Monitoring
Duck box
GIS & GPS in
Resource Mgmt
Monitoring
Duck box
GIS & GPS in
Resource Mgmt
GIS (Geographical Information System) and GPS (Global Positioning System) in Resource Management at Hullett Marsh.
GIS is a computerized information system that records, stores, and analyzes information about the physical features of the earth's surface based on its location. A GIS can generate maps and three-dimensional images of an area, showing natural features like forests, wetlands, as well as artificial features such as roads, bridges and power lines. Many GIS databases are made up of sets of information called "layers". Each layer represents a specific type of geographic data. As an example, at Hullett, one layer may include information on wetlands in the area, while others may contain information on woodlots, fallow fields, agricultural fields, trails, duck box locations, Hullett area boundary, etc. The GIS can include as many as 100 layers and can combine these layers into one image, showing how features relate to one another.
A GIS is designed to accept geographic data from many sources, including maps, satellite photographs, and printed text and statistics. The uses for Geographic Information Systems are vast and continue to grow. At Hullett, management utilizes this information to understand the land and its associated limitations and opportunities. The GIS's ability to communicate complex land-resource information in the form of analysis maps, allows managers to better visualize areas and site-specific issues.
GIS helps in the planning process and can evaluate potential impacts of activities. It also has value in monitoring wildlife resources such as Wood Ducks.
With the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) natural resources can be accurately mapped. The GIS database can then assign values to these natural resources and relate them to other features. For example, once all the Wood Duck box positions have been mapped, data can be added to the corresponding database on the outcome of a nest box for the year. This result can then be compared, statistically, to previous years and to neighbouring boxes. Several years of such data enables managers, with the help of GIS, to discover which boxes continually produce wood ducks and which ones don’t. This information can then be used in deciding which areas new boxes will likely be successful. At Hullett GIS is also used to determine what type of trees should be planted and where, which areas need to be cut and what areas are to be left unmanaged. GIS helps immensely in these decisions and results in enhanced habitat health and improved wildlife habitat.
GIS is a power tool that is used on a regular basis at Hullett. It saves time and enables wildlife values to be accurately measured. From these measurements features can be statistically analyzed and compared to other features and informed management decisions made.
