Geodatabase Design for The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary

Suzette Stone

GISC 6387 GIS Workshop

Summer 2006

Objective

This project involves the design of a Geodatabase for The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas.

Background – The Heard

The Heard is a natural science education center, uniquely set in the middle of Texas’ fastest growing county (Collin County). A 289-acre sanctuary with hiking trails, two-acre native plant garden, live animals, indoor and outdoor exhibits, classrooms and laboratories. The Heard’s Mission is bringing nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore and preserve our priceless environment. (The Heard Natural Science Museum)

Literature Review
Designing a geodatabase for your project:
A wetlands delineation example

The key to successful geodatabase design in ArcGIS 8.3 is laying out the project objectives before you begin (Kalman 2004). Developing an initial plan is essential to determining the data required as well as the file structure required. A geodatabase provides a single-container framework to organize all project and ancillary data (Kalman 2004).

Designing a Geodatabase

Several questions must be addressed in the early stages of geodatabase design.

nWhat data?

nLocation and projection?

nFeatures?

nRelationships? (MacDonald 2001)

Determining the answers to these questions in reference to the project provides the framework for the geodatabase.

Data Sources

nDigital aerial photo provided by The Heard Museum.

nPrior GIS studies including bird net lane locations, and nest box locations.

nAdditional data collected via GPS handheld for the parking areas, additional trails, interpretive signs, natural features pertaining to many branches of the natural sciences and conservation, trail marker signs, and picnic/bench areas.

nNCTCOG – rail lines, roads, streams

Methodology –
Determining Needs

The Heard Museum is interested in:

nProviding accurate maps of trails including the distance of each trail;

nLocations of picnic and bench areas;

nDatabase of interpretive sign photos and locations;

nPrairie outlines and area covered

nMethods for recording vegetation

nStorage for research data such as water sampling

nFuture Maintenance of data

nNatural features displayed by field (curriculum)

The Heard’s primary focus is on conservation and education. Maps assist the visitors and allow them to more fully enjoy their time at the Heard. A database of locations of natural features by area of study (botany, geology, ornithology, entomology, etc.) allows the staff to more easily create a custom curriculum. The database of interpretive sign photos aids in this planning by providing the staff with instant access to points of interest and the topic introduced by the signs.

The Heard is in the on-going process of restoring over 65-acres of grassland to native prairie vegetation through a combination of transplantation and seeding techniques with native plants. Encroaching saplings and trees are removed to widen the prairie areas. (The Heard Natural Science Museum). Mapping the current prairie areas is the first step in tracking the progress of restoration.

In addition, the staff can best maintain the sanctuary by having an accurate account of the property including such items as picnic tables and trail marker sign locations.

Desired Feature Classes From Needs Assessment

Point Features

nTrail Marker Signs

nNatural Features

nInterpretive Signs

nPicnic Tables/Benches

nFuture Trails/Closed Trails

nBird Netting areas

nBoyscout Project Locations

nResearch Point Locations

Line Features

nTrails

nRoads

nStreams

Polygon features

nLandcover

nBuildings

nPicnic Areas

nPrairie Areas

nParking Areas

Data Collection

Data waypoints were collected using a Garmin Etrex Legend provided by the staff. Locations of trails and trail marker signs and interpretive signs were gathered for each trail. Digital photos were taken of each interpretive sign. The staff could replace these photos with the original design layouts on file, if desired.

Waypoints were taken for natural features (rock formations, vegetation, bird lookouts, etc.) along with Boyscout projects areas (including trail improvements and drainage areas).

Data Preparation and Processing

Points were sorted into routes to define trails and polygon perimeters using the Etrex routing feature. The waypoints and routes were downloaded to a PC using DNR Garmin software

. The DNR Garmin software provides a convenient interface between the GPS unit and PC and exports data in shapefile or table format. All points were collected using the datum WGS84. The trail routes from the Etrex were then saved as line shapefiles. A prairie perimeter route was saved as a polygon shapefile. Groups of points for each natural feature set were saved as point files. Trail marker signs were processed in the same manner.

Additional prairie areas were digitized rather than collected through data collection as the areas were easily defined by the grassland/forest border. The trails were corrected against the aerial photo. Other clearly defined areas were digitized as well including the parking areas.

The Heard property boundary was digitized using information from staff and COG data. The Heard property is bounded by a railroad track on the northwest side, Wilson Creek from the northern tip of the property to the eastern tip, and roads along the southern edge. A new polygon layer was created by digitizing the boundary of the Heard property. This polygon was inputted as a mask in the Extract by Mask tool in Spatial Analyst. The resulting layer is used not only as the boundary for the sanctuary but also as the forest layer as the other landcover types - prairie and wetlands – overlay.

Creating the Geodatabase

After careful consideration of the results of the needs analysis and the scope of the data, the geodatabase design was created. (See Figure 1) The Heard would require storage for current data as well as for future information to be collected.

Feature Datasets were created for Land Cover, Trails, Experimental Documentation, Orientation, Natural Features, Original GPS Points, Manmade Features, and Hydrology and imported into the geodatabase. The original shapefiles created from the waypoints were converted to feature classes and imported into the appropriate Feature Dataset. The aerial photo and photos of interpretive signs were also imported to the geodatabase. The feature classes listed in red are those that will be needed in the future but for which there is currently no data.

The Heard Geodatabase

Figure 1. The Heard Geodatabase

Representative Maps

Figure 2 shows the waypoint collection (green dots) used to define one of the prairie areas. Boyscout projects (yellow dots) can also be seen on this map. The irregular border of the Museum property to the east is Wilson Creek. The Sycamore trail (red line), the Hoot Owl Trail (purple line) and part of the Bluestem Trail (yellow line) can be seen. Benches (triangles) and parking lots (pink area) can be seen.

