robert cheetham14 may 2003: reva maia conference notice: the views expressed here are those of the...

Robert Cheetham14 May 2003: ReVA MAIA Conference

avencia<spatial_modeling />

<geoservices /><web_development />

Notice: The views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Scientists in EPA have prepared the EPA sections, and those sections have been reviewed in accordance with EPA’s peer and administrative review policies and approved for presentation and publication. The EPA contributed funding to the construction of this website but is not responsible for it's contents. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.




Smart Conservation™:Automating a ConservationValue Assessment Model

Robert CheethamAvencia Inc.

Clare BillettNatural Lands Trust

Funding provided by William Penn FoundationPA DCNRPA DEP




What is Smart Conservation?

• A method of identifying, evaluating and prioritizing landscape resources for their potential habitat health and viability.

• A weighted hierarchical model for evaluating arbitrary parcels of land in Southeast Pennsylvania for their conservation value.

TM




Objectives

1. Score any arbitrary polygon in Piedmont region

2. Use publicly available data (mostly)3. Generate Comparable Scores4. Make all assessments available to all

users5. Integrate data with processes and make

available to organizations that don’t have access to analysis tools.




Partner Relationships

- Manage the Project - Convene Science Forum committees - Develop methodologies - Acquire data sets

NLT

- Develop Software Components - Develop Algorithms - Collaborate w/ NLT on methodologies - Install and maintain softwareAvencia

- Assess data sets - Develop assessment methodologies - Approve methodologies and weights

Science Forum

PASDA

- Host web site and data - Primary Data Provider

Plant Criteria

Weighted Hierarchical Model

Source: Microsoft

<?xml version="1.0"?>



<model>

<user id=""/>

<site id="26"/>

<components>

<component id="FinalScore" label="Final Score" weight="1" score="4.32248001008288" display="true">

<component id="Mammals" label="Mammals" weight="15" score="4.39732593215804" display="true">

<component id="MPotentialHabitatSize" label="Potential Habitat Size" weight="17" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="MPotentialHabitatShape" label="Potential Habitat Shape" weight="13" score="0.587051895130942" display="true"/>

<component id="MSpecialHabitat" label="Special Habitat" weight="13" score="7" display="true"/>

<component id="MLandscapeMatrix" label="Landscape Matrix" weight="23.5" score="0" display="true"/>

<component id="MInterestLevel" label="Interest Level" weight="10" score="7" display="true"/>

<component id="MPotentialSpeciesRichness" label="Potential Species Richness" weight="13.5" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

<component id="MPotentialConservationValue" label="Potential Conservation Value" weight="10" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="Plants" label="Plants" weight="20" score="6.70319445153518" display="true">

<component id="PNonDisturbance" label="Non-disturbance" weight="17.2" score="10" display="true">

<component id="PNDHuman" label="Human" weight="33.3" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="PNDInvasivePlant" label="Invasive Plant" weight="33.3" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="PNDDeer" label="Deer" weight="33.3" score="10" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="PCommunityDiversity" label="Community Diversity" weight="10.3" score="5" display="true"/>

<component id="PPotentialHabitatSize" label="Potential Habitat Size" weight="12.1" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="PPotentialHabitatShape" label="Potential Habitat Shape" weight="3.5" score="0.587186612676846" display="true"/>

<component id="PLandscapeMatrix" label="Landscape Matrix" weight="8.6" score="0" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="Birds" label="Birds" weight="15" score="4.65108337402344" display="true">

<component id="BLandscapeMatrix" label="Landscape Matrix" weight="25" score="0" display="true"/>

<component id="BPotentialHabitatSize" label="Potential Habitat Size" weight="25" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="BPotentialSpeciesRichness" label="Potential Species Richness" weight="25" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

<component id="BPotentialConservationValue" label="Potential Conservation Value" weight="25" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="Aquatics" label="Aquatics" weight="15" score="4.62908699362623" display="true">

<component id="AquRiparianCorridorCover" label="Riparian Corridor Cover" weight="10" score="6.25" display="true">

<component id="AquRCC1_2" label="1st and 2nd Order" weight="62.5" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="AquRCC3_4_5" label="3rd, 4th and 5th Order" weight="31.25" score="0" display="true"/>

<component id="AquRCC6_" label="6th+ Order" weight="6.25" score="0" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="AquRiparianCorridorFragmentation" label="Riparian Corridor Fragmentation" weight="10" score="6.25" display="true">

<component id="AquRCFrag1_2" label="1st and 2nd Order" weight="62.5" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="AquRCFrag3_4_5" label="3rd, 4th and 5th Order" weight="31.25" score="0" display="true"/>

<component id="AquRCFrag6_" label="6th+ Order" weight="6.25" score="0" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="AquWatershedLandUse" label="Watershed Land Use" weight="10" score="8.34398746490479" display="true"/>

