6,88,7 6,677,77,98 6,6 9,4,86 8,74 7,448,7 77,98 8,4,7,88 N 46,94 8,687 6,6 7,897 49, 8,948, This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or updates@gri.msstate.edu This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Map : Total Potential Biodiesel Production (Restaurant)

14 Estimated Production of Soybeans per County in Bushels Bushels 4, 7, 7, -,,,, 96, 96, -,,,, 4,88, 4,88, - 6,848, 6,848, 488, 874,,64,,8, 4,6,,67, 96, 69, 8,,89,,, 8, 84,,84, 9, 4, 4,, 4, 7, 9,, 47, 99, 9, 6, 77, 8, 77, 77, 46, 99, 9, 94, 67,, 6, 6, N This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or updates@gri.msstate.edu This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Map : Estimated Soybean Production

15 Total Annual Potential Biodiesel Production from Soybeans per County in Gallons,8,6 Based on Soybean Production Potential Gallons -,9,9 -,4,4 9, 9, 4, 4, -,4,7,4,7,96,4,96,4 -,8,6,96,4 74, 9,,476,,97,7,, 4, 96, 6, 88,,4,7,4,8 8,4 7, 49, 9,9 9,,,9 7, 69, 8,9 7,6,4, 9, 6, 9,6 89, 87, 6, 87, 47,8 8, 74,, 79,6,9 N This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or updates@gri.msstate.edu This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Map : Total Potential Biodiesel Production (Soybeans) 4

16 Combined Total Annual Potential Biodiesel Production per County in Gallons Total Potential Gallons 9,7-8,46 8,47 9,66 9,664 -,,6 47,67 47,68 8,969 8,97 -,986,6,986,7 -,8,8,8,8,,99 749,6 9,87,48,,94,986,6,47,49 47,67,8 6,77 8,969,6,46,4,8 87,766 46,6 47,47 7, 66, 6, 86, 4,446,7 4,67,7 74,7 8,46 8,76 4,77 7, 9,4 6,89 9,7 6,47 4,,88 79,67 64,,,74, 6,7,49 8,4 9,46,77,98,47 9,77 77,9 9,7,9 9,66,68,8,79 44, 6,7 8,9 7,486,6,9,7 4,,88 6,6 9,4,86 8,74 7,448,7,88 77,98 46,94 8,4,7 6,6 7,897 8,687 N,,8,948 49, This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Map 4: Combined Total Potential Biodiesel Production

17 Navigable Waterways and Ports of Mississippi With Weighting Scores Ports Navigable Waterways Counties Port of Rosedale Port of Vicksburg Port of Claiborne County Natchez Adams County Port Greenville Port Commission/Terminal Adams Wilkinson Bolivar Claiborne Jefferson Franklin Washington Amite Sharkey N Issaquena Warren Yazoo County Port Copiah Lincoln Coahoma Sunflower Humphreys Hinds Pike Tunica Quitman Tallahatchie Leflore Holmes Desoto Panola Yazoo Carroll Simpson Lawrence Tate Madison Marion Walthall Rankin Jefferson Davis Marshall Lafayette Yalobusha Calhoun Grenada Webster Montgomery Covington Lamar Attala Leake Scott Smith Pearl River Hancock Port Bienville Industrial Park Yellow Creek State Inland Port Benton Union Tippah Alcorn Port Itawamba Port of Amory City of Aberdeen Port Forrest Pontotoc Chickasaw Clay Port of Clay County Oktibbeha Choctaw Neshoba Jones Biloxi Port Port of Gulfport Lee Lowndes County Port Winston Newton Jasper Perry Stone Harrison This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or updates@gri.msstate.edu This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Prentiss Kemper Clarke Wayne Greene Jackson Monroe Noxubee Lauderdale George Itawamba Lowndes Tishomingo Port of Pascagoula Map : Navigable Waterways and Ports 6

18 7 Active Rail Lines in Mississippi This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Counties Railroads N With Weighted Scores Map 6: Active Rail Lines

19 8 Major Highways of Mississippi This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Counties U.S. Highway Interstate N With Weighted Scores Map 7: Major Highways

20 Note: Due to the sensitive nature of the data, Map 8 is not available in this report. Map 8: Major Electric Transmission Lines 9

21 Total Weighted Scores based on a County Containing Infrastructure Elements Considered Favorable to Biodiesel Production Cumulative Score - Least Favorable Most Favorable N Scoring Criteria Port Navigable Waterway Active Railroad Major Highway - Transmission Line This map prepared by Extension GRI, Mississippi State University. Extension GRI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Extension GRI requests your assistance. Please contact Extension GRI with any corrections at or updates@gri.msstate.edu This map printed September,. Copyright Mississippi State University. All Rights Reserved. Map 9: Combined Weighted Scores

22 Map : Cumulative Weighted Scores Over the Total Combined Potential

23 Appendices From: Links demonstrating the relative stability of soybean production when compared to cotton and corn Also Average yields of soybeans per county over a five year period (998-) And State wide acreage, yield, production, and value of soybeans from 989 to (preliminary).