8000

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8000
• Author: Werth, L. F., et al.
• Title: Developing a Geographic Information System for Resources Monitoring on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: R-93-20,
• Copyright Material: NO

Objectives
The primary objective of this report is to discuss the development of the GCES/GIS data base
and its use as a tool for long-term monitoring in the Grand Canyon. The GCES/GIS data
base is being developed for long term monitoring, special studies, and archiving information
concerning the Grand Canyon.
Long term monitoring is here defined as "measuring the change over time in vegetation,
geology, cultural resource areas, and habitat for rare and endangered species every 3 to 5
years."
Special studies includes the nesting sites of bald eagles near Nankoweap Creek, the habitat
for the humpback chub, and other resource specific studies.
Archiving consists of storing graphic, tabular, and text data by geographic coordinates and/or
river mile. This archiving includes many of the historic papers and reports that have been
written on the Grand Canyon.
CONCLUSIONS
In the development of the GCES/GIS data base, many issues were addressed. In working
with these issues, standards were established, some of which have already been discussed
in this paper. It is important to note that the standards for both the contributed data sets
and the survey control network have been initiated.
Contributing scientists have to be aware of the factors that will influence their data and its
integration with the GCES/GIS data base. It must be stressed that the methodology of data
development depends on the final use of the product. If the data are to be used for long term
monitoring, accuracy and thus repeatability are important. Various levels of accuracy
necessitate different methodologies for data base development. If repeatability is an issue,
the data development methodology must be standardized for each monitoring cycle.
Metadata (data about data) that complements the FGDC draft standards must be in place
and will be required with all contributed data.
The data base is delivered to GCES as each site is completed. The deliverables included
digital tapes, mylar map sheets for each site, color infrared aerial photographs, and a final
report. The final report explains how the data base was developed and how to use it for long
term monitoring and special studies. The data base is reviewed by GCES and integrated
with the GCES SIM, (Scientific Information Management) data base. The Remote Sensing
and Geographic Information Section has completed and distributed monitoring sites No. 1
through 5 to both the GCES and NPS. The completion priority is:
2