The Cyberinfrastructure for Environmental Research and Education area of the IMUA NSF Hawai'i EPSCoR II grant at University of Hawai'i at Hilo is proud to present:
Keahola Kinney, USDA Biological Science Technician, and recent UH Hilo Geography and Environmental Studies department graduate, discussing tips and tricks in ArcGIS. His brief talk is followed by a self-directed tutorial based on the subject of the week.
If you are curious about GIS and would like to talk to like minded folks, please join us for this ongoing informal workshop & hands-on user group gathering.
Spring 2007 Workshops and Presentations
""Can the ‘N-SPECT’ watershed model help us make decisions to improve water quality in Hilo Bay watershed?""
***WEDNESDAY, May 2, 5pm to 6pm***
University Classroom Building, Room 100
Presented by Dana Okano, University of Hawaii at Manoa, PhD candidate
Dana Okano presents discuss and demonstrates NOAA's watershed modeling tool, N-SPECT, an ArcGIS extension. Residents of Hawai'i Island often wonder what can be done to improve water quality in Hilo Bay. This presentation introduces a new watershed model created by NOAA to assist us in that decision-making process. There will be information for anyone who wants to know about impacts on water quality at both the household level and the government level. You will also have the opportunity to provide your thoughts and opinions about the usefulness of this model through a brief survey.
"Development of the Nonpoint Source Erosion and Comparison Tool (NSPECT) for Resource Management in the Waiulaula Watershed: South Kohala, Big Island"
***MONDAY, April 9, 5pm to 6pm***
University Classroom Building, Room 100
Presented by Katie Gaut, University of Hawai`i at Hilo Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science MS candidate Presentation
Katie Gaut presents "Development of the Nonpoint Source Erosion and Comparison Tool (NSPECT) for Resource Management in the Waiulaula Watershed: South Kohala, Big Island".
N-SPECT was developed as a GIS-based screening tool for resource managers to estimate surface runoff, NPS pollution, and erosion. The model also has the capability to simulate management scenarios for rapid assessment of potential impacts of land use change on water quality. The goal of Ms. Gaut's research is to calibrate and evaluate the performance of the N-SPECT watershed model as a management tool in the data-deficient Waiulaula watershed on the leeward coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Sensitivity analysis of Hawaii-specific land cover and precipitation inputs will identify potential sources of uncertainty in the model. Results of her research are expected to identify NPS critical areas within the Waiulaula watershed, approximate sediment and nutrient runoff, and estimate potential load reductions from implementation of best management practices (BMPs). The calibrated model is anticipated to provide resource managers with a tool for proactive land use management strategies to mitigate future impacts from NPS pollution.
"Application of the Nonpoint Source Comparison Tool (N-SPECT) Pollution Model in the Wai'anae Watershed"
***WEDNESDAY, April 11, 8am to 9am***
UH Hilo, Kanaka'ole Hall, Room 273
Presented by Katie Gaut, University of Hawai`i at Hilo Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental
Science MS candidate
Fall 2006 Workshops and Presentations
"Species distribution modelling using Desktop GARP"
***MONDAY, September 11, 3pm-4pm***
University Classroom Building, Room 100
Presented by Melora Purell,University of Hawai'i at Hilo Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science master's candidate Streaming Video|Presentation - The World According to GARP
Melora will demonstrate ecological niche models of Tibouchina herbacea and Psidium cattleianum (Strawberry Guava) distribution, and discuss environmental parameters of rule-set spatial predictions. These models can be used to predict where invasive or endangered species are likely to be found, based on known presence locations. Such models have been used for invasive species management, habitat preservation, and other kinds of landscape-scale analyses.
"Intro to Trimble GeoXT"
***THURSDAY, November 2, 2:30pm-3:30pm***
***FRIDAY, November 3, 2:30pm-3:30pm***
SDAL Instructional Lab
Kanaka'ole Hall, Room 273
Presented by Lisa Canale,Program Manager, EPSCoR-UHH-CERE
The GeoXT is a handheld GPS that combine a Trimble GPS receiver with a field computer running the Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PCs.
Come learn about GPS/Real-time correction, Planning a data collection session, Creating Data Dictionary, Collecting data, pausing, repeating features,
creating a vertex, Offseting a line or area, Offsetting points, Processing data to remove atmospheric errors, Importing&Exporting data files,
and you just might want to borrow this equipment for your own research project!
