My research focuses on examining the effects and distribution of soil properties such as pore-size distribution and soil architecture on soil-water flux. In addition, I am also generally interested in arid zone soils and particularly interested in the formation and mineralogy of soil inorganic carbon and the genesis and biogeochemical cycling of soils in desert mountains. Key research includes: (1) understanding the relationship between mineral dissolution, pedogenic carbonate, and hillslope hydrology; (2) effects of soil architecture on hydraulic properties; (3) relating lateral distributions of inorganic carbon, nitrate, and soluble salts to surface and near-surface properties; and (4) using process-based modeling to predict landscape-scale hydraulic properties from the distribution of inorganic carbon. Most recently, I, along with several colleagues and graduate students, have pioneered the use of MLT technology to scan the surface topography of soil aggregates and excavation walls to non-destructively measure soil properties such as bulk density, porosity, and roughness. Using this technology, soil architecture can be linked quantitatively to macropore flow and solute transport. This research will help to better elucidate soil-landscape response to past and future environmental conditions.

Halfen, A.F., T. White, T.A. Slocum, Hirmas, D.R., D. McDermott, P. Atchley, W.C. Johnson, S. Egbert, and A. Gilbreath. 2013. A new stereoscopic (3D) media database and teaching strategy for use in large-lecture introductory geoscience courses. Journal of Geoscience Education. (In review)

Hirmas, D.R., T.A. Slocum, A.F. Halfen, T. White, E. Zautner, P. Atchley, H. Liu,W.C. Johnson, S. Egbert, and D. McDermott. 2013. Effects of seating location and stereoscopic display on learning outcomes in an introductory physical geography class. Journal of Geoscience Education. (Accepted with revisions)

Hirmas, D.R., D. Giménez, V. Subroy, and B.F. Platt. 2013. Fractal distribution of mass from the millimeter- to decimeter-scale in two soils under native and restored tallgrass prairie. Geoderma. (In press)

Eck, D.V., D.R. Hirmas, and D. Giménez. 2013. Quantifying soil structure from field excavation walls using multistripe laser triangulation scanning. Soil Science Society of America Journal. (In press)

Kraus, C., D. Hirmas, and J. Roberts. Microbially indurated rammed earth: A long awaited next phase of earthen architecture. 2013. In Proceedings of the 2013 ARCC, The Visibility of Research, Charlotte, NC. 27-30 Mar. 2013. Architectural Research Centers Consortium and UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture, Charlotte, NC.

Hirmas, D.R. 2013. A simple method for removing artifacts from moist fine-textured soil faces. Soil Science Society of America Journal 77:591-593.

Platt, B.F., S.T. Hasiotis, and D.R. Hirmas. 2012. Empirical determination of physical controls on megafaunal footprint formation through neoichnological experiments with elephants. PALAIOS 27:725-737.

Subroy, V., D. Giménez, D.R. Hirmas, and P. Takhistov. 2012. On determining soil aggregate bulk density by displacement in two immiscible liquids. Soil Science Society of America Journal 76:1212-1216.

Hirmas, D.R., B.F. Platt, and S.T. Hasiotis. 2012. Determination of calcite and dolomite content in soils and paleosols by continuous coulometric titration. Soil Science Society of America Journal 76:1100-1106.

Wysocki, D.A., P.J. Schoeneberger, D.R. Hirmas, and H.E. LaGarry. 2011. Geomorphology of Soil Landscapes. p. 29-1􀀀29-26. In P.M. Huang, Y. Li, and M.E. Sumner (eds.) Handbook of Soil Sciences: Properties and Processes, 2nd ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Hirmas, D.R., R.C. Graham, and K.J. Kendrick. 2011. Soil-geomorphic significance of land surface characteristics in an arid mountain range, Mojave Desert, USA. Catena 87:408-420. Hirmas, D.R., and R.C. Graham. 2011. Pedogenesis and soil-geomorphic relationships in an arid mountain range, Mojave Desert, California. Soil Science Society of America Journal 75:192-206.

Platt, B.F., S.T. Hasiotis, and D.R. Hirmas. 2010. Use of low-cost multistripe laser triangulation scanning technology for three-dimensional, quantitative paleoichnological and neoichnological studies. Journal of Sedimentary Research 80:590-610.

Hirmas, D.R., C. Amrhein, and R.C. Graham. 2010. Spatial and process-based modeling of soil inorganic carbon storage in an arid piedmont. Geoderma 154:486-494.