Author: Lora Konde

Title: California Department of Fish and Game Applications for Conservation and Protection of Natural Resources

Abstract: Applications for use in conservation and protection of natural resources have been developed to assist environmental review, analysis and identification of habitat. This paper will focus on the Integrated Biological Information System (IBIS) application developed using Visual Basic and Esri's MapObjectsLT. IBIS is a simple spatial data viewer and query application which provides California Department of Fish and Game staff the capability to access biological spatial and tabular data. The application and data are provided on one CD-ROM allowing for wide use and distribution of the product. Version 2 of IBIS allows users to create point shape files. This will assist with creating biological observation spatial data. In addition, version 2 provides the ability to create point shape by converting GPS data (Waypoint plus files from Garmin GPS).

Introduction:

The mission of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) is to manage the States diverse fish, wildlife, and plant species and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological value and for the use and enjoyment by the public. GIS has been one of the many tools available for department staff to assist in the location, identification and analysis of these resources. California's ever increasing human population, economic expansion and multiple land use strategies are threatening the states diverse fish, wildlife and natural biological communities. Continued habitat loss is putting additional species at risk of extirpation or extinction. The Department of Fish and Game has identified a need to develop a more efficient method of identifying conservation priorities, hoping to slow or reverse the declining trend in biological diversity. To assist in this work, CDFG formed the Conservation Analysis Unit, now in its' third year. The Conservation Analysis Unit is charged with providing information, analytical tools, and services that improve the ability of biologists, planners, managers, and others to make wise decisions about conserving California's biological resources. Some of the goals of this program include:

CDFG Conservation Analysis Unit: Using MapObjects LT to develop a user friendly spatial data viewer and query tool.

Requirements for a method of identifying conservation priorities have been defined as:

Our original plan was to develop a complex tool to help CDFG staff in identifying conservation priorities and selection of priority areas. The Conservation Analysis team made visits to the various CDFG regions to help assess staff skill and comfort with GIS (ArcView), as well as availability and type of computers being used. In addition to regional visits, a questionnaire was distributed to help assess needs and skills (Appendix A).

Although GIS expertise and experience within the department varies greatly, our research showed that most of the regional staff was unfamiliar with ArcView and only marginally comfortable with using a computer. Regional staff was also unfamiliar with the spatial data layers already available for their use through CDFG Information Technology Branch. Clearly, the majority of CDFG staff was not ready for an analytical extension to ArcView. The first step we needed to take was to expose staff to spatial data and inform them of what data layers were available for their use. The Conservation Analysis team determined that we first needed to develop an application that should have the following qualities:

Our research process eventually lead us to the decision to use MapObjects LT to develop a simple application that combines many data layers and allows the users simple identification and query tools. MapObjects LT requires no licensing fee. Providing the application and data at no cost to the users allowed for greatest distribution and potential use. In addition we wanted to package the software and data together on one CD-ROM, making it less confusing, more convenient for the novice computer user.

The resulting application that was developed is the Integrated Biological Information System (IBIS). The application was developed using Visual Basic 5 and MapObjects LT. IBIS started with the sample viewer that is provided with MapObjects LT and was then modified to fit the needs of CDFG.

Tools this application provided initially included those found on most spatial data viewers including:

The initial application was demonstrated for various CDFG staff and feedback from these demos was used to modify and enhance the application. User feedback resulted in adding the following tools to the first version of IBIS: The following is a list of data layers important for conservation analysis which are included in the application.

Biological data :

Ownership data such as: Base data such as: In addition to providing the data, the Conservation Analysis team made a big effort in making the data 'friendly' to the user. We joined tables and substituted written descriptions for code values where we could. We felt this might be the first exposure to spatial data for some users, and wanted it to be as pleasant as possible.

In addition, IBIS provides the ability to add other data layers to which the user may have access. IBIS also provides a sample of the SPOT imagery that is available to CDFG, giving the user an idea of the type and quality of data available for analysis.

Version 1 of IBIS was released in December 1998. Development time was approximately seven months, two people working half time. This includes data development, data sub-setting, programming, user assessment, beta testing and development of the user's manual. User assessment and feedback process was time consuming, but very worthwhile. Approximately 250 copies were distributed through out CDFG. Three one day training sessions were offered between February and May 1999 to assist users in becoming more comfortable with the program and data. User feedback has been positive, and recommendations for additional tools have been used in the application development for version 2.

CDFG has long had a need to establish a method for documenting and sharing species data. Much of this data exists from the professional experience of the biologists who have worked many years in the field. With the possibility of many of these biologists retiring in the near future and taking this data with them, there had been an increased urgency to get this information into a GIS. CDFG is also charged with writing stream bed alteration agreements. There is a great need to create spatial data of the stream bed alteration locations, as what occurs upstream can drastically effect downstream habitats. We saw the need to have the ability to create point features as a start to building these spatial databases. Since IBIS already existed, supplied base data, was relatively easy to use, had an established user base, and was free to all CDFG staff, it became the application of choice for adding this feature.

We used the Esri developers web site to obtain information from others working on the same problems. MapObjectsLT does not provide a shape object for creating shape files, but we were fortunate that Kenneth McVay of University of Houston, Clear Lake had already developed his shapeIO class objects and was willing to share the code. Working with this code, we were able to develop the process for creating point layers. These same class objects were used to create point shape files from GPS data. After the code had been written to convert the latitude and longitude values in decimal degrees to the projection used by CDFG, these coordinates there then used to create the point locations.

