GIS Seminar Presentations - Spring 2008
The seminar starts sharply at 12:10 p.m. and ends around 1:00 p.m. The GIS Lab is located in Room 526 at the College of Design.
February 18 – Ed van Ouwerkerk
Assistant Scientist
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, ISU
Field Selector for I-FARM
Abstract: I-FARM (http://i-farmtools.org) is a free web-based simulation model for farmers and decision makers. It evaluates changes in farm management in terms of environmental and economic effects. Result pages include product mass balances, inputs (seed, fertilizers, livestock feeds and manures), required labor and fuels, expected soil erosion, soil carbon sequestration, nutrient balances, subsidies, and farm income. Important program inputs are soil type and hill slope per field, and weather station location. To accommodate the program user a GIS-application has been added to I-FARM. The GIS application has layers that include roads, streams, railroads, elevation data (30 m raster DEM), imagery (ESRI on-line), soil databases (ISPAID and SSURGO), and weather station and ethanol plant locations. The GIS-module has been designed as a Microsoft .NET application (program language C#) that displays the maps through ArcGIS 9.2 Server technology. The user identifies farm fields by drawing polygons. The program then looks-up the dominant soil type and closest weather station location and calculates the average hill slope and field aspect, and field area. These field attributes are written in a SQL Server database table. Then I-FARM, which has been developed in another language (ASP VBScript), reads the field attributes from the SQL database and uses them in the simulations. CLIGEN 100-year generated weather data have been incorporated for all 2,500 US weather stations. I-FARM applied the USDA-NRCS SSURGO soil database, which is organized by county. SSURGO data are currently available in I-FARM for 38 states. Spatially explicit SSURGO shape-files have been converted into raster-files to accommodate calculations, currently for 4 states (Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont).
Cancelled: February 25 – Mike Tully
President
Aerial Services, Inc.
E-Docs Asset GIS & the Art of Spatial Information
Abstract: Geographic information systems (GIS) are great for capturing, storing, analyzing, and managing data and associated attributes of spatially referenced points on earth. In the strictest sense, GIS displays only geographical information. But have you ever considered other information being included? How about documents and assets - they have locations on earth. We can understand a wealth of information by adding spatial components.
Through this brief but informative presentation, we'll discuss GIS's expanding role and how spatial components can be added to far more than typical geographical information systems. As a frame work of this discussion, we'll discuss how Aerial Services' award winning GIS application, E-Docs Asset GIS, and solutions like it are able to:
- Tie disjointed paper and data information together to make organizations more effective
- Allows everyone within an organization to instantly find needed data and eliminates timely paper and digital file searches
- Organizes assets into a central database and ties them to spatial component
- Make all data accessible via a standard internet browser
March 3 – Paul Anderson
Professor
Department of Landscape Architecture, ISU
A participatory approach to assess the future of the bioeconomy in Greene County, Iowa
Abstract: The bioeconomy is changing the landscape of the Corn Belt region. Iowans are experiencing significant effects from the developing bioeconomy. Many, including Greene County residents, want to plan their future guided by knowledge of bioeconomic trends. In a six-month study, ISU Extension researchers used GIS technology and a Web-based survey to answer the question, “What should Greene County do to minimize the potentially negative impacts and maximize the positive prospects of the bioeconomy?” Our study included three major components: (1) assessment of potential feedstocks; (2) spatial analysis of transportation and infrastructure; and (3) Web-based survey. We used GIS technology to (a) document landscape characteristics; (b) model service areas of biorefineries; (c) estimate potential feedstocks in the service areas; (d) evaluate the condition of infrastructure in the service areas; and (e) develop scenarios of alternative futures for the survey. Based on study results, we developed recommendations for elected and business leaders to aid the strategic planning for the county:
- Explore production of perennial cellulosic crops as biofuel feedstocks
- Explore alternatives for livestock production and co-location
- Improve infrastructure in need of maintenance
- Address water quantity and quality concerns of residents
- Conduct a follow-up survey to detect trends and add statistical validity
March 10 – Eric Abrams
Spatial and GIS Coordinator
IT Division, Iowa Department of Transportation
A Look at Iowa DOT GIS Infrastructure
Abstract: In this session, we will examine how Iowa DOT is reaping the benefits of a centralized infrastructure for geospatial data. We will review Geospatial architecture, data storage and how data is used from Iowa DOT's infrastructure. Examples will include 5 year program, Linear Referencing System, Facilities and others.
