2004 UC Proceedings Abstract
 Conservation GIS by Volunteers: The Elkhorn Slough Historic Habitats Team Track: Ecology and Conservation Author(s): Eric Van Dyke Geospatial analysis is essential to conserving and restoring sensitive habitats. Yet trained technical staff is scarce within organizations that undertake this critical work. Although GIS and remote sensing are central to research, stewardship, and interpretation programs at ESNERR, coordination of geospatial work remains the responsibility of a single staff member. Elkhorn Slough has an enthusiastic cadre of volunteer docents. In recent years, a GIS component was added to our docent curriculum. As a result, a dedicated volunteer 'historic habitats team' emerged with the ambitious goal of completing a major GIS project: a detailed baseline habitat classification for our watershed. Using widely available tools, including ArcView 3.x with the ArcView Image Analysis extension, the team developed a modular strategy to georeference, interpret, and digitize dozens of historic color infrared aerial photographs and to assemble a composite habitat map. In the future, the team expects to perform sophisticated habitat analysis and change detection. Eric Van Dyke Elkhorn Slough NERR 1700 Elkhorn Road Watsonville , CA 95076 US Phone: 831-728-2822 E-mail: vandyke@elkhornslough.org |
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