Figure 2. Prairie Point Collection and Examples of Manmade Features

The waypoints used to define one of the prairie areas (pale yellow-green polygon) can be seen in this map of the Heard Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Figure 3 shows the features in the sanctuary by scientific interest. Each natural feature group is represented by a different color - Geology (yellow), Conservation (green), Ornithology (orange), Botany (red), and Entomology (purple). The three landcover types – Prairie, Wetlands, and Forest are shown as well.

The Trail map (Figure 4) shows the Sycamore Trail (red line), the Hoot Owl Trail (purple), the Bluestem Trail (yellow), the Hilltop Trail (black) and the Boardwalk Trail (orange). Points along each trail in a contrasting color show the placement of trail markers that guide visitors along the trail.

Figure 3. Features by Natural Features/Scientific Interest

Natural Features are shown by the by scientific interest to allow for planning of curriculum or to guide visitors to specific areas.

Problems Encountered

Data for bird nesting locations is desired but is easiest to acquire in late fall or winter as the nests in question are easy to spot once the trees have shed their leaves.

Due to the accuracy of the GPS handheld, small areas are especially difficult to map accurately. The accuracy according to the unit varied from nine feet to as much as 36 feet, but averaged approximately 16 feet for waypoints collected. Individual picnic tables in thickly forested areas were the most difficult to map. A picnic area with estimated picnic table locations was used.

Planning for the Future

Prairie Area Boundaries

New digital aerial photos are not cost effective. However, The Heard will need to have a plan for upkeep of the data, especially the area covered by grassland prairie. The prairies are widened each year by cutting down trees two deep along the existing prairie perimeter. In order to maintain the Prairie polygon layer, averaged GPS points could be taken along the new perimeter after the trees have been removed. These points could then be used to digitize the new boundary and correct the prairie polygon feature.

Figure 4. Trail Map

Each trail is shown in a different color along with the trail markers in a contrasting color along the path.

Invasive Plant Management

In order to determine the extent of invasive plants, a grid could be designed to determine land cover. Each grid could be coded with a system, for example, a one to five scale - 1:no weeds, 2: 10% coverage of weeds, 3: 25% coverage of weeds, 4: 75% coverage, 5: 100% coverage. If the center of each point was known, that cell of the grid could be represented using the factor of the weed scale. A matrix could be used to cover the area to represent the invasive plant coverage.

Another useful option would be to perform something similar to time lapse photography called photo point monitoring. Survey points could be established in numerous areas of interest. A photo could be taken from the same vantage point several times during the season. This would give an estimate of the weed coverage as well as how it changes over the season or defined period. A quick glance over the photos might give a more immediate assessment of the areas that require attention (USDA Forest Service).

A potentially useful software to aid in photo point monitoring would be RoboGEO – an inexpensive program that stamps photos with geographical coordinates by matching times from digital images to the time files of a GPS reading from a handheld unit. RoboGEO will also associate any type of file to a photo, including audio files. If a digital audio recorder (such as those available on a PDA) were used, any other information about the area of study could quickly be recorded in the field (RoboGEO) . If handheld GPS units were used, points should be averaged to increase the accuracy of the data.

Updating Additional Information

Any new trails, trail signs or other information could be taken using the GPS Etrex unit and added to the geodatabase as a feature class to the appropriate feature dataset in a manner similar to that of the original GPS points. Additional photos could be added as well.

Attracting GPS Users to the Heard Museum

With GPS handheld units becoming more popular and the interest in geocaching increasing, the Heard Museum might be able to attract new visitors by marketing their GPS information as a way to practice using a GPS unit. In order to allow for easy download, GPS points have been saved as GPX files. The Heard will add them to their website and consider having access at the front desk. Flyers are in process to distribute to REI and stores that offer GPS “new user classes”. This exposure will draw new visitors to The Heard to try out their equipment. A virtual geocache is planned for posting on www.geocaching.com . Discussions are pending regarding an actual cache site.

These GPS points will also be used in labs for Boyscouts and other groups and integrated into the program curriculum as appropriate.

Further Studies/Map Creation

RS analysis of aerial to check for possible invasive species identification is an option if the invasive species were in very large masses. The 1-foot resolution of the aerial impedes the identification of individual or small areas of invasive plants.

Creation of additional maps for both staff and visitors of the Heard is forthcoming, especially maps focusing on curriculum objectives of children’s classes and greyscale maps. Notation will be included on trail maps as to the difficulty and length of each trail.

References

Kalman, Naomi B. . 2005. Designing a geodatabase for your project: A wetlands delineation example. John Muir Institute of the Environment, via Web of Science, http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/dbUZ.htm

Geocaching.com, " Geocaching Resources," Geocaching.com, http://www.geocaching.com/about/

Groundspeak – The Language of Location, "Forums," Groundspeak, http://forums.groundspeak.com/gc/

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Santuary, " About Us," The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Santuary, http://www.heardmuseum.org/go/aboutus.html

MacDonald, A. 2001. Designing a Geodatabase. Redlands: Environmental Systems Research Institute.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, "DNR Garmin," Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, MIS Bureau - GIS Section, http://thoreau.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/Training/WebHelp/DNRExt/DNRGarmin4/GPSIntro.htm

Pennsylvania State University, "Color Brewer," Pennsylvania State University, http://www.personal.psu.edu/cab38/ColorBrewer/ColorBrewer.html

RoboGEO, "Georeference the Photos," RoboGEO – Georeference Photos, http://www.robogeo.com/home/tracklogs.asp

USDA Forest Service, "A Weed Manager's Guide to Remote Sensing and GIS," USDA Forest Service, http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/invasivespecies/work_main.htm