March 24 – Chris Seeger, RLA, ASLA
Extension Landscape Architect & Assistant Professor
Department of Landscape Architecture, ISU
Volunteered Geographic Information in Planning and Design
Abstract: Providing adequate opportunities of public participation in the design process can often be a real challenge. However, it is important to include the public in the decision making process for community projects. Several geospatial tools and technologies available today can be adapted to help facilitate the collection of this information. The use of GIS tools and technologies for this type of data collection has often been referred to as Public Participation GIS or PPGIS. Recently, a new term, Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) has be coined to describe the process in which citizens whom do not necessarily have training in geospatial technologies are creating maps and mash-ups of spatial data. This presentation will discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of this new mapping phenomenon for design and planning professionals and will demonstrate examples of VGI projects currently being conducted by ISU extension as well as showcase a tool designed for 3D geospatial public participation.
March 31 – Scott Mattes & Pete Lovell
Geospatial Group
Howard R. Green Company
Mobile GIS: Extending GIS from the Office to the Field
Abstract: Mobile GIS is the means by which an individual can use a full-featured Geographic Information System (GIS) in the field to collect and edit an organization’s spatial database in near real-time. Through the use of mobile GIS, manual field data collection processes that were once time-consuming and error prone can now be accomplished much more efficiently, accurately, and thoroughly. This presentation will define mobile GIS, discuss typical mobile solutions used by the Howard R. Green Company, and illustrate how to integrate mobile GIS solutions with typical reporting applications to automate the data collection and presentation process. These mobile field applications can be a tremendous asset for projects requiring significant field data collection efforts and an integral part of a larger corporate Geographic Information System.
April 7 – Alan Jensen, AICP
GIS Extension Program
Iowa State University
A Proposal: Using GIS for Regional Siting of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in iowa
Abstract: Iowa is home to over 3,000 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs. The numbers of CAFOs have increased in recent years, raising environmental and rural quality of life concerns. The livestock industry is a major part of the Iowa economy, as also for many rural states.
As these operations proliferate, the risk of impacts on quality of life, water quality, water recreation and property values increases. The negative externalities may go beyond the borders of the operations themselves, beyond the boundaries of the county and of the state, finding their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
In Iowa, county governments are not authorized to regulate CAFOs. The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission has the statutory authority under Iowa Administrative Code 567-Chapter 65 to regulate CAFOs on a statewide basis. The primary regulatory tool is the “Master Matrix.” This matrix includes a criteria-based scoring system for permitting the building or expanding of confinement operations. These criteria are ideally suited for geographic information systems (GIS). This study approaches the issue on a county-wide geographic basis using GIS rather than a site specific basis as is presently done.
The Master Matrix assigns quantitative values to the required criteria for CAFO locations. These are readily mapped and identified with the corresponding values with GIS. By using GIS spatial analytical techniques, geographic areas can be identified as more or less suitable for CAFO development.
This study exams and applies these criteria utilizing a geographic information system on a rural county of Iowa. Suitable and unsuitable areas for CAFO development are identified. The specifics of Iowa law requires additional on-site measurements, but this method enables local authorities to rationally consider the reasonableness of such developments within their jurisdiction, both for the expansion of livestock production and for the protection of other valuable and community assets.
April 14 – Nora Ladjahasan
Assistant Scientist II
Institute for Design Research and Outreach, ISU
Downtown 3D Visualization
Abstract:Institute for Design Research & Outreach (IDRO) has been involved in 3D Downtown Visualization projects in the last 4 years. The institute has completed four communityviz projects (Altoona, Fort Madison, Mount Pleasant and Perry).
Viewing the downtown area in 3D and making changes of the buildings and landscaping are the goals of the project. It gives people a 3-D glimpse of their existing conditions and proposed future. With 3D virtual visioning, viewers can explore the area by using fly, drive or walk modes in different speeds. It gives the viewers the chance to think of how they can improve the design of the area by identifying the aesthetic relation ship of the building(s) and/or landscaping to the rest of the downtown area. It’s a powerful decision-making tool because it has a capability to alter some parts of the building and replace it with something else. You can even demolish a building and replace it with the desired infrastructure. Likewise, one can add/remove street furniture or trees using the Modelbuilder library. This tool has the potential to visually improve all aspects of the community: housing development, roads and landscaping, historic inventories/preservation & revitalize the downtown area. In so doing, one can view the new design even before it is being built.
