Modeling and Mapping Underwater Monitoring Sites

Modeling and Mapping Underwater Monitoring Sites

NPS I&M South Florida/Caribbean NetworkMiami, FL

NPS I&M South Florida/Caribbean NetworkMiami, FL

Judd PattersonBrian Witcher

Lindsay Wieland

• Started in 1999 with Virgin Islands-Southern Florida Cluster

• Merged into South Florida/Caribbean Network and expanded

Coral MonitoringCoral Monitoring

Monitor how coral cover and species diversity are changing over

time…SFCN I&M

• ~70 miles to the W of Key West, FL

• 64,657 acres (99.8% underwater)

• Significant marine resources including well preserved coral reefs

• Remote with low visitation (<80,000/yr)

Dry Tortugas NPDry Tortugas NP

SFCN I&M

Journey to DRTO(ArcScene/ArcGlobe)

Journey to DRTO(ArcScene/ArcGlobe)

SFCN I&M

The Next StepThe Next Step

SFCN I&M

• Utilize Visual Nature Studio for more complex and visually appealing animations/stills

• Render clouds, waves, reflections, atmospheric effects, etc.

• 3D models with textures for landmarks such as Fort Jefferson and Loggerhead Key lighthouse – Google Sketchup

• 46 sq. mile no-take no-anchor preserve

• established Jan. 2007

Research Natural Area (RNA)Research Natural Area (RNA)

• SFCN goal to compare monitoring data from inside/outside the RNA

SFCN I&M

• Spatial data – Coordinates for 157 monitoring sites

• Tabular data – Field data collected during site visits

• Digital photographs – Photo from each cardinal direction (taken at each site)

Data SourcesData Sources

Combine!

SFCN I&M

Thumbs PlusThumbs Plus

SFCN I&M

Thumbs Plus to ArcGISThumbs Plus to ArcGIS

SFCN I&M

1. Open the Thumbs Plus database in Access (will open despite non-mdb file extension)

2. Design a query to extract needed data

3. Establish an ODBC connection to the Thumbs Plus database in ArcCatalog

4. Add the query to the ArcGIS Table of Contents

5. Join the query to your spatial features

Customizing ArcMapCustomizing ArcMap

SFCN I&M

Customizing ArcMapCustomizing ArcMap

SFCN I&M

Customizing ArcMapCustomizing ArcMap

SFCN I&M

Customizing ArcMapCustomizing ArcMap

SFCN I&M

Attribute info. froma geodatabase

From Thumbs Plusdatabase

Custom FormCustom Form

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Thanks!

Questions?

SFCN I&M