Introduction to Mission:

Four Month ago a prosperous research and development firm approved funds to create a new research facility. This facility will include a community for the researchers and their families. To date all proposals for the location of this research facility and residential community have been rejected. The reasoning behind the rejections has been due to the site building “specialists” not paying attention to the list of requirements/criteria needed for the new building-residential site location. This research company has issued the statement that they are willing to pay top dollar for creative and detailed proposals on the four site locations they have initially selected.

Tasks that have been requested by company
to be included in the location report:

1. The first major concerns for the research facility and community is that the site be located near a plate tectonic boundary and that a description of this plate boundary be included in the report. If location is not close to a plate boundry they wish to know about the closest boundry to that location.
   
2. The second wish is that a famous dormant or active volcano be located near the proposed research facility site. If a volcano is not near the site they request that there be a major mountain or range of mountains near its facility. They request that a detailed report be given on this volcano or mountain.  The reason for the need of a volcano or mountain range is that much of the research carried out by this research company deals with the Earth’s geology.
   
3. The research facility and residential community must be built in an area that is accessible to an airport, major highway or ocean shipping. The research organization would like you to include in this report a brief summary of the climate. It is also important to also include a summary of the local nationality and culture associated with each location. To this date none of the original proposals have provided this information. This is one of the major reasons that the research firm has looked to you to research and report back to them about each of the proposed building site locations. Remember that this research company is very interested in a report about the geology and culture associated with each of the proposed building sites.

The Procedure:

Your group must decide which location will be the best new location site for the Research Company and associated community. The research company has requested that you a multimedia presentation on your site location. They would like you to examine each of the sites and rank them in order of preference from first to fourth place. Each location should include a detailed description of each location in your presentation. This presentation should include the use of technology (i.e. PowerPoint, movies etc) as well as orally presenting the material. It is also requested that each member submit a one page typed summary of their assigned location and explain the criteria requested for that location. You are asked to present your information to your fellow classmates before submitting it to the research director.

The Site Locations that you will need to be able to
explain to the group and researcher institution are:

Which of the four proposed research site locations is the best location for the new research building and community? The research firm asks that all criteria be explained in your choice and the sites listed in order of first through fourth.

• Seattle, Washington, with Mount Rainier USA, North America
• Big Island of Hawaii, with Mount Kilauea USA, North America
• Katmandu, Nepal, with Mount Everest, Tibet-China & Nepal, Asia
• Napels / Pompeii, Italy, with Mount Vesuvius, Europe

Criteria for Site Choice:

You as the specialist will needs to evaluate each proposed building site location based on the following criteria:

• The site is located near a plate tectonic boundary and that a description of this plate boundary be included in the report. If not close to a plate boundry they wish to know about the closest boundry to that location.
• Location of a nearby airport, highway or ocean port.  This is for transportation of scientists, families and research materials. You must be able to easily travel to and from site.
• Information about the areas climate and national culture(i.e the people & traditions) is of importance to the research company's evaluator. 
• The third wish is that a famous dormant or active volcano be located near the proposed research facility site. If a volcano is not near the site they request that there be a major mountain or range of mountains near its facility. They request that a detailed report be given on this volcano or mountain in the report.

URL Webpage Resources and Information
on each proposed research building site

Movies of Kilauea
http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/movies/Steves_Stuff/Kilauea_erz.html

USGS diagrams of the 4 main types of volcanoes
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/types.html

Dawing that compares a composite/stratovolcano with a shield volcano
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Imgs/Gif/VolcanoTypes/shield_vs_composite.gif

An interactive map up Everest- from the Tech Museum in San Jose, CA
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/everest/tour/tour.htm

Mt. Rainier facts according to Peakware
http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia/peaks/rainier.htm

Mt. Vesuvius facts according to Peakware
http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia/peaks/vesuvius.htm

Connect to real-time information on earthquakes, volcanic activities, and water.
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/explorer/topic_realtime.asp