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Internet-based GIS
C. Potential Uses and Applications of WebGIS in the Forest Service Section C.1 | Section C.2 | Section C.3 | Section C.4 | Section C.5 C.1 Potential Uses and Applications Based on the review of existing GIS applications on the Internet, both internal and external to the Forest Service, and the survey of Forest Service staff, it is apparent that the potential for WebGIS is extensive. This technology provides the vehicle for easily, inexpensively and accurately sharing information internally within the Forest Service and externally to other agencies and the general public through the distribution of interactive maps and data. Selected Forest and Regional level data could become more accessible, and more easily combined with national base map data within an interactive GIS map. Regional resource sharing could also become more practical if applications like the Boise, Payette and Sawtooth National Forests WebGIS were duplicated throughout the Forest Service, allowing other regions to simply replace SWIE data with their own maps and planning alternatives (Evans et al, 1999). One of the best and most commonly voiced potential uses of WebGIS is to make geospatial information sharing simpler and easier between the Forest Service and the general public. "Public awareness," "communicating with the public," and "Public comment and review" were among the most common responses to the question of how WebGIS should be applied. Of all the Forest Service WebGIS applications, the Chugach National Forest application created the most favorable responses, by far, because it starts to address the basic need to communicate with the public and to solicit public response. As with the Chugach National Forest ArcIMS, imbedding WebGIS that incorporates a feedback mechanism into Forest Plans and EISs would be a particularly effective way to communicate with the public. Imbedding an interactive map into a Web-published EIS could be more effective at communicating geospatial ideas than even a static map. There was a general consensus among interviewees that WebGIS could help convert the users and customers of Forest Service information into partners. Allowing the public to help gather information could help focus available agency resources on its most urgent needs. In essence, the public could become thousands of eyes and ears for the agency through the use of WebGIS. Recently in southwest Oregon, for example, there was significant road damage during flooding. WebGIS could have been used as a tool to engage the public in locating areas of damage much faster than the Forest Service workforce could accomplish on its own. Sharing information could become more sophisticated using WebGIS. Not only can information be displayed, but applications can be served as well. This technology provides the user with tools to run applications using geospatial information that provide answers to "what if" questions. Although the sharing of information is more sophisticated, WebGIS can be much simpler to use than desktop GIS, since its functionality is often reduced to just the applications that are needed. As a result, key applications can be made easy to access and learn, hence more intuitive. A short learning curve is very important to the Forest Service, since a large number of Forest Service staff, at all levels, are considered "low-tech," but still need to interact with high-tech tools like GIS. In summary, WebGIS can be used interchangeable with desktop GIS to enter, display, query, and analyze geospatial data. In addition, WebGIS may also be used for training in both WebGIS applications and desktop GIS, without requiring expensive GIS software to be loaded on one's desktop. Since custom GIS applications of any type can be written for these sites, WebGIS can be used for any project need. In addition, types of data not typically associated with maps, such as photographs, video, 3D models, and sound clips could be distributed using a map as the common, familiar thread linking all of the information components (Kingston et al. 2000). C.2 Web-based GIS in Support of Forest Service Workflow and Business Requirements Web sites that have been developed give a good idea of what should be done to utilize WebGIS to support Forest Service workflow and business requirements. These uses include planning support, resource management, and public information (e.g., travel access). To provide an overall enterprise solution to the management and use of geospatial data and technology to meet the business needs of the agency, an Enterprise GIS (EGIS) effort was launched in 2003. (See EGIS webpage at: http://fsweb.ftcol.wo.fs.fed.us/imi/egis/ and http://fsweb.ftcol.wo.fs.fed.us/imi/egis/history/history.php.) This effort involves 3 phases. Phase I consisted of a short-term, proof-of-concept study to investigate how GIS Services could be provided from centralized Information Service centers. (See Final PhaseI Report at: http://fsweb.ftcol.wo.fs.fed.us/imi/egis/ history/EGIS_POC_Final_Report_Oct04.pdf) Phase II (currently underway) has as its objectives to: provide specific written guidance that will assist the units in the implementation of an enterprise GIS; resolve issues described in the EGIS Phase II Strike Team issue document; support the initial implementation of consistent enterprise solutions to meet geospatial business needs; facilitate migration of geospatial services to the new computer system; develop a proposal for a long-term strategy; and staffing for EGIS. (See Phase II charter at: http://fsweb.ftcol.wo.fs.fed.us/imi/egis/ documents/EGIS_Charter.pdf) One (of many) deliverables of the Phase II effort is to develop an implementation plan for ArcIMS. In February 2005 the Phase II Team met to discuss implementation of enterprise solutions. The meeting examined desktop ArcGIS as it is implemented now, how ArcGIS desktop might be implemented through a Citrix server, the possible benefits of using ArcGIS Server and the potential for ArcIMS. The meeting participants discussed these topics as one large group, then broke out into smaller working groups to discuss what technology would make sense, when and where it should be implemented, how effective the network