Green Space has crafted custom scripts to download the most current data and archive it on our servers for future reference and is setting up a GeoServer for spatial access to the data layers.  Further, Green Space is working on ways to enable the project team and other parties to easily access and load data into the own custom maps.  These data and analysis offer an impartial analysis of the state of the spill.

Green Space GIS helped Dr. Beilfuss integrate the wildlife survey data with GIS datasets to produce the maps that will be used by researchers, wildlife and habitat managers, and environmental educators to help make long term decisions about species protection and use.

The audience for these maps was pretty broad – including everyone from wildlife biologists to local villagers.  We decided that it would be really useful if the maps contained more than just the wildlife locations; so we made a series of maps that can serve multiple roles for outreach, education, research and management planning.
- Dorn Moore, Cartographer and Director of Green Space GIS, LLC

Each of the maps contains photos of the species to help laymen get a sense of which animals are being mapped. Further, as these maps may be used in the field with local people, the photographs make it easier to work across language and literacy barriers. The use of a false color satellite image as the background also helps users to identify broad patterns in habitat preference by the species.

ESRI has also made available two extensions to ArcView: ArcGIS 3D Analyst and ArcGIS Spatial Analyst. Each of these extensions is accompanied by an online training course of 18 to 21 hours.

Although these tools require a fair amount of familiarity with technology, databases, and geographic concepts; many organizations are working on ways to leverage these tools to make their organizations more effective.

Further, we are streamlining the way updates reach partners. Technologies change so rapidly that it’s hard for busy individuals to keep up. We’re here to help and were able to help our clients make sense of it all without breaking the budget.

Google Earth/Maps and other great tools (e.g. UMapper, Yahoo Maps, and GeoServer) are bringing some pretty exciting mapping and spatial analysis tools to broader audiences every day. This is an exciting trend; the making of geography into something so commonplace, we barely think twice about it.

We’ve seen trends like this before. Before computers and computer based printing were commonplace, articles and reports were, frankly, pretty boring (even before you got to the reading part). There just weren’t a lot of option besides the litteral cut and paste. Now that anyone can insert a graph or image, use spot and full color, add captions and customize the wrap of the paragraph text, we have some pretty high standards for professional products. Professional graphic designers can really show their worth today.

In effect, having all the right tools doesn’t make you an artist.

We’re seeing the same thing in the mapping world. Great maps are a craft; an art form. They require someone who understands the art, technology and science.

At Green Space, we like to see ourselves as cartographic craftsmen

The management plan and out maps will help layout a vision for the long term future of the region and provide a sound basis for future activities.

In addition to the management plans, we may also be able to help produce several maps highlighting wildlife survey efforts to be performed this May.

Check back for updates and some samples of the maps as they come available.