mapping and analyzing watersheds: options for local groups jane frankenberger, ph.d. purdue...
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Mapping and Analyzing Watersheds:
Options for Local Groups
Jane Frankenberger, Ph.D.Purdue University
Extension Agricultural Engineer and Water Quality Specialist
Watershed groups and watershed planning
• Place-based process for restoring water quality, led by local residents
• We know of around 30 to 40 groups in Indiana
Survey: Tasks watershed groups would like to accomplish with GIS
1. Mapping the watershed and communicating with stakeholders
• “We would like to create a map of our watershed including aerial photos, land use, soil types, etc.”
• “Make the information clear to officials, planners, community leaders, other stakeholders”
2. Inventorying water quality impacts
• “Identify hot spots for nonpoint source pollution ”
• “Locate monitoring points”
3. Watershed planning – “Locate problems within the watershed. – “Identify areas for BMP implementation.– “Calculate total amount of land impacted by
BMPs
4. Tracking progress– “Create layers showing the placement of BMPs
to help track changes and progress in the watershed”
– “Spatial assessment of BMP impacts (Have critical source areas been treated?)”
Tasks watershed groups would like to accomplish with GIS
– “I would like to introduce students to GIS by hands on activities with GPS.”
– “Improve sense of place”
5. Education
Tasks watershed groups would like to accomplish with GIS
So what GIS can watershed leaders use to accomplish these tasks?
Some Requirements • Learn in hours or days, not weeks or
months• Create maps that can be used in public
meetings, in reports, and on the Web• Import and use GPS data• Conduct simple analyses to support
planning
1. Mapping only – Google Maps “Mash-ups”
• Google Maps (maps.google.com) released the Application Programming Interface (API) for their mapping technology, and created the world of Google Maps Mashups.
• With the API, a programmer can create a mash-up by combining Google Maps with other data - like apartment listings, bird sitings, restaurants, etc.
• So why not watershed information?
It takes some time
• Convert shapefile to .gpx (list of points)
• Convert to points in proper format
• Understand how to put together the javascript (I now have a template that anyone could use.)
• Works well with 200 points; Very slow with 2000 points
Advantages
• Anyone, anywhere, can pull up the map on demand.
• Anyone can display at any zoom level.
• Imagery is usually the most current available – Google acquires whatever is available.
Disadvantages
• All of those associated with Google – loss of privacy?
• Some say there may be ads in the future.
Google Maps – If you don’t want to program yourself
• Use a site that eliminates the need for your own API or coding– Can only map single points
Google Earth• “No need to travel around the US for
vacations .... its all here in Google Earth.” (PC World Techlog)
• “I feel like superman! I can fly anywhere!”
• “Totally awesome... “
• "Google Earth is just the most fantastic thing I have ever seen," says Jack Dangermond, founder and president of ESRI, the world's largest creator of GIS software. (as quoted in Nature)
Generating kml or kmz from shapefiles
1. Add-on to Google Earth Pro ($400 but free for educators): GIS Data Importing Module - $200
• incorporates GIS data in file formats such as .shp, .tab
(Other add-ons):Movie Making Module - $200 Premium Printing Module - $200
But real GIS is still needed for analysis and processing
• "Just as the PC democratized computing, so systems like Google Earth will democratize GIS." Michael Goodchild, quote in Nature
• Google Earth can improve spatial literacy and provide a tool for communicating all sorts of findings
• Google Earth cannot do analysis or geoprocessing, so GIS is still needed.
• Tutorial for GIS Atlas for Indiana
But low resolution printing was a concern for people I asked to test this. (Resolution of screen or lower.)
Zooming in allows us to see the tank location a little better, but to really understand where they are…
Printing maps:The “Print” option does not include Text or Legend
Export high-resolution image and make your own map in Word, PowerPoint, or other software