was, what could be done with each platform, and other topics. The conclusion was that ArcIMS and Web-based GIS could support all of the major resource areas of the Forest Service. The meeting did not conduct detailed requirements analysis for which Forest Service business requirements would be best implemented in that environment. Many interviewees felt that serving the public is an obvious top priority, and should be a major factor in determining business requirements. In this light, most interviewees agreed that communication and integration with the public is a critical use of GIS. Whenever the Forest Service requests or requires public comments and review, public input could have a geospatial component. This will facilitate public participation and the integration of the public's ideas into the Forest Service's resource management decision-making process. Communicating important changes in Forest Service resource status to the public – like road closures, fire danger, and weather conditions – could be done quickly and efficiently via WebGIS. The Forest Service is actively changing business practices in order to increase efficiency. The integration of GIS into the workflow could be seen as increased help for a downsized agency workforce. GIS professionals are spending more and more time fulfilling data and map requests, either to the public or to other Forests. In some instances, the implementation of WebGIS data and map download capabilities have greatly reduced their workload. Within the agency, there are mixed feelings about the use of the Internet to centralize GIS. On one hand, centralized GIS is seen as a way to reduce the numbers of systems, and personnel to maintain them, thus saving money. In addition, centralizing GIS is seen as a positive move towards improving consistency and more efficient database maintenance and standardization. On the other hand, centralized GIS is seen by some as an impediment to getting work done at the local forest level. Centralized GIS over the Internet means that there may not be access to local data, and that local GIS analysts will depend upon the Internet for access to applications and data– a disconcerting thought if one is not confident that either the servers providing the data and software, or the Internet providing the access will be up and running when needed the most. GIS data sets on both national and local scales could benefit from distribution through WebGIS. Both national and local data sets can be continuously available, and updates can be more frequent and instantaneous through the Internet. In addition, advances in WebGIS can integrate national and local data sets. Recent ArcIMS applications hosted by Tetra Tech allow the distribution of national or regional data sets over the Web through a centralized server, while permitting the simultaneous overlay and query of data situated on the user's local hard disk. This combination of centralized and localized data usage greatly increases the utility of WebGIS at the local level. C.3 Forest Service Resource Areas That Would Benefit from WebGIS Technology As previously mentioned, one of the goals of the EGIS Phase II team is to develop a WebGIS implementation plan based on current vendor relationships established within the Forest Service. However, when the EGIS team put together their priority list, they did not place this particular plan in the first priority tier, but in the second tier. The schedule for plan development and how the plan will descibe the workflow and business requirements has yet to be determined. Douglas S. Powell (National Moitoring and Evaluation Coordinator), the proposal author for this study, summed up the usefulness of WebGIS well when he wrote that "effective and sound natural resource management decisions are dependent on accurate, timely, reliable data on the resources. Any natural resource area that employs geo-spatial data in its inventory and monitoring activities, i.e., all natural resource areas, would benefit from WebGIS technology." In addition to natural resource areas, technology and personnel resources within the Forest Service could benefit as well. WebGIS could simplify data management and system administration through centralization. For example, the task of organizing thousands of Oracle databases across the country and centralizing this capability would help streamline administration and facilitate data standardization. It would also save time and money by helping reduce the amount of travel between offices, especially in remote regions like Region 10, where it is difficult to travel between islands to share GIS technology in person. As the technology becomes ubiquitous and easy to use, it will be key to making virtual meetings more realistic and plausible. The time required to organize, package and distribute data to other offices and the general public could also be dramatically reduced if more geospatial data were being served over the Internet, as would the time spent answering questions that could be easily portrayed in a map. In addition, personnel resources, such as office staff and fire crews, could be tracked by WebGIS. C.4 Public Collection and Entry of Inventory and Monitoring Data via the Internet WebGIS could be used as an effective interface for the public to enter data into agency data bases. Currently, however, only Forest Service staff can enter data into Forest Service databases via the Intranet, and the public cannot. The idea of allowing the public to enter inventory and monitoring data via the Internet is generally accepted as a good concept. If the data are collected by the Public and entered using Forest Service standards and protocols, the data can be validated and verified as accurate and reliable. If it can be properly implemented, the public can become the Forest Service's eyes and ears throughout the country for some types of data, and could dramatically expand the workforce without adding a proportionate cost. The Forest Service cannot be everywhere, so the public can give the Forest Service information via the Internet that may be hard to obtain, or that may help focus Forest Service management efforts more rapidly. Credible scientific controls would need to be designed into any application utilizing the general public as data collectors. The Forest Service has developed protocols and standards for developing GIS data sets, and these protocols and standards would have to be applied to public input as well. Methods would have to be in place to ensure that these protocols were being followed, that data quality standards were met, and that metadata were created for each data set. Ultimately, more data can be entered over the Internet by both the Forest Service and the public if the users are well trained, if the systems are easy to use, if the Web sites are developed to use the accepted protocols, and if the appropriate levels of data quality assurance are applied to the data before it is entered into a master data set. Prescreening and training the people allowed to enter data would help ensure quality. C.5 How WebGIS should be applied within the Forest Service Suggestions from interviewees for where the agency should go with WebGIS included data sharing, public involvement, and public relations, to inventory management and monitoring, fire suppression activities, and recreational activities. Below are just a few of the numerous ways that WebGIS could be applied within the Forest Service. C.5.1 Access and sharing of Data One of the prime opportunities for effectively using WebGIS within the agency is transferring consistent corporate geospatial data holdings (that are easily accessed, viewed and edited) to and from the general public, universities, Forest Service staff and other federal agencies. These data holdings include natural resource, fire, noxious weeds, invasive species, hunting and fishing, hiking and camping, and all of the other types of geospatial data that the agency collects and maintains and that can be requested via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). These and other data sets would be much more valuable if they were easier to access and use. For example, there is currently a rich source of geospatial data in the INFRA database for roads. This database is a tabular and spatial database in Oracle and SDE, which is effectively locked up because there is not a good, quick, and easy way of displaying the data. The data contained within INFRA are so normalized and stored in so many separate tables, that it is difficult to fully access. Unlocking this data set so that it can be more readily seen and used could be extremely valuable to the Forest Service, other agencies, and the general public. Once data are more available for viewing and editing, the public will become more involved and educated. WebGIS provides the opportunity for the public to become more involved in the planning and decision-making processes. Perhaps more opportunities to comment on-line about their experience and visits to a Forest, through a WebGIS like the one developed for the Chugach National Forest, would be a valuable way of capturing what was of value to visitors during their stay. In addition, involving the the public through a WebGIS could, in the least, allow the agency to cover more ground, with all of the public's eyes and ears, than they can with the current limited staff resources. WebGIS can also be used to engage and educate the public about the agency, its programs and its mission. This could be done through desktop Internet connections to Forest Service Web sites, and through other creative solutions that engage the public by bringing the Internet to them. One creative idea is to upgrade the kiosks on the ferry system in Alaska. Currently, the kiosks display static maps; however, it would be useful and educational if the kiosk maps used interactive geospatial data. In Southeast Alaska, people know that most land is managed by the Forest Service. It would be good for the public to know that a particular big clearcut on the side of the mountain was private land and not National Forest System land. The public could discover this through an interactive, Internet map. This type of information might be very good for pubic relations. Recreation on National Forest System land is an excellent candidate for utilizing the capabilities of WebGIS. Applications might include planning hiking trips to cabins and fire towers, including analyzing the best path based on shortest distance, difficulty, or access to water; providing photographs and videos of the path, key locations and overlooks along the way, and the final destination. The views could be seasonal, so that skiers could see the routes in the winter, and hikers could see what it looks like in the summer. This information could also be downloaded into a PDA and viewed while on the route to notify the user of their location or warn of potential hazards such as avalanche zones. This type of information could enhance the experience and safety of visitors to National Forests C.5.5 Resource Manager's Needs It is important to note that although the GSTC develops most of the WebGIS implementations for the Forest Service, it believes that it is the responsibility of the resource managers to drive the need for WebGIS and define how the technology should be used. This was the case in developing the sites listed in Section A.1, wherein specific needs of resource managers drove the design and development. During the interview process, resource managers described situations where they could have used WebGIS. For example, the Mountain View Ranger District on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest was conducting wildlife inventories. Because of their location (roughly 100 miles from Salt Lake City) they had many visitors each year. However, they only had two wilderness rangers, and could not effectively cover all of the trails. If WebGIS were being used in the region, the many visitors could have helped the rangers identify areas where maintenance was needed, such as the location of trash or a tree down across a trail. Another good example identified by interviewees is the need for mobile WebGIS for fighting fires. In fire-fighting situations, conditions change rapidly and can affect the safety of fire fighters and residents. WebGIS could be an effective tool to post changes in fire conditions and quickly distribute them to personnel fighting the fire. |
 
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