Lessons learned:

The value of user input is not to be underestimated. Including users as part of the design process helped to get their buy in to the project, and also provide a valuable perspective to application usefulness and ease of operation. We did however underestimate the value of periodically going to the regional offices and making ourselves available to answer questions and assist with the use of the application.

A goal of this project was to make the data widely accessible to all DFG staff. Succeeding in this goal, we have now enabled DFG staff to review the data we have been using in our analysis. Field staff can provide valuable input to improve our data. Data managers are also now aware that their data will be reviewed by staff, providing additional incentive for providing the best product. DFG staff have also discovered that the quality of some of the available data is not as adequate for their use, such as the resolution of vegetation data. Consequently, there is now additional support to cooperate in partnership to develop better data.

Training is an important component in getting users familiar and using the application. We offered our first training session approximately one month after the release of version 1. This proved to be too early in the process. DFG staff was still becoming aware of the application and what it could offer them. Subsequent training sessions brought users with specific questions on how to apply the application to their work, providing valuable feedback to the Conservation Analysis team.

We relied on email as a way of notifying DFG staff about the availability if IBIS version 1. A written description of the application was not adequate for demonstrating to users what the application could offer them. In addition, the entire DFG staff still does not have email. A flyer was designed for the release of version 2. This flyer showed screen captures of the application as well as describing it's use. This flyer was distributed department wide and the result has been overwhelming. Flyer distribution was instrumental in developing a much greater interest from wildlife area biologists and managers, field biologists conducting timber harvest review, and from wardens.

Conclusion:

Additional application development is already being planned. As staff becomes more familiar with spatial data and analysis, and has more training and experience with this application and ArcView, we hope to develop additional tools and extensions to ArcView to assist with conservation analysis. Feedback and needs of CDFG staff will be the primary guide in additional tool development. CDFG staff is learning GIS is a valuable tool in conservation planning and that it provides a variety of methods for analyzing data that allow them to make better conservation decisions.

Appendix A:

Conservation Analysis Unit (CAU) - Natural Heritage Division
Department of Fish and Game
**Regional Assessment Questionnaire**

Date:________________________

Name:___________________________Region/Dept:________________________

Position:___________________________Telephone:________________________

Fax:___________________________Email:________________________

Please provide your best answers to the following questions:

 1) Computer Type (CIRCLE best choice)

none mac 386 486 Pentium : speed if known ________________

2) Does your computer have a CD-ROM? (yes or no)

3) Frequency of computer use? (CIRCLE one)

 all the time daily weekly infrequently

4) What type of printer(s) are available for your use at work? (Circle ALL that apply)

 dot matrix/inkjet laser printer color laser/plotter none

5) Describe your user skill level for each of the following software?

 WordPerfect/Word: a) none b) beginner c) intermediate d) advanced

Data Bases/Spreadsheets: a) none b) beginner c) intermediate d) advanced

Email: a)none b) beginner c) intermediate d) advanced

Web browser/Web: access:a) none b) beginner c) intermediate d) advanced

ArcView: a) none b) beginner c) intermediate d) advanced

Other: _______________a) none b) beginner c) intermediate d) advanced

6) Check mark any of the following job tasks that you commonly perform at work

 _______ Analysis of biological resource information for conservation planning

_______ Analysis of biological resource information for comment on development proposals

_______ Sport/Recreation/Education/Interpretive related duties

_______ Review of CEQA or CESA documents

_______ Review of Timber Harvest Plans, other documents

_______ Game/Hunting issues

_______ Fisheries/Fishing issues

_______ Law enforcement

_______ Management of protected areas

_______ Data collection

_______Other __________________________________________________________

7) Would better computer access to data be useful to you? (Yes or no)

 8) Is the information you currently have primarily in digital or hardcopy form?

 9) CIRCLE Data you need most and note the best scale for each.
 scale options:    7.5' quad,     more detailed than 7.5',    county(1:100k)

Data

vegetation community

T&E species

wildlife species/habitat

wetlands

vernal pools

Significant Natural Areas

water quality

fisheries

roads, rivers, political boundaries

land ownership

protected/managed areas

other
 
10) CIRCLE useful outputs/products:
Hard copy: text report/table maps
Digital Data set: floppy disc CD-ROM web display web download DFG network
11) CIRCLE the questions most important for your work:
    Where is it?     What is in this area?

What biological resources need to be addressed in this CEQA document?

Where else do these combinations of species/habitats occur?

Given Ax@ species or habitat, what are the regulations, policies, permits to consider before development?

What=s the diversity/density of particular elements in an area?

If you do Ax@, what will happen to its habitat?

How rare/protected is this species/habitat?

Where are Ahigh value@ areas?

What is protected/managed?

Where are Regional planning efforts?

12) Have you noticed any limitations or problems with accessing and using the data currently available to you? What form is the data available to you? (Digital or hardcopy) Why have you used or not used data currently available to you?

Explain:

COMMENTS: 

QUESTIONS:

SUGGESTIONS:
 

References:

Feasibility Study Report for a Department Land Conservation and Stewardship Program, California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Heritage Division, August 13, 1996.

Land Conservation and Stewardship Program Augmentation, Budget Change Proposal- FY 1997-98, December 1996.

Project Review and Partnerships Subcommittee Report - Draft, Prepared for the Stewardship Team. Project Review and Partnership Subcommittee. May 1997.

Author Information:
Lora Konde,
GIS Specialist
CDFG, Conservation Analysis
1416 9th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-5758
FAX: (916) 324-0475
E-mail: lora@maphost.dfg.ca.gov