An introduction to An introduction to data sources and data sources and possible projects.possible projects.

Marc AlbrechtMarc Albrecht

University of Nebraska at KearneyUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney

Department of BiologyDepartment of Biology

GIS Projects: An OverviewGIS Projects: An Overview

Large companies and institutions Large companies and institutions are undertaking huge, complex GIS are undertaking huge, complex GIS projects all the time. You have run projects all the time. You have run across some examples. The across some examples. The purpose here is to show you some purpose here is to show you some of data sources available to you, of data sources available to you, and some project ideas that might and some project ideas that might be feasible in the classroom.be feasible in the classroom.

OK, Ready to get started?OK, Ready to get started?

Part III: Data sources:Part III: Data sources:– I use many Nebraska sources in this presentation I use many Nebraska sources in this presentation

because it is the state where I currently live. because it is the state where I currently live. Therefore I am most familiar with it resources. Most Therefore I am most familiar with it resources. Most states now have similar resources, as you find them, states now have similar resources, as you find them, please share with us!please share with us!

– Keep in mind the good part:Keep in mind the good part: most data from state most data from state and Federal sources are FREE (maybe cost of and Federal sources are FREE (maybe cost of duplication).duplication).

Its not really free of course, but it does make you feel like Its not really free of course, but it does make you feel like your tax dollars are working for you!your tax dollars are working for you!

To Start a To Start a Project you Project you

need:need:

1.1. GIS software:GIS software: ArcExplorer or other ArcExplorer or other

free GIS viewerfree GIS viewer

2.2. Basemaps:Basemaps: Examples coming up!Examples coming up!

3.3. Your data:Your data: If you have some, and If you have some, and

can input it – that’s can input it – that’s great!great!

4.4. Training:Training: If you can find attend If you can find attend

a class - or do it a class - or do it online, it helps!online, it helps!

Data Sources Some base maps that Some base maps that

are available (many are available (many for for free!free!).).– 1. Topographic maps1. Topographic maps

for Nebraska have been for Nebraska have been digitized by the digitized by the Nebraska Nebraska Conservation and SurveConservation and Survey Division Servicey Division Service

– Other maps are Other maps are available from state available from state agencies or through the agencies or through the USGS map download arUSGS map download areaea

2. Aerial Photos

National Aerial Photography National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) Program (NAPP) – Cycle 1 ended 1991Cycle 1 ended 1991– Cycle 2 started in 1999.Cycle 2 started in 1999. – Resolution is about 2 meters!Resolution is about 2 meters!– One file like this is about 25 Mb One file like this is about 25 Mb

in sizein size– ButBut also available as JPEGs at also available as JPEGs at

about 2.5 Mb eachabout 2.5 Mb each– note: the next slide may take a note: the next slide may take a

moment to load!moment to load! Publicly available through the Publicly available through the

USGS siteUSGS site and, for Nebraska, and, for Nebraska, through the Department of through the Department of Natural Resources (Natural Resources (DNRDNR))

These images These images are are georeferenced georeferenced and corrected and corrected for the Earth’s for the Earth’s curvature. curvature.

Make great Make great basemapsbasemaps

Can be used Can be used imported into imported into ArcExplorer (the ArcExplorer (the free viewer that free viewer that you have)!you have)!

This type of corrected aerial photo is more This type of corrected aerial photo is more properly called a Digital Orthographic properly called a Digital Orthographic

ImageImage These images can be These images can be

overlaidoverlaid with other with other data layers.data layers.– On-screen digitizing On-screen digitizing

can be done – you can be done – you trace areas on the trace areas on the basemap you want to basemap you want to demarcate. demarcate.

– Area and perimeter Area and perimeter are given by the GIS are given by the GIS software as you draw software as you draw lines or polygons. This lines or polygons. This feature can help feature can help explore habitat explore habitat fragments for fragments for example. example.

3. TIGER Files: Topologically 3. TIGER Files: Topologically Integrated Encoding and Integrated Encoding and

Referencing System Referencing System

TIGER files are created TIGER files are created by the Census Bureauby the Census Bureau– Very detailedVery detailed– Lots of informationLots of information– Can use specific layers Can use specific layers

(road types, railroads, (road types, railroads, hydrography, street and hydrography, street and highway names, lengths highway names, lengths and types). and types).