<component id="AquCommunityHealth" label="Aquatic Community Health" weight="10" score="10" display="true"/>

<component id="AquLocationSiteWatershed" label="Location of Site in Watershed" weight="10" score="0.837754829584176" display="true"/>

<component id="AquPotentialSpeciesRichness" label="Potential Species Richness" weight="10" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

<component id="AquPotentialConservationValue" label="Potential Conservation Value" weight="10" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

<component id="AquWetlandInventory" label="Wetland Inventory" weight="10" score="0" display="true"/>

<component id="AquFloodplains" label="Floodplains" weight="10" score="0" display="true"/>

<component id="AquForestedWaterQuality" label="Forested Water Quality" weight="10" score="6.00479414567964" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="ReptilesAmphibians" label="Reptiles and Amphibians" weight="10" score="4.30216674804687" display="true">

<component id="HerpPotentialSpeciesRichness" label="Potential Species Richness" weight="50" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

<component id="HerpPotentialConservationValue" label="Potential Conservation Value" weight="50" score="4.30216674804687" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="LandscapeEcology" label="Landscape Ecology" weight="10" score="5" display="true">

<component id="StewardshipLandDistance" label="Stewardship Land Distance" weight="50" score="5" display="true"/>

<component id="StewardshipLandDensity" label="Stewardship Land Density" weight="50" score="5" display="true"/>

</component>

<component id="Rarity" label="Rarity" weight="15" score="0" display="true">

<component id="RareAnimals" label="Rare Animals" weight="40" score="0" display="false">

<component id="RAOnsite" label="Rare Animal Species Onsite" weight="67" score="0" display="false"/>

<component id="RAOffsite" label="Rare Animal Species Offsite" weight="33" score="0" display="false"/>

</component>

<component id="RarePlants" label="Rare Plant Species" weight="40" score="0" display="false">

<component id="RPOnsite" label="Onsite" weight="67" score="0" display="false"/>

<component id="RPOffsite" label="Offsite" weight="33" score="0" display="false"/>

</component>

<component id="RarePlantCommunities" label="Rare Plant Communities" weight="20" score="0" display="false">

<component id="RPCOnsite" label="Onsite" weight="67" score="0" display="false"/>

<component id="RPCOffsite" label="Offsite" weight="33" score="0" display="false"/>

</component>

</component>

</component>

</components>

</model>




Presentation

How the web-based tool is used

Technology Architecture




Register as a New User




Grant Access




Using the Tool

OFFLINE USER

SmartConservation Model - User Processversion 0.95 - 5 May 2003

ONLINE USER

DetermineBoundaries

for Site

Draw BoundaryLogon to

SCM System

ValidateBoundary; SaveBoundary and

Site Parameters

SYSTEM

Calculate SiteCore GRIDs,

PDFs, Images

Complete SiteProfile

Perform 0.5 daySite Field Work

Perform 0.5 dayPlant Survey

Enter Results ofSite Field Work

Save

Check AquaticCommunity

Health (303d)

DEP Survey:if unassessed

stream

OrderCalculations

Calculate Scoresbased on GRIDsand other data

Review Scores Compare Scores

Save Scores




Login

DetermineBoundaries

for Site

Draw BoundaryLogin




Step 1: Define the Site Boundary

• Available for a 15 county area.Determine

Boundariesfor Site

Draw BoundaryLogin





• Zoom to a County scale and choose a municipality.

Draw Boundary


Site Parameters


PDFs, Images






• USGS Quad maps, aerial photography, species richness and other layers available as user zooms in.

Draw Boundary


Site Parameters


PDFs, Images






Draw Boundary


Site Parameters


PDFs, Images






• Use simple polygon digitizing tools to outline site boundary.

Draw Boundary


Site Parameters


PDFs, Images






• After polygon is completed, system will determine which geographic areas are encompassed by the site, create reference PDF documents, store the information in a new database entry, and create a set of shapefiles and GRID files for later use.

Draw Boundary


Site Parameters


PDFs, Images





Step 2: Define Site Properties• Fill in

address and other notes about the site.






