GIS

GIS Projects and Analysis

The Klamath Network uses GIS and remote sensing data for many of its inventory and monitoring projects. GIS has and will continue to play a key role in the selection of monitoring sites, spatial analysis, map development, and general support. Some of the key projects and analysis we are currently working on are listed below.

Monitoring Program

The monitoring program has made extensive use of GIS in preparation for field sampling.  While developing the Network Monitoring Plan and Vital Sign Monitoring Protocols there have been many complicated questions about the sampling design and site selection process. The Network has implemented the various GIS methodologies listed below to create a statically defensible model for the site selection process implemented in several protocols. Click on the maps for a larger image.

Site Suitability - One of the realities of developing a monitoring program for ten vital signs over six parks is the knowledge that we can not sample everything. Limited time, crew safety, funding, and a small staff are factors that must be considered when developing a sampling scheme that can be implemented over the long term. To account for these issues, the Network has utilized GIS methodologies to limit the sampling frame of several of our monitoring projects. The sampling design for the landbird, vegetation, water quality, and aquatic communities protocols incorporates a distance buffer of greater than 100 meters and less then 1000 meters from a road or trail. We also remove any areas where the hill slope is greater than 30 degrees for safety purposes.
Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) - In addition to the site suitability, we are using a statistical methodology called Generalized Random Tessellation Stratification to help establish a spatially balanced sampling design for our site selection process. Since we can only implement a minimal number of sites for each protocol, it is important to ensure those sites cover as much of the parks as possible. Using GRTS gives a statistically valid method to make certain sites are distributed throughout the park.

 

 

Inventory Program

12 Basic Inventories - The Klamath Network is currently working with the National I&M office to develop data layers for several of the basic inventories with spatial components; these include base cartography, vegetation, geology, soils, water, climate, air, and species distributions. The Klamath Network is taking the lead on several of these project. Our office also provides GIS support for ongoing Network-level projects, including wetland distribution mapping and invasive species mapping efforts.

Vegetation Mapping - The National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program objective is to produce consistent vegetation maps for approximately 270 park units. These maps and associated products must meet the following standards: use the hierarchical National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Standard; use a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 ha; use the UTM projection in NAD83 and GRS80 datum; and meet a thematic accuracy of 80%. A schedule and completed products for this project can be found on the Vegetation Inventory Page of this web site.

Legacy Photograph Georeferencing - The Klamath Network, with the assistance of retired NPS employee Barney Stoffel has completed georeference legacy aerial photographs for Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lava Beds National Monument. These photographs can be compared to more recent images to look at changes to the parks over time.