GIS PROJECTS conducted by Stacey L. Stark
and Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory
Hartley Nature Center Interactive Mapping Website
This project is creating an interactive geographic information system (GIS) map to incorporate into the existing Hartley Nature Center website. Hartley Nature Center (HNC) is a non-profit educational facility in Duluth that conducts educational programs that emphasize the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the natural environment. The interactive mapping service (IMS) developed in this project will enable users to select GIS layers to view and query spatial data and print customized maps of Hartley Nature Area and its tremendous natural and recreation resources. The tools embedded in the internet map will greatly aid in the dissemination of valuable wildlife inventory, natural and cultural history, and natural resource data that has been collected and mapped at Hartley during its history as a public space.
Funded by the Center for Community and Regional Research.
Stacey Stark (GISL)
Website is currently under development.
Pharmacy Accessibility Analysis for Minnesota Residents, changes from 1992-2002
New pharmacies are built and older ones closed to serve growing populations and changing city geographies in Minnesota . To explore what demographics have been affected by longer driving distances to pharmacies over a decade of change, a “closest facility” analysis was done using ArcGIS 9.1 Network Analyst tools in ModelBuilder. Network analysis is particularly useful to this study in Minnesota , where many lakes result in a driving distance quite different from a straight-line distance. Routes were generated from the center of each census block to the closest pharmacy in 1992 and in 2002 using Census 2000 blocks for the entire state. Scripting was completed in Python to batch process the approximately 175,000 blocks in 87 counties. The data were aggregated by counties, block density, and urban areas to reveal geographic trends of increasing and decreasing distances to the closest pharmacy.
Stacey Stark (GISL) , Jon Schommer (UM Pharmacy)
S.L. Stark . Finding Closest Pharmacies. Presented at ESRI International User Conference 2006.
Methodology to Incorporate Historic/Prehistoric Surface Hydrology layer in Mn/Model
This research is developing methodology to identify indicators of past surface hydrologic features in order to update Mn/Model, a GIS predictive model of archaeological site potential, with a layer representing historic and modern hydrology for MN Department of Transportation. During the last 150 years, agricultural practices and other land-altering activities have drained some features and created others. Prehistorically (since glacial retreat), natural processes have caused shifts of location in lakes and streams. GIS methodology will primarily utilize soils and digital elevation data to reveal the presence of the historic and prehistoric hydrologic features, with a host of other spatial data providing strength to the indicators.
Funded by the Center for Transportation Studies
Stacey Stark (GISL), Pat Farrell (Geography), Sue Mulholland (Archaeology)
Department of Transportation Basemap Editing
The goal of this project was to create a 1:24,000 scale digital set of Geographic Information System (GIS) BaseMap data for inclusion in Mn/DOT's Location Data Server. The effort focused on editing, updating, testing, and documenting existing Mn/DOT