Spring 2006 Workshops and Presentations
"Introduction to Remote Sensing Analysis using Leica ERDAS Imagine"
***FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2-4pm***
SDAL Instructional Lab
Kanaka'ole Hall, Room 273
Presented by Drs Sun Park&Rosemary Sherriff, Geography&Environmental Studies Department
"Surface Water Runoff Modeling in the Hilo Bay Watershed"
***MONDAY, March 20, 12pm-1pm***
Marine Science Building, Room 112
Presented by Dana Okano, UH Manoa CTAHR Graduate student
"Ruggedized Field Computing using Xplore Techologies iX104C2 AllVue Tablet PC"
***MONDAY, April 3, 3-5pm***
SDAL Instructional Lab
Kanaka'ole Hall, Room 273
Presented by Dr. Ken Hon, Geology Department
"Streamlining Geoprocessing using ArcGIS ModelBuilder"
***THURSDAY, May 4, 9am-1pm***
SDAL Instructional Lab
Kanaka'ole Hall, Room 273
Presented by Cynthia Phillips, Geography&Environmental Studies/Keaholoa
Spatial Tech Talks - Fall 2005
When: Thursdays, 5 pm - 6 pm
Where: University of Hawai'i, Hilo Campus, University Classroom Building (UCB), Rm 100
Guest speaker series
Applied spatial technology research presented by notable scientists
Technical workshops on advanced ArcGIS topics
Who: All are welcome!!! Parking is free after 4:00 pm
Please note:The Spatial Tech Talk presentations and slides are for educational use and should not be used in a publication without written authorization from the author.
August 18, 2005 - Remote Sensing of Hawaiian Ecosystems
Dr. Greg Asner,Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology&Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University
An enormous range of climatic and soil variation occurs throughout Hawaii, providing diverse ecological settings in which to develop new remote sensing theories, methods, and applications. Given the wide ranging environmental problems facing terrestrial ecosystems in Hawaii, such as land-use change, invasive species and climate change, remote sensing has much to offer at the local and regional levels. The Carnegie Institution has developed a regional ecosystems analysis program in Hawaii to forward remote sensing research for ecosystem studies, conservation and management. The program focuses on the use of new technologies such as field-based, airborne and space-based imaging spectroscopy and laser detection and ranging (LIDAR) to better understand ecosystem structure, biogeochemistry, and species composition across the landscape. Some recent results focused on bioclimatic determinants of ecosystem structure, as a window into potential future changes in the ecology of Hawaiian systems with climate change. Other studies have focused on the impacts of invasive species on canopy biochemistry and biogeochemical cycling. This talk will present the goals, activities and recent findings of the Carnegie program, and will highlight its ongoing collaborative efforts with State, federal, and private organizations in Hawaii.
August 25, 2005 - Creating an ArcGIS Fly-Through&Introduction to ArcGIS
Paul Berkowitz,EPSCoR- ITER at University of Hawai'i at Hilo
This lecture introduces ArcGIS 9.1, the world's leading GIS (Geographic Information System) software. The focus will be on how to use the software’s main applications, ArcMap and ArcCatalog. It will begin with a 3D fly-through to exhibit some of the software's more advanced features, and then move on to more workhorse topics. The talk also serves as an introduction to a hands-on ArcGIS workshop for UH Faculty and researchers, scheduled for the following morning in Kanaka'ole Hall room 273. Seeing is one thing, but doing is another: the best way to learn ArcGIS is to use it!
August 26, 2005 - Introduction to ArcGIS and Creating an ArcGIS Fly-Through
Paul Berkowitz,EPSCoR- ITER at University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Special hands-on ArcGIS workshop for UH faculty&researchers: UH Hilo, Kanaka'ole Hall room 273 from 8:30 am to noon.
Space is limited, email sdalhelp@hawaii.edu to register.