Field Survey

• Land Cover Adjustments• Assess Deer, Human and Invasive

disturbance• Perform Plant Community Health survey




Fill out Field Worksheet

© 2000, Natural Lands Trust,Inc. Smart Conservation Phase One. All Rights Reserved

CSF Fieldwork Checklist for (site name)_______________________________________________

PLANT COMMUNITY CLASSIFICATION (PLANT GROUP, HERPS GROUP, INVERT GROUP)Using the table of contents from Fike's Natural Communities of PA, determine which applies

L < 3 Plant communities on-siteM = 3 Plant communities on-siteH > 3 Plant communities on-site

PLEASE LIST 1 .2 . 3 .others .Community names:Approx. size

**** This will also be checked for habitat types required in INVERTS analysis*

DEGREE OF HUMAN DISTURBANCE (PLANT GROUP)Determine what applies, using 'impact to be any of:

human caused erosion, old building foundations, old roads, timber removal, recent agriculture, stream modifications, plantations, etcL > 30 % Area of siteM > 10 < 30 % Area of siteH <10 % Area of site

DEGREE OF INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES IMPACT (PLANT GROUP, INVERT GROUP)Determine percent cover of 'killer threat' * invasive exotic species at site:

L > 40 % Area of site showing impact by any one or multiple speciesM > 10 < 40 % Area of site showing impact by any one or multiple speciesH < 10 % Area of site showing impact by any one or multiple species

DEGREE OF DEER BROWSE IMPACT (PLANT GROUP, INVERT GROUP)Determine appropriate level of browse:

L Abundant: Distinct deer browse line and/or significant plant species composition impactsM Common: Some deer browse evident; some plant species composition impactsH Occasional: Shrub and understory in good condition; mostly native plants; lots of regeneration







Step 3: Land Cover Adjustments

• Adjustments can be made to the local land use in order to make the local land survey more accurate. PDF files are made available to generate maps for the site survey.






Step 4: Enter Field Data• Field data

collection and some subjective criteria are entered manually.






Step 5: Plant Community Health






Step 6: Aquatic Community Health

• Check 303d aquatic community health data. If the 303d data for on-site streams has not been collected, ask to call local DEP office to have stream evaluated.

Check AquaticCommunity

Health (303d)

DEP Survey:if unassessed

stream




Step 7: Automated Calculations

• Perform several automated calculations, each of which produces a score and/or map for one or more taxa groups.

RequestCalculations

Calculate Scoresbased on GRIDsand other data

Review Scores




Confirm Model Weights





Search• Can search full

database as well.





Presentation

How the web-based tool is used





Technology Components

DatabasesMS AccessGRIDArcSDE/DB2

SoftwareESRI ArcGISESRI ArcIMSArcObjectsGraphicsServer (chart generation)Windows Server 2000Internet Information Services (IIS)Visual Basic





Web BrowserClient

Internet

Web BrowserClient

Web BrowserClient

Web andApplication

Server Router

Firewall

PASDA

ArcSDE layerdatabase

Shapefiledatabase

Database Server

GRIDdatabase

SAN Disk array

NLT Avencia

DeveloperWorkstations

GISWorkstation

GISWorkstation

GISWorkstation

Router Router




Technology Challenges

• Web-based system is being accessed by multiple users simultaneously— Limit the Number of Users— Precalculate— Limit Extent— Queue requests for asynchronous calculation





• Software Licensing— Partnering with PASDA— Worked with ESRI for special licensing arrangement





• Changing Requirements – changing data, changing model— Modular— Hierarchical— Use XML— Trained users before system complete— Versioning is still tough.





• Security and Privacy— PNDI data, in particular, was very sensitive— Information security procedures (firewall, intrusion

detection, parameter scrubbing)— Password and approval of registration by NLT

required.— Open question of the extent to which results should

be private.




Still to do….

• Smart Conservation Lite – no field survey

• Re-test and calibrate model using well-known sites – model has changed a lot in past year and we need to recalibrate weights

• Generalize model to other parts of PA – will require re-calibration of some criteria to account for differences in other ecoregions.

• Generalize the approach to other domains.




Real Estate Explorer (REX)• Re-use

components of Smart Conservation in a different domain.




Real Estate Explorer (REX)




Data Sources

Data SetsOrdered StreamsOrdered WaterbodiesFloodplainsHydric SoilsDEMDEM SlopesDEM Flow AccumulationDEM Flow DirectionDOQQMRLCPNDI (TNC Heritage Data Elements)GAP data for Mammals, Fish, Birds –

8 composite data setsImportant Bird Areas303d (‘Aquatic Community Health’)Development ThreatActive RailwaysGDT StreetsInterior Forest habitat

NWISurface GeologyConservation Stewardship LandsForested Watershed

Various cosmetic layers

Field SurveyPlant Community HealthInvasive DisturbanceDeer DisturbanceHuman DisturbanceLand Cover Adjustments




Acknowledgements

PASDAConservation Science Partners

PA DEPPA DCNRWilliam Penn Foundation

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

Pennsylvania Environmental CouncilBrandywine Conservancy




Smart Conservation Model:Assessing Conservation Value

in SE Pennsylvania

Robert CheethamAvencia Inc.

Clare BillettNatural Lands Trust

Funding provided by William Penn Foundation

PA DCNRPA DEP

robert cheetham14 may 2003: reva maia conference notice: the views expressed here are those of the...

Documents