Connecting Science and Management:

An information value chain

NPS 2008 GIS/Data Management Conference

April 2, 2008

Complex Environment

The NPS is “confronted with increasingly complex and challenging issues that require broad-based understanding of the status and trends of each Park’s natural resources as a basis for making decisions, working with other agencies, and communicating with the public to protect Park natural systems and native species.”

- From science.nature.nps.gov/im/

Numerous studies highlight threats – both inside and outside Park borders

A Crucial Role

NPS GIS and Data Managers play a crucial role in developing and communicating the information

that addresses this need

Technology Needs

Visualization tools, interactive products Paradigm shift: Google and Google

maps New tools and techniques to extract

content from dissimilar data sets

Science Needs Greater range of spatial data options,

including ecological information and predictive models

Improved estimates of viability Ability to measure changes over time

and attribute those changes to specific threats

Ability to summarize those changes using indicators of ecosystem condition

Integration of socio-economic data

Institutional Context

Larger, more challenging initiatives Expectation of collaboration and

sharing Emphasis on quality control Expectation of free and open

access High value placed on keeping

control in hands of data providers, especially through distributed architectures

Complexity Leads to Challenges

Biological systems are inherently complex Sheer size and geographic distribution of

the Park units Complex decision-making processes

© Charlie Brown Photos

Keep it Simple

Information professionals increase their chances of both mission and

financial success if they use proven techniques to summarize that complexity in discreet and

recognizable steps.

Not rocket science !

By organizing your work into a series of concepts that build on each other,

a “value chain”

you can demonstrate how you deliver products and services that benefit decision makers at multiple levels.

NPS and NatureServe have a lot in common

Distributed Networks of Programs

Puerto Rico

Need for quality and consistency

Taxonomic reconciliation Handling sensitive data Dealing with spatial uncertainty Setting and observing standards

We work together mapping vegetation

of the National Parks

Field data collection

Data Preparation and Transformation

Data Analysis

Data storage and Q/C

PLOT SIZE• 400 sq. m. for Forests and Woodlands• 100 sq. m. for Shrubland and Herbaceous

Vegetation

LOCATION DATA• recorded to ≤ 10 m accuracy with GPS unit

VEGETATION DATA • Presence and cover of all vascular taxa at six

height strata• Measurements of all woody stems ≥ 2.5 cm

DBH

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA • Topographic Position• Cover of surface substrates (wood, bedrock,

boulders, etc.)• Slope• Aspect• Soil samples

Standard data collection methods

Standard data storage system

Final products, Voyageurs National ParkLBC - Black Spruce/Leatherleaf Semi-treed Bog MAP_CODE LBCMAP_DESC Black Spruce/Leatherleaf Semi-treed Bog ASSN_NAME Picea mariana / Chamaedaphne calyculata / Sphagnum spp. Dwarf-shrublandASSN_CNAME Black Spruce / Leatherleaf Semi-treed Bog ASSN_CEGL CEGL005218ALL_NAME Chamaedaphne calyculata Saturated Dwarf-shrubland AllianceALL_CNAME Leatherleaf Saturated Dwarf-shrubland AllianceALL_KEY A.1092NVCS_CODE IV.A.1.N.g.CLASS Dwarf-shrubland (IV)SUBCLASS Evergreen Dwarf-shrubland (IV.A)GROUP Needle-leaved or Microphyllous Evergreen Dwarf-shrubland (IV.A.1)SUBGROUP Natural/Semi-natural (IV.A.1.N)FORMATION Saturated Needle-leaved or Microphyllous Evergreen Dwarf-shrubland (IV.A.1.N.g)ECO_GROUP BogsECO_SUBGRP Shrub BogsMNCC open sphagnum bog (intermediate and raised subtypes)NWON_FEC V38+NWON_WET W25LUC_II 61 - Forested WetlandCOMMENT1 From large peatland complexes to small confined basins. Similar to LB map unit, however with

conifers 10-25% cover (conifers may be as low as 2-3 meters in height).COMMENT2 Mapped as BBX when ericaceous mat is broken up due to beaver activity. Can grade into BSL and

LB.

Results further inform national view

Other Areas of Cooperation

National T&E Species database

Essential information to report on progress towards GIPRA goals

Key ecological attributes and integrity factors

Seamless network of protected areasWood Stork, G4 N3

Parks Canada + NatureServe

Increased PCA ability to report and manage biodiversity

• Standards both technical and scientific

• Capacity : to manage biodiversity data and systems; to synthesis data into conservation units

• Software : Biotics, Observation Module plus ICE

• Science : Taxonomy, data models

Cost effective + partnership building

18

State NHPs

Image courtesy of Parks Canada

Using Element Occurrence Information

• SAR monitoring and recovery

• Land Management (trails, roads – infrastructure change etc)

• Ecological Integrity monitoring

• Environmental Assessments

• etc

Ultimate goal is to inform decisions

“A flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and

nobody wants to do maintenance.”

Kurt Vonnegut

Data Updates: Changes to Data Keep on Coming

Keep abreast of scientific advancements and regulatory changes that impact species and ecological data.

Including: names classification descriptions distribution conservation

status ranks

More Data!

Quality System Tools

Help screens Online knowledge base Methodology Training &

companion CD Software routines Data exchange

documentation Benchmark data content

standards Data sharing agreements

FGDC / NBII Standard Metadata

Describe characteristics of the data

Training offered at NatureServe Conferences

FGDC compliant metadata delivered with data products Includes the NBII

Biological Metadata Extension

National and International Standards

US Forest Service and BLM sensitive species

US Fish and Wildlife Service candidates for listing under the ESA

General Status of Species in Canada US Department of Transportation

ecologically sensitive areas Federal Geographic Data Committee IUCN

Supporting and Training Users

Training staff and partners on methods and database use.

Supporting users to implement the methodology.

Developing a detailed knowledge base.

Hosting conferences to discuss and understand user needs.

Developing “Help” documentation for database users.

Consistent application of methodology requires well trained practitioners and ongoing technical support.

Keeping up with Technology

A never-ending proposition

Data Management:More than Meets the Eye

What you see:

What you don’t:

Data updates Reconciliation

of member program data

Quality control & assurance

New data development

Scientific methodology refinement

User support & training

Software development

Website updates & upgrades

Keep it Simple

Describe a process that moves forward and leads to a recognized goal

Convey a sense of connection between activities

Make the link tospecific programs

Not rocket science !

Information Value Chain

Data collection (field inventory); data recording

Data management and quality assurance

Conservation expertise

and analysis

Information access and interoperability

Decision Support

Scientific standards and methods

ConservationDecisions

Distribution and Use

Data Management

Collection

Value chain shows connections between goals and activities

Data collection (field inventory); data recording (ATBI)

Data management and quality assurance (NPSpecies, GIS Theme Manager, Metadata)

Conservation expertise and analysis

Information access and interoperability (NPS Data Store, NPSpecies Online)

Decision Support

Scientific standards and methods (I&M Protocols, NR Database Template)

ConservationDecisions

Distribution and Use

Data Management

Collection

?

Use a Value Chain to increase your own job success

Don’t be a victim of bias against investments in information management

Think about how to articulate the underlying value of your work and its contribution to larger goals

Use imagery and consistency in your messaging to establish and support your work, and achieve your program’s goals

"It seems to me time for the country to take account of its natural resources, and to inquire how long they are likely to last. We are prosperous now; we should not forget that it will be just as important to our descendants to be prosperous in their time.”

Theodore Roosevelt, White House Conference of Governors, May 1908

©Doug Backlund, South Dakota NHP

Inspiration