The two million pristine acres of Yellowstone National Park are the backdrop for an unusual and ground breaking effort. We are building an integrated landscape model, based on digital spatial data and the concepts of the science of landscape ecology. We recently completed the last major resource theme for this model. The publication of the soils inventory is the culmination of a seven year effort and resulted in a peer reviewed and agency approved technical document. The soil survey process is one of scientific discovery, requiring an elaborate predictive system based on limited observations of a resource that is largely invisible and continuously variable. There is a well established set of methods to realize this discovery, based on extensive field sampling, development of soil forming concepts, extensive traversing of the landscape, manual delineation of map units on field sheets, with manual transfer of these delineations to a topographic base. Geographic information systems have recently been used to display final maps and for descriptive terrain analysis. Electronic databases have been developed to organize and analyze non-spatial data. However, majority of the process is still entirely manual. Because of limited accessibility, availability of a wealth of digital biologic and physical information, and need for a strong scientific basis we chose to replace the entire delineation process with electronic methods of spatial analysis. A point coverage was developed from 2000 field sample sites. These points were quantitatively correlated with accepted theories of soil formation to develop predictive concepts applicable to the Yellowstone survey area. We translated these concepts and the conditions under which they apply into a set of 300 rules in ArcInfo. We applied these rules to polygon and raster coverages of landform, vegetation, climate, and soil parent material to create a polygon soils theme directly on a topographic base. We iterated the rule application process 35 times, until we had complete coverage and met quality standards. Over 83,000 possible combinations of coverage values were reduced to a set of 75 map units, each with a description of spatial variability. We used ARC to produce the final camera ready maps, meeting all cartographic standards. We solved the inherent problems of coincidence and differing spatial accuracy between themes by a combination of automated and manual but GIS supported "reality checks." Over 25,000 initial polygons were reduced to 8,000 with a series of AML's involving automated silver and small unit removal and field sample site verification. Our experiment using automated spatial analysis to replace manual methods resulted in a product that meets all scientific and agency standards for soil surveys, while completed at about 1/2 the cost. The soils theme is coincident with other layers, completing the giving the essential "underpinnings" to the landscape model, addressing the future management needs of our nation's premier landscape.
One of the biggest problems with long term ecosystem monitoring is the analysis of the data for use in management decision making. A land condition trend analysis (LCTA) package has been developed for the Camp W. G. Williams Army National Guard installation in Utah which contains a set of tools written in Avenue. These tools analyze vegetation and land characteristics such as cover, bare ground, canopy structure, fuel load, and species distributions. The tools perform the analyses using tabular data (vegetation transect data, floristic survey, and fuel inventory) in combination with spatial data (environmental, military, utility, and cultural layers) to produce tables, charts and statistical information. This package is being used to help close the gap between monitoring and management. It helps managers to analyze survey data, create reports of trends and conditions, and make informed management decisions from the monitoring data.
The need for improved wetland management required North Carolina coastal wetland managers to develop new technologies to identify and assess the resource. An overlay analysis of existing data allowed the Division of Coastal Management (DCM) to locate coastal area wetlands. These data become the basis of a wetland functional assessment procedure (NC CREWS - Coastal Region Evaluation of Wetland Significance). Using ArcInfo AML and menu interfaces, NC CREWS considers such characteristics as landscape position, stream order, proximity to pollutant source and the juxtaposition of other habitats to determine the relative significance of each wetland on the landscape. The assessment is performed on a watershed basis, using 14 digit hydrologic units delineated by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The procedure provides information on the selected watershed and requires the user to consider several options at the onset. Once the user has responded to the questions, the procedure is fully automated. When complete, NC CREWS provides insight into the relative significance of each wetland in terms of water quality, hydrology and habitat. It also begins to address cumulative impacts by describing the risk placed on the watershed should that wetland be removed. Using the results of NC CREWS, managers are able to view the larger landscape context to make informed decisions about human land use in the vicinity of wetlands.