NPScape Data 2009

Budde, Peter

From Official Overview: "NPScape Product Delivery (December, 2009) In September we provided an update on our progress towards satisfying initial goals of the NPScape (landscape dynamics) project. One of the highest initial goals was the delivery of data, maps, and documentation. We are pleased to make available the first set of NPScape products. This initial NPScape product delivery represents the culmination of a significant data mining, data processing, data analysis, and product generation undertaking. Based on initial project management decisions to focus on six landscape measures ( population, housing, roads, landcover, pattern, and conservation status), procedures and tools were developed to systematically generate a large quantity of data, maps and graphics. Numerous framework documents and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are also included; these documents are enumerated in an accompanying project “read me” file, the Technical Guide. Additionally, an Interpretive Guide was developed to describe the ecological relevance of NPScape products and data as they relate to understanding current as well as anticipated landscape dynamics conditions. The target audience for the overall project spans the range from a GIS specialist who will benefit from the developed geospatial data and tools, a Network ecologist or park resource management specialist who will be interested in general landscape metrics presented in a local (within 30 kilometers of an individual park unit) and regional (based on proposed DOI ecosystem frameworks) context, and park superintendents who can incorporate summary statistics and graphics in reports or briefings. These products represent outputs of the initial stage of NPScape. Future NPScape tasks, which will be initiated in calendar year 2010, will address a number of additional topics, including: development of additional landscape measurement categories and respective metrics; tools to streamline the incorporation of procedures into existing GIS and ecological analyses; and comparison of the nationwide datasets and analyses to local resources and park conditions. Each of these subsequent efforts will benefit Networks as they develop park-based landscape dynamics reports, contribute to anticipated climate change vulnerability assessments, and inform other ecosystem-based analyses. We look forward to your thoughtful review of these products and tools. More importantly, we anticipate and encourage you to provide feedback. Please direct your comments to Peter Budde (peter_budde@nps.gov)."