There are several steps involved in the process: data collection and edits, GIS data creation, 3D Model Building, GIS visualization and demonstration. Each step will be discussed in the presentation. 3D visualization is done through the GIS environment requiring other softwares such as ArcGIS 9.2, Community Viz, Sitebuilder 3D, Sketch Up, MultiGen ModelBuilder 3D, Adobe Photoshop, and PremierPro. A movie depicting the downtown and shareable files are the two important outputs of the project. A sample of each one of them will be shown.
April 21 – Shannon Thol
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
GIS Certificate Candidate, Spring 2008
The why of where: Using GIS to investigate habitat use by threatened reptile species in a sand prairie ecosystem
Abstract:The long-term persistence of numerous plant and animal species requires effective conservation strategies informed by scientific investigations. Two such species are the western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) and ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornate), both of which reside in short-grass and sand prairie habitats. Given the extent to which these habitat types have declined and become fragmented, population-level conservation decisions for these species will be critical. In Illinois, isolated populations reside in a relict sand prairie (Carroll and Whiteside Counties, IL) used highly by humans and managed through controlled burns and vegetation removal. Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies were used to describe patterns of habitat by these species. Capture locations for individuals have been monitored for the past nine years using global positioning system technology. Spatial autocorrelation, and patch-level habitat use patterns were analyzed using GIS. For this, capture locations were mapped on high-resolution orthophotos of the area and the proportion of habitat use was compared to availability. Patterns of local habitat use were also described for 2007 capture locations by recording vegetation composition one square meter around each site. Preliminary data suggests that habitat use is non-random by these species. This information may inform effective conservation and management actions.
April 28 – Jin Zhang
Department of Geographical and Atmospoheric Sciences
GIS Certificate Candidate, Spring 2008
Landscape Change in Broken Kettle Grassland near Westfield, Iowa
Abstract: Broken Kettle Grassland is a conservation area in Loess Hill, which is famous of its thick loess deposit. Broken Kettle Grassland preserves the vast native communities and ecological diversity, which is distinct through the vast area of farmland in Iowa. However, Broken Kettle Grassland has experienced an extensive tree invasion since Euro-settlement, which may threaten native prairie wildlife and decrease diversity. The Natural Conservancy has taken some prairie management recently, including burning, grazing and tree cutting management. This project is conduct to evaluate the landscape changes within 100 years, and the efficiency of TNC prairie management. To accomplish this purpose, I will (1) study spatial distribution of prairie and forest communities in the past and present, according the aerial photos of 1930, 2002, 2007 and the topography map made in1960s, (2) model plant communities within prairie and forest using spatial data on edaphic factors.
May 5 – James Sun
Department of Community & Regional Planning
GIS Certificate Candidate, Spring 2008
Use and Abuse of Crash Data
Abstract: Traffic safety research includes an extensive array of research areas and the most prominent of them is crash data analysis. Based on the massive crash data and related information, it is possible to draw different even questionable conclusions based on different analysis perspective. The purpose of this study is to introduce the appropriate use of crash data during corridor access management plans. Analysis will be done based on crash data of the selected traffic corridors by different types (e.g: fatality, injury or PDO ), time period (e.g: 1-year data, 5-year data) , etc. in order to evaluate the most potential crash sites along the corridor in order to carry out improvement plans.
May 5 – Hafize Gunsu Gemesi
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
GIS Certificate Candidate, Spring 2008
GIS Based Farm Traceability Model
Abstract: The communication along the food chain is crucial to ensure that all relevant food safety hazards are identified and controlled at each step within the food chain. Therefore, establishment of traceability information system is crucial for ensuring food safety monitoring and evaluation according to the standards throughout the supply chain. The required traceability comprises a close documentation of all activities beginning at the fields up to final consumers. The Traceability Information System based on GIS will allow digital mapping and GIS-driven database development, which in turn enables information gathering at all stage of the farm management practices around the year.
The purpose of this project is to establish GIS based farm traceability model to create systems for effective data gathering to meet the minimum data requirements for On-Farm Food Safety (OFFS) programs to ensure that recall/traceability are included as appropriate. The use of standard GIS applications a complete time management as well as the additional possibility of embedding expert data linked to activities on farm. This will enhance the flexibility to build applications that integrate database-geography-time and activity management for more functional traceability system integration.