9. Data and Information Issues: Communication Is the Key
175
9.6 An Example
We would like to conclude this chapter with a condensed example of a
successful environment modeling process currently underway in USEPA’s
Region 4.
Where are the best natural areas remaining in the southeastern United
States? In response to this question, which came from the recent USEPA
Region 4 administrator, John Hankinson, the USEPA began a project with
the University of Florida to develop a GIS model to identify potential
greenspace areas. The spatially explicit GIS model identifies areas of conservation significance and landscape linkages best suited for protecting a
regionwide ecological network. The project team had previously developed
the modeling protocol and the expertise for designing landscape linkages
and prioritizing ecological hubs at a statewide scale for the Florida Greenways and Trails model (Hoctor et al. 2000). This particular model underwent significant public participation, comment, and peer review before
being finalized and is being used to help direct $300 million per year for
greenspace protection in the state of Florida. The USEPA Region 4
awarded a cooperative-agreement grant to the University of Florida
Department of Landscape Architecture to develop an ecological connectivity model for the eight states in the southeast region. The purpose of the
regional project is to identify lands that would aid in the protection of water
resources, wetlands, and other natural areas. The following is a generalization of the individual modeling procedures that were used to develop the
Southeastern Ecological Framework (SEF). Individual model steps more
closely follow the model development scheme than the generalization
presented here (Sidebar 9.2).
Sidebar 9.2
Basic steps in model development and data needs
and inputs
Conceptualization defines the structure of the model. This is the stage
where state variables and processes are defined. Interactions between
the variables and the types of processes are developed from data and
information from field studies, general knowledge and understanding
of ecological systems, and decisions about the level of detail in the
model interactions. Data requirements for this step can often be fairly
general.
Calibration determines the coefficients for the state variables and
flow processes. Data requirements for this and the next step are
175
9.6 An Example
We would like to conclude this chapter with a condensed example of a
successful environment modeling process currently underway in USEPA’s
Region 4.
Where are the best natural areas remaining in the southeastern United
States? In response to this question, which came from the recent USEPA
Region 4 administrator, John Hankinson, the USEPA began a project with
the University of Florida to develop a GIS model to identify potential
greenspace areas. The spatially explicit GIS model identifies areas of conservation significance and landscape linkages best suited for protecting a
regionwide ecological network. The project team had previously developed
the modeling protocol and the expertise for designing landscape linkages
and prioritizing ecological hubs at a statewide scale for the Florida Greenways and Trails model (Hoctor et al. 2000). This particular model underwent significant public participation, comment, and peer review before
being finalized and is being used to help direct $300 million per year for
greenspace protection in the state of Florida. The USEPA Region 4
awarded a cooperative-agreement grant to the University of Florida
Department of Landscape Architecture to develop an ecological connectivity model for the eight states in the southeast region. The purpose of the
regional project is to identify lands that would aid in the protection of water
resources, wetlands, and other natural areas. The following is a generalization of the individual modeling procedures that were used to develop the
Southeastern Ecological Framework (SEF). Individual model steps more
closely follow the model development scheme than the generalization
presented here (Sidebar 9.2).
Sidebar 9.2
Basic steps in model development and data needs
and inputs
Conceptualization defines the structure of the model. This is the stage
where state variables and processes are defined. Interactions between
the variables and the types of processes are developed from data and
information from field studies, general knowledge and understanding
of ecological systems, and decisions about the level of detail in the
model interactions. Data requirements for this step can often be fairly
general.
Calibration determines the coefficients for the state variables and
flow processes. Data requirements for this and the next step are