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

4. Other Base Maps4. Other Base Maps The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources has The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources 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 USGS GAP AnalysisAnalysis– 33 States and 33 States and

200 agencies 200 agencies involvedinvolved

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

– invertebrates too invertebrates too maybe!maybe!

A Geographic Approachto Planning for Biological

Diversity

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

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)

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)

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 email me.email me.

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