Essays in Spatial Analysis of Land Development and Recreation Demand

This dissertation considers three topics under the themes of wetland restoration, urban sprawl, and recreation demand employing spatial data and analysis. A key question addressed in the first essay is how we can identify priority areas for wetlands restoration along the Louisiana coast under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act by estimating amenity values received by nearby residents from hypothetical wetlands restoration projects. The second essay evaluates the effectiveness of alternative land-use policy variables for controlling development in a sprawling metropolitan area during two extreme market conditions. The third essay estimates the effect on consumer welfare from improved satisfaction of recreation information availability.