An introduction to data An introduction to data sources and possible sources and possible

projects.projects.

Marc AlbrechtMarc AlbrechtUniversity of Nebraska at KearneyUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney

Department of BiologyDepartment of Biology

GIS Projects: An OverviewGIS Projects: An Overview

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

To Start a Project To Start a Project you need:you need:

■ GIS software:GIS software: ArcExplorer or other free ArcExplorer or other free

GIS viewerGIS viewer

■ Basemaps:Basemaps: Examples coming up!Examples coming up!

■ Your data:Your data: If you have some, and If you have some, and

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

■ Training:Training: If you can find attend a If you can find attend a

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

Nebraska have been Nebraska have been digitized by the Nebraska digitized by the Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division ServiceConservation and Survey Division Service

– Other maps are available Other maps are available from state agencies or from state agencies or through the through the USGS map download areaUSGS map download area

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))

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, You just request a map type and location and give your email,

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

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

■ USGS GAP AnalysisUSGS GAP Analysis– 33 States and 200 33 States and 200

agencies involvedagencies involved– Digital mapping of Digital mapping of

vegetation and vegetation and vertebrate animal vertebrate animal distributions in the distributions in the USAUSA

– invertebrates too invertebrates too maybe!maybe!

A Geographic Approachto Planning for Biological 

Diversity

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

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

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

maps possiblemaps 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 way GIS is a great way to do it. 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, NEExample: Fort Robinson, NE

■ Fort Robinson, NE is a Fort Robinson, NE is a historical site with over historical site with over 100 years of active 100 years of active service. We are:service. We 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 pointsAerial photo with roads and points(copy and zoom in on this image – lots of detail!)(copy and zoom in on this image – lots of detail!)

Contours Overlaying Aerial PhotoContours Overlaying Aerial Photo

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 want to Thanks for viewing this presentation. If you want to learn more about doing your own GIS projects, and learn more about doing your own GIS projects, and more capabilities of GIS please 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! Thanks. . Please visit their sites to learn more! Thanks. 11/99. 11/99.