456
routed hydrography data from the USGS and Environmental Protection Agency. We are continuing to stitch other GIS databases into regional coverages, as they become available.
Analyses are being conducted to document conditions and trends of various natural and socioeconomic conditions. Basic summary analyses have
been used to attribute ecological unit maps according to the density of important features that occur within them. For example, some landtype associations contain a large proportion of lakes, while
most have only a few. Lakes are desirable features
for recreation and seasonal home development;
their presence is also correlated with occurrence of
rare species. The decision-making process benefits
due to increased awareness of areas where these
conditions are locally abundant and regionally
scarce, thus avoiding a tendency of local managers
to overlook the regional significance of features
that they see every day.
Other analyses used by resource managers have
included those related to landscape patterns of forest patch composition, size, and arrangement. We
have used vegetation maps derived from remotely
sensed imagery to derive simple descriptive measures, such as patch size, perimeter-area ratios, and
neighbor likelihood. The arrangement of patches in
the landscape was quantified, and metrics were
compared among ecological units and ownerships.
Managers expect to use such measures in addressing issues of habitat fragmentation.
An important focus of the GLA has been to devise new presentations of spatial information for
the region. We have evaluated data visualization
techniques that allow three-dimensional landscape
representations based on digital elevation models
coupled with other spatial information. These
methods provide a different and potentially very
useful way to examine the spatial distribution of
important variables. Outputs and video examples
are being developed for on-line access from the
GLA Web site.
Figures used in this chapter are examples of the
maps and graphics that can be downloaded by the
Internet. The development of a Web site has been
an effective communication tool for distributing information to users. Graphics, datasets, and metadata can also be downloaded for review, additional
analyses, and use in pUblications, plans, displays,
and educational materials. Maps and data are presented and distributed at a project Web site
(http://www .ncfes. umn.edu! glaJindex.html) and at
a linked USGS Biological Resource Division Web
site.
The Great Lakes Ecological Assessment
30.8 Successes and Challenges
Many intergovernmental successes were encountered in this project. In particular, the diverse technical skills of various employees from different institutions and the increased capabilities of pooled
equipment and facilities enabled successful assemblage of considerable amounts of spatial information across approximately 60 million acres for relatively low costs. Access to data was facilitated
through an intergovernmental approach.
The broader goals of the GLA were accomplished by identifying mutual benefits and overlapping objectives among involved organizations.
Specifically, the Forest Service's North Central Research Station and Michigan State University were
heavily involved with the Lake States Forestry Alliance resource assessment and provided appreciable expertise and socioeconomic data, while receiving funds for continued data development. The
National Forest System was preparing to revise forest plans by examining broad-scale issues and conditions germane to the land management planning
process, and staffs were assigned to the project. The
USGS Biological Resource Division has a mission
of assembling and serving spatial databases to public and private agencies and assisted the project as
the repository and server of completed data and
metadata. The Land Information and Computer
Graphics Facility (LICGF) at the University of
Wisconsin housed a number of agencies, with the
goal of assembling regional coverages. The LICGF
provided substantial expertise, equipment, and office facilities for minimal costs and received funding for additional data assemblage. The Natural Resource Research Institute, University of Minnesota
at Duluth, had been actively involved in the classification of remotely sensed vegetation and in the
development of data visualization and decision support system technology, and it received funding for
continued work.
Project success can also be measured as benefits
to clients. This project has benefited government
agencies by reducing costs of duplicate efforts in
acquiring information and by developing methods
for analysis, display, and application in planning
and management activities. Government programs
supported by the GLA include national and state
forest planning and monitoring programs and, potentially, landowner-oriented programs operated
through the Forest Service's State and Private
Forestry organization and university extension programs. The Wisconsin and Minnesota DNR's, The
Nature Conservancy, and the national forests in
routed hydrography data from the USGS and Environmental Protection Agency. We are continuing to stitch other GIS databases into regional coverages, as they become available.
Analyses are being conducted to document conditions and trends of various natural and socioeconomic conditions. Basic summary analyses have
been used to attribute ecological unit maps according to the density of important features that occur within them. For example, some landtype associations contain a large proportion of lakes, while
most have only a few. Lakes are desirable features
for recreation and seasonal home development;
their presence is also correlated with occurrence of
rare species. The decision-making process benefits
due to increased awareness of areas where these
conditions are locally abundant and regionally
scarce, thus avoiding a tendency of local managers
to overlook the regional significance of features
that they see every day.
Other analyses used by resource managers have
included those related to landscape patterns of forest patch composition, size, and arrangement. We
have used vegetation maps derived from remotely
sensed imagery to derive simple descriptive measures, such as patch size, perimeter-area ratios, and
neighbor likelihood. The arrangement of patches in
the landscape was quantified, and metrics were
compared among ecological units and ownerships.
Managers expect to use such measures in addressing issues of habitat fragmentation.
An important focus of the GLA has been to devise new presentations of spatial information for
the region. We have evaluated data visualization
techniques that allow three-dimensional landscape
representations based on digital elevation models
coupled with other spatial information. These
methods provide a different and potentially very
useful way to examine the spatial distribution of
important variables. Outputs and video examples
are being developed for on-line access from the
GLA Web site.
Figures used in this chapter are examples of the
maps and graphics that can be downloaded by the
Internet. The development of a Web site has been
an effective communication tool for distributing information to users. Graphics, datasets, and metadata can also be downloaded for review, additional
analyses, and use in pUblications, plans, displays,
and educational materials. Maps and data are presented and distributed at a project Web site
(http://www .ncfes. umn.edu! glaJindex.html) and at
a linked USGS Biological Resource Division Web
site.
The Great Lakes Ecological Assessment
30.8 Successes and Challenges
Many intergovernmental successes were encountered in this project. In particular, the diverse technical skills of various employees from different institutions and the increased capabilities of pooled
equipment and facilities enabled successful assemblage of considerable amounts of spatial information across approximately 60 million acres for relatively low costs. Access to data was facilitated
through an intergovernmental approach.
The broader goals of the GLA were accomplished by identifying mutual benefits and overlapping objectives among involved organizations.
Specifically, the Forest Service's North Central Research Station and Michigan State University were
heavily involved with the Lake States Forestry Alliance resource assessment and provided appreciable expertise and socioeconomic data, while receiving funds for continued data development. The
National Forest System was preparing to revise forest plans by examining broad-scale issues and conditions germane to the land management planning
process, and staffs were assigned to the project. The
USGS Biological Resource Division has a mission
of assembling and serving spatial databases to public and private agencies and assisted the project as
the repository and server of completed data and
metadata. The Land Information and Computer
Graphics Facility (LICGF) at the University of
Wisconsin housed a number of agencies, with the
goal of assembling regional coverages. The LICGF
provided substantial expertise, equipment, and office facilities for minimal costs and received funding for additional data assemblage. The Natural Resource Research Institute, University of Minnesota
at Duluth, had been actively involved in the classification of remotely sensed vegetation and in the
development of data visualization and decision support system technology, and it received funding for
continued work.
Project success can also be measured as benefits
to clients. This project has benefited government
agencies by reducing costs of duplicate efforts in
acquiring information and by developing methods
for analysis, display, and application in planning
and management activities. Government programs
supported by the GLA include national and state
forest planning and monitoring programs and, potentially, landowner-oriented programs operated
through the Forest Service's State and Private
Forestry organization and university extension programs. The Wisconsin and Minnesota DNR's, The
Nature Conservancy, and the national forests in