Louisa A. Kramer
Louisa Kramer is a GIS and Data Technician with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Louisa orchestrates GIS data and performs visual remote sensing verifications for the regularly updated United States Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) and United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USPVDB). She has experience as a licensed professional engineer and in cartography, scientific studies, water resources (hydrology and hydraulics), geospatial energy data, and data management.
Professional Experience
Geographic Information and Data Technician, USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Physical Scientist Technician and GIS Specialist, USGS Geoscience and Environmental Change Science Center
GIS Assistant Intern, State of Colorado, Division of Water Resources (DWR)
Water Resources Civil Engineer, Parsons Corporation
Civil Engineer in Training, Proudfoot Associates
Education and Certifications
Coursera Training: Johns Hopkins University - The Data Scientist's Toolbox and R Programming (Getting and Cleaning Data, Exploratory Data Analysis, Reproducible Research)
Graduate Certification, Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems, University of Denver, University College, Denver, CO
B.S. Civil Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Science and Products
Georectified polygon database of ground-mounted large-scale solar photovoltaic sites in the United States
Over 4,400 large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSPV) facilities operate in the United States as of December 2021, representing more than 60 gigawatts of electric energy capacity. Of these, over 3,900 are ground-mounted LSPV facilities with capacities of 1 MWdc or more. Ground mounted LSPV installations continue increasing, with more than 400 projects appearing online in 2021 alone; however, a comprehe
Authors
Sydny K. Fujita, Zachary H. Ancona, Louisa Kramer, Mary Straka, Tandie E. Gautreau, Dana Robson, Christopher P. Garrity, Ben Hoen, James E. Diffendorfer
A continuously updated, geospatially rectified database of utility-scale wind turbines in the United States
Nearly 60,000 utility-scale wind turbines are installed in the United States as of July, 2019, representing over 97 gigawatts of electric power capacity; US wind turbine installations continue to grow at a rapid pace. Yet, until April 2018, no publicly-available, regularly updated data source existed to describe those turbines and their locations. Under a cooperative research and development agree
Authors
Joesph Rand, Louisa A. Kramer, Christopher P. Garrity, Ben Hoen, James E. Diffendorfer, Hannah Hunt, Michael Spears
Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities
Wind energy generation causes transformation of landscapes as new roads, pads, and transmission lines are constructed. Limiting the landscape change and fragmentation caused by these facilities likely minimizes impacts to biodiversity and sensitive wildlife species. We examined the effects of wind energy facilities’ geographic context on changes in landscape patterns. We digitized the footprints o
Authors
James E. Diffendorfer, Monica Dorning, Jolene Keen, Louisa Kramer, Robert Taylor
United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (ver. 2.0, August 2024)
Over 4,400 large scale commercial solar facilities are in operation in the United States as of December, 2021, representing over 60 gigawatts of electric power capacity; of these, over 3,900 are ground-mounted with capacities of 1MW or more, specified as large scale solar photovoltaic (LSPV) facilities. LSPV ground-mounted installations continue to grow, with over 400 projects coming online in 202
United States Wind Turbine Database
This data provides locations and technical specifications of legacy and current versions of the United States Wind Turbines database. Almost all of which are utility-scale. Utility-scale turbines are ones that generate power and feed it into the grid, supplying a utility with energy. They are usually much larger than turbines that would feed a homeowner or business. Each release, typically done
In Support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-Bat Species Status Assessment: Predicted Wind Take Allocated To Hibernacula Each Year Under Current and Future Scenarios
Through the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), United States Geological Survey (USGS) provided technical and science support to assist in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' (USFWS) Species Status Assessment ('SSA") for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). USGS facilitated the SSA data call,
Data release for Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities
Wind energy generation causes transformation of landscapes as new roads, pads, and transmission lines are constructed. We mapped, quantified, and analyzed the effects of facilities' geographic context on road networks and changes in landscape patterns by digitizing the footprints of 39 wind facilities and the surrounding land cover using high-resolution imagery of before and after construction. Th
Science and Products
Georectified polygon database of ground-mounted large-scale solar photovoltaic sites in the United States
Over 4,400 large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSPV) facilities operate in the United States as of December 2021, representing more than 60 gigawatts of electric energy capacity. Of these, over 3,900 are ground-mounted LSPV facilities with capacities of 1 MWdc or more. Ground mounted LSPV installations continue increasing, with more than 400 projects appearing online in 2021 alone; however, a comprehe
Authors
Sydny K. Fujita, Zachary H. Ancona, Louisa Kramer, Mary Straka, Tandie E. Gautreau, Dana Robson, Christopher P. Garrity, Ben Hoen, James E. Diffendorfer
A continuously updated, geospatially rectified database of utility-scale wind turbines in the United States
Nearly 60,000 utility-scale wind turbines are installed in the United States as of July, 2019, representing over 97 gigawatts of electric power capacity; US wind turbine installations continue to grow at a rapid pace. Yet, until April 2018, no publicly-available, regularly updated data source existed to describe those turbines and their locations. Under a cooperative research and development agree
Authors
Joesph Rand, Louisa A. Kramer, Christopher P. Garrity, Ben Hoen, James E. Diffendorfer, Hannah Hunt, Michael Spears
Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities
Wind energy generation causes transformation of landscapes as new roads, pads, and transmission lines are constructed. Limiting the landscape change and fragmentation caused by these facilities likely minimizes impacts to biodiversity and sensitive wildlife species. We examined the effects of wind energy facilities’ geographic context on changes in landscape patterns. We digitized the footprints o
Authors
James E. Diffendorfer, Monica Dorning, Jolene Keen, Louisa Kramer, Robert Taylor
United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (ver. 2.0, August 2024)
Over 4,400 large scale commercial solar facilities are in operation in the United States as of December, 2021, representing over 60 gigawatts of electric power capacity; of these, over 3,900 are ground-mounted with capacities of 1MW or more, specified as large scale solar photovoltaic (LSPV) facilities. LSPV ground-mounted installations continue to grow, with over 400 projects coming online in 202
United States Wind Turbine Database
This data provides locations and technical specifications of legacy and current versions of the United States Wind Turbines database. Almost all of which are utility-scale. Utility-scale turbines are ones that generate power and feed it into the grid, supplying a utility with energy. They are usually much larger than turbines that would feed a homeowner or business. Each release, typically done
In Support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-Bat Species Status Assessment: Predicted Wind Take Allocated To Hibernacula Each Year Under Current and Future Scenarios
Through the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), United States Geological Survey (USGS) provided technical and science support to assist in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' (USFWS) Species Status Assessment ('SSA") for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). USGS facilitated the SSA data call,
Data release for Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities
Wind energy generation causes transformation of landscapes as new roads, pads, and transmission lines are constructed. We mapped, quantified, and analyzed the effects of facilities' geographic context on road networks and changes in landscape patterns by digitizing the footprints of 39 wind facilities and the surrounding land cover using high-resolution imagery of before and after construction. Th