September 8, 2005 - Integrating GIS and GPS Applications Into K-12 and Undergraduate Science Programs
Derek Masaki,Pacific Basin Information Node, U.S. Geological Survey
USGS Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN), located on the Maui Community College (MCC) campus, has been working with community college faculty and K-12 educators to promote the integration of spatial technologies in the science classroom environment. USGS staff have assisted in the development of a Geographic Information System (GIS) teaching lab through the extension program, and have been active in the instruction of students, staff and educators. During the last six months USGS staff have been working in the field with MCC Ethnobotanist Cathy Davenport and instructors associated with the Pikoi Ke Kaula Kualena native Hawaiian science education program. The students at MCC and with the Pikoi program have been using GPS and GIS to georeference restoration efforts on land and in the ocean. Derek Masaki, Technical Coordinator with the Pacific Basin Information Node, will demonstrate the applications and results from the student fieldwork.
September 15, 2005 - Exploring ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension
Paul Berkowitz,EPSCoR-ITER at University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Add another dimension to your data, maps, and analysis! With the 3D Analyst extension, ArcGIS 9.1 users can view, explore, and analyze 3D data at wide range of scales. How can you make a tree rise above your map surface? How can you raise the height of a polygon? Which is better, discrete 3D data or surface data? What type of surface is best for your project, raster or TIN (triangulated irregular network)? How can you build a 3D scene and navigate through it? How do you create an animation file? This lecture will answer these questions and more, while introducing GIS users to the main components of 3D Analyst.
September 22, 2005 - Applications of satellite remotely-sensed oceanographic data to ocean and ecosystem studies around the Hawaiian Archipelago
Dr. Jeffrey Polovina,Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA
For the past decade Dr. Polovina and the team at NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center have developed and applied methods for using satellite measurements of sea surface height, surface wind, ocean color, and sea surface temperature to describe the ocean dynamics around Hawaii. Dr. Polovina and team have found sea surface height useful in estimating geostrophic currents and changes in the depth of the thermocline. Ocean color has provided estimates of surface chlorophyll which is used both to monitor summer blooms and the boundary of water masses. Surface wind data provides an estimate of surface currents. Sea surface temperature has been useful in detecting cold-core eddies. Examples of applications of these data will be presented to describe some aspects of the ocean dynamics around the Hawaiian Archipelago. Approaches to merging satellite and biological data will be discussed.
September 23, 2005 - ArcGIS 9 - Using 3D Analyst Extension
Paul Berkowitz,EPSCoR- ITER at University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Special hands-on ArcGIS workshop for UH faculty&researchers: UH Hilo, Kanaka'ole Hall room 273 from 8:30 am to noon.
Space is limited, email sdalhelp@hawaii.edu to register.
September 29, 2005 - Coupling Biological and Physical Processes Across a Range of Scales in the Coastal Ocean
Dr. Margaret McManus,Oceanography Department at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Streaming Video - coming soon
As technology evolves to permit observations at smaller spatial scales, new phenomena are often observed. Within the last decade, significant advances in optical and acoustical methods have produced new high-resolution descriptions of the distributions of plankton. Recently, quantitative calibrated optical and acoustical instruments and methods for their deployment, have been developed which have detected structures within the water column characterized by vertical scales on the order of 10s of centimeters. These‘thin layers’range in thickness from a few centimeters to a few meters, may extend horizontally for kilometers and may persist for days. They are characterized by in-layer planktonic densities that can be orders of magnitude greater than the densities just above or below the structure. Frequently, there may be multiple thin layers in a single vertical profile, each with a distinct plankton assemblage. Traditional sampling methods, usually performed with bottles mounted on CTD packages deployed at a relatively rapid rate of descent or with net tows, tend to vertically average out features with spatial scales less than several meters in the vertical dimension. Dr. McManus will discuss the importance of these thin biological structures and their relationship to physical oceanographic processes in the coastal ocean.
October 13, 2005 - Internet Mapping Services and the Pacific Basin Information Node ArcIMS site
Mike McMahon,Hawaii Biodiversity&Mapping Program, Center for Conservation Research and Training, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
GIS tools and datasets have become increasingly complex, making it more difficult (and time-consuming) to anticipate user's needs provide appropriate maps. ESRI's ArcIMS (Internet Map Server) makes it relatively easy for organizations to share as much of their GIS datasets as they choose, and allow their users to perform analyses and create dynamic maps previously only possible with a desktop GIS. More GIS-savvy users can access ArcIMS services through other ESRI products, such as ArcGIS and even ArcExplorer.
