»Analytical Tools
The Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) is developing models and interactive tools for use in developing sampling designs, and to process, simulate, and display various types of data. The tools presented below consist of downloadable executable files and accompanying documention. Additional tools will be posted as they are developed.
Landscape Access Model
A first step in crafting a sampling design is to determine the portion of
a landscape that is accessible. NCPN has developed a model that relies on GIS-derived
raster layers of topography and transportation networks to determine accessibility and
hiking distance from roads to each landscape cell. The documentation describes the basic
features of the Landscape Accessibility Model modules, including input requirements,
calculations, and output. The executable consists of two modules coded in C.
Landscape Accessibility Model – documentation (PDF, 301 KB)
Landscape Accessibility Model – trail distances from roads (60 KB)
Landscape Accessibility Model – landscape access and hiking distance (60 KB)
Sampling Frame Model
A critical feature of survey sampling is the delineation of the population
to survey as a finite list of non-overlapping elements. This list of elements is known as
a sampling frame, and serves as the basis for selecting sampling sites. NCPN uses a
randomly-oriented grid of points to define the centroid of elements. Methods for generating
the NCPN sampling frame in a park unit are described in the documentation; a custom C
program is used to generate the sampling frame.
Sampling Frame Model – documentation (PDF, 52 KB)
Sampling Frame Model – executable (72 KB)
Transect Orientation Model
The NCPN has developed a customized model that relies on GIS-derived raster layers
of slope and aspect to derive UTM coordinates of transect end-points given a centroid coordinate
and parallel-to-contour transect orientation. The model, called TRANSORI (Transect Orientation),
is coded in C and runs on standard PC computers.
Transect Orientation Model – documentation (PDF, 63 KB)
Transect Orientation Model – executable (64 KB)
Dissolved Oxygen and pH Calculator
The Dissolved Oxygen and pH Calculator was designed to make Dissolved
Oxygen (DO) and pH calibration in the field easier and more accurate.
The dissolved oxygen calculator produces the expected saturation DO value (mg/L) for a given
temperature, barometric pressure and conductivity and converts a post calibration measured DO reading
to %DO saturation.
The pH calculator computes a temperature compensated pH value for calibrating probes at
non-standard temperatures. This utility is most useful for calibrating probes that do not
have built in temperature compensation (please contact your probe manufacturer for further
details). In practice the calculator can be run on a PDA in the field, or in the office
for non-field applications.
Dissolved Oxygen and pH Calculator – documentation (238 KB)
Dissolved Oxygen and pH – calculator (184 KB)
Most Probable Number Calculator
The Most Probable Number (MPN) calculator uses table values to
‘look-up’ MPN and confidence interval bounds for the Quanti-tray 2000 system of bacterial
enumeration for total coliform bacteria and E. Coli.
Most Probable Number Calculator – documentation (29 KB)
Most Probable Number – calculator (180 KB)
Data Tools
Database Export
Exportdb.mdb is a utility written in Microsoft Access that will export all data tables in a selected database.
Download Documentation (16 KB)
Download Exportdb.mdb [332K]
Directory List
ListFiles.mdb is a utility written in Microsoft Access that will provide a query listing of all file names in a selected directory.
Download Documentation (7 KB)
Download ListFiles.mdb [180K]
Data Management I Climate Charts I WQ Charts I GIS Page I NatureBib (NPS Only) I Tools I Species Lists