Downloadable from Nebraska Downloadable from Nebraska NRC (next slide), NRC (next slide), ESRIESRI, and , and the the Census BureauCensus Bureau. .

4. Other Base Maps4. Other Base Maps The The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources Nebraska Department of Natural Resources has has

many base maps to download!many base maps to download!– Soil type (2 acre resolution), Land use (8 acre resolution)Soil type (2 acre resolution), Land use (8 acre resolution)– Erosion maps, Section lines/points, contours (30 m res)Erosion maps, Section lines/points, contours (30 m res)– NRD, hydrologic, and political boundaries and more!NRD, hydrologic, and political boundaries and more!– How to get there? Go to their site - select ‘Subjects A-Z’, How to get there? Go to their site - select ‘Subjects A-Z’,

then ‘D’ (for Data Bank), then ‘Spatial/GIS databases’then ‘D’ (for Data Bank), then ‘Spatial/GIS databases’ Look for ‘GIS databases request site’Look for ‘GIS databases request site’ You just request a map type and location and give your email, they You just request a map type and location and give your email, they

email you a ftp address when the job is processed!email you a ftp address when the job is processed!

Part IV: Ongoing Projects Part IV: Ongoing Projects and other Softwareand other Software

USGS GAP AnalysUSGS GAP Analysisis– 33 States and 33 States and

200 agencies 200 agencies involvedinvolved

– Digital mapping Digital mapping of vegetation and of vegetation and vertebrate vertebrate animal animal distributions in distributions in the USAthe USA

– invertebrates too invertebrates too maybe!maybe!

A Geographic Approachto Planning for Biological

Diversity

Software Software ExamplesExamples Example:Example: Animal Animal

Movement ToolsMovement Tools– a set of tools published a set of tools published

by the Alaska USGS office by the Alaska USGS office to work with ESRI’s to work with ESRI’s ArcView applicationArcView application

– These tools aid in These tools aid in determining home determining home ranges, population sizes, ranges, population sizes, and paths of movement. and paths of movement. This moves GIS from This moves GIS from being mapping to being mapping to doing doing analysis!analysis!

– FREEFREE

Example outputs

This tool lets you select points on a digital This tool lets you select points on a digital photo and it gives back the exact photo and it gives back the exact

location!location!

Water Resources ExampleWater Resources Example Hydrology ToolsHydrology Tools

– Some tools are Some tools are included with included with ArcView applicationArcView application

– Other tools are Other tools are available through available through third party vendorsthird party vendors

– Operations such as Operations such as determining determining watershed watershed boundaries, flows, boundaries, flows, flood-prone areas can flood-prone areas can be donebe done

What Other Software is out What Other Software is out there?there?

EPA “BASINS” (this is a hyperlink)

– 500 Mb database per state– Free– hooks into ArcView (required)– 3.0 is current and very useful version– useful for researchers to citizens

groups!

Spatially Distributed Data in BASINSSpatially Distributed Data in BASINS– Land use/land coverLand use/land cover

Urbanized areas Urbanized areas

Populated place locations Populated place locations

Reach File, version 1 (RF1) and RF3 Alpha Reach File, version 1 (RF1) and RF3 Alpha StreamsStreams

Soils (STATSGO) Soils (STATSGO)

Elevation (Digital Elevation Models) Elevation (Digital Elevation Models)

Major roads Major roads

USGS hydrologic unit boundaries (accounting USGS hydrologic unit boundaries (accounting unit, cataloging unit) unit, cataloging unit)

Drinking water supply sites Drinking water supply sites

Dam sites Dam sites

EPA regional, state, and county boundaries EPA regional, state, and county boundaries

Federal and Indian Lands Federal and Indian Lands

EcoregionsEcoregions

Environmental Monitoring Data in Environmental Monitoring Data in BASINSBASINS

Water quality monitoring station summariesWater quality monitoring station summaries Water quality observation dataWater quality observation data Bacteria monitoring station summaries Bacteria monitoring station summaries Weather station sites Weather station sites (and years of data!)(and years of data!) USGS gauging stationsUSGS gauging stations Fish and wildlife advisories Fish and wildlife advisories National sediment inventory (NSI) National sediment inventory (NSI) Shellfish classified areas Shellfish classified areas Clean Water Needs SurveyClean Water Needs Survey

BASIN Point Source DataBASIN Point Source Data Permit Compliance System (PCS) sites and Permit Compliance System (PCS) sites and

computed loadingscomputed loadings Industrial Facilities Discharge (IFD) sitesIndustrial Facilities Discharge (IFD) sites Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sitesToxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites Superfund National Priority List (NPL) sites Superfund National Priority List (NPL) sites Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA) sites (RCRA) sites Mineral Industry LocationsMineral Industry Locations

Examples of BASINS OutputExamples of BASINS Output

BASINS Nonpoint Pollution BASINS Nonpoint Pollution ModelModel

Part V: Example ProjectsPart V: Example Projects Project StepsProject Steps

– 1. Specify Goals1. Specify Goals– 2. Obtain best 2. Obtain best

base maps possiblebase maps possible– 3. Acquire remote 3. Acquire remote

sensing imagery sensing imagery (e.g. aerial photos)(e.g. aerial photos)

– 4. Add your data4. Add your data– 5. Analyze the 5. Analyze the

data, manipulate data, manipulate the themes, add to the themes, add to or change the data. or change the data.

Site Characterization Site Characterization A. If a site needs A. If a site needs

to be ‘shown off’, to be ‘shown off’, GIS is a great GIS is a great way to do it. way to do it.

B. Aerial photos B. Aerial photos and line overlays and line overlays are an effective are an effective way of way of familiarizing familiarizing people with an people with an area (e.g. part of area (e.g. part of Buffalo County, Buffalo County, NE to the right)NE to the right)

Same Image – closer and different Same Image – closer and different color scheme color scheme

(click to see it on the web!)(click to see it on the web!)

Example: Fort Robinson, Example: Fort Robinson, NENE

Fort Robinson, NE is a Fort Robinson, NE is a historical site with historical site with over 100 years of over 100 years of active service. We active service. We are:are:– Trail mappingTrail mapping– Verifying boundariesVerifying boundaries– Possible future projects Possible future projects

include include Vegetation mappingVegetation mapping Game animal Game animal

managementmanagement Range quality use Range quality use

and management and management planningplanning

Aerial photo with roads and Aerial photo with roads and pointspoints

(copy and zoom in on this image – lots of detail!)(copy and zoom in on this image – lots of detail!)

Contours Overlaying Aerial Contours Overlaying Aerial PhotoPhoto

Aerial Aerial photo and photo and interpolateinterpolated surface d surface

from from contourscontours

Possible GIS ProjectsPossible GIS Projects 1. Endangered Species

Conservation– A. field research and literature search

to quantify the environmental requirements of a species

– B. Use GIS database to identify areas that fulfill all requirements (layers, queries, buffers) for the species

– C. Overlay known distributions of the species to identify areas under threat and to locate any uninhabited but candidate locations possible introduction of new populations

Dusky seaside sparrow (1987)

2. Site Selection2. Site Selection– A. Determine the requirements of the building, the A. Determine the requirements of the building, the

conservation reserve, or housing development as conservation reserve, or housing development as specifically as possiblespecifically as possible

Land parcel of a certain sizeLand parcel of a certain size Within certain distance of features, such as Within certain distance of features, such as

railroad, power lines, highwayrailroad, power lines, highway– B. Assemble base maps containing data on the B. Assemble base maps containing data on the

criteria parameterscriteria parameters– C. Query map layers to identify areas that fit the C. Query map layers to identify areas that fit the

criteria from step Acriteria from step A– D. Framing the criteria and assembling the correct D. Framing the criteria and assembling the correct

data is the challenge here. This process can be data is the challenge here. This process can be automated and this speeds up government and automated and this speeds up government and business action. business action.

Thanks for viewing this presentation. If you Thanks for viewing this presentation. If you want to learn more about doing your own GIS want to learn more about doing your own GIS projects, and more capabilities of GIS please projects, and more capabilities of GIS please emailemail me. me.

Images in this presentation are from the Images in this presentation are from the ESRI websiteESRI website, the , the Nebraska DNRNebraska DNR, the , the Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Agency, and the , and the U.S. Geological ServiceU.S. Geological Service. Please visit their sites to learn more! . Please visit their sites to learn more! Thanks. 11/99. Thanks. 11/99.