The mission of the Hawaii Biodiversity and Mapping Program (HBMP, formerly The Hawaii Natural Heritage Program) is to"gather, synthesize, and disseminate comprehensive information on the status and location of Hawai'i's biological resources", and a critical tool in our work is geoinformatics. Through a partnership with the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN), HBMP uses a customized ArcIMS application to provide users with biological data for the Hawaiian Islands and U.S. protectorates. Come see how Mike has put together the mapping website and learn some of the basics of ArcIMS.
October 20, 2005 - Next Generation Ocean Observing Systems
Dr. James Bellingham,Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
The next generation of ocean observing systems will consist of a mix of mobile platforms and fixed infrastructure. A highly heterogeneous mix of observational elements - instrumentation packages and vehicles - will be reconfigured at will to respond to observational opportunities and changing objectives. The backbone of such observing capability will be the data system, which will need to satisfy or support needs such as establishing basic connectivity of the system, archiving data, modeling and real-time prediction, ensuring integrity of data, real-time decision aids, and data search and discovery. This talk will review some of the lessons learned thus far in distributed observation field programs, such as AOSN, and in the development of fixed ocean observatories such as MOOS and MARS. Drawing lessons from other scientific communities, Jim will speculate on the evolution of the data needs of the emerging ocean observatory community, and outline some technical challenges.
October 20, 2005 - Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV)
Dr. James Bellingham,Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Dr. Bellingham has led more than 20 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) expeditions in locations such as Antarctic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, South Pacific, and the Arctic. He has been the Director of Engineering at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) since January 1999 and the Principal Research Engineer at MIT's Sea Grant College Program since July 1994. He is also a founder and Board of Directors member of Bluefin Robotics Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AUVs for the military, commercial, and scientific markets. Come hear Dr. Bellingham discuss his experiences developing and operating Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.
October 27, 2005 - ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension
Paul Berkowitz,EPSCoR- ITER at University of Hawai'i at Hilo
What are the most important differences between GIS and cartography? There are many, but perhaps near the top of the list would be the ability to process and manipulate grid-based data. Within ArcGIS, the extension Spatial Analyst is the primary tool for working with raster or cell-based data. Spatial Analyst provides a wide range of analytical tools including tools for surface analysis, interpolation, reclassification, algebraic manipulation, and spatial statistics. In this lecture, Paul will start with an overview of the capabilities of Spatial Analyst, and then move on to an applied example that uses Spatial Analyst to select suitable areas for a hypothetical re-vegetation project in East Hawai'i.
October 28, 2005 ArcGIS 9 - Using Spatial Analyst extension
Paul Berkowitz,EPSCoR- ITER at University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Special hands-on ArcGIS workshop for UH faculty&researchers: UH Hilo, Kanaka'ole Hall room 273 from 8:30 am to noon.
Space is limited, email sdalhelp@hawaii.edu to register.
November 10, 2005 - Detailed high resolution vegetation mapping of the Hanalei watershed using object based classification
Stephen Ambagis,Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, USGS
The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of using very high resolution (VHR) satellite imagery in conjunction with an object based classification routine to accurately map vegetation at a fine scale. The desired minimum mapping unit was the alliance level, as described by the National Vegetation Mapping Standard. To date the majority of vegetation mapping efforts either use the tried and true method of aerial interpretation or standard pixel based image classification using landsat imagery. With the recent introduction of VHR satellite platforms such as IKONOS and Quickbird many agencies have attempted to take advantage of the increased spatial resolution and map at a detailed level while keeping time investment at a minimum. Few have had much success due to the inherent problems of using classic pixel based classifications on this type of imagery. Recently a series of researchers have developed object-based approaches to the classification process. One of the better known software packages incorporating this type of classification approach is eCognition produced by Definiens of Germany. Their unique set of tools was specifically developed to deal with the problems of VHR imagery and has been used with varying degrees of success to map complex vegetation systems in Europe and on the mainland. This software was used in conjunction with Quickbird imagery to map the Hanalei watershed in northern Kauai. The results from this pilot area will be presented along with up coming opportunities for continued assessment of the methodology.
*The streaming videos require "Real Player" to be installed on your computer. You can download it at: http://www.real.com
**The presentations on this page are in the pdf file format and require Adobe Reader to be installed on your machine. You can download Adobe Reader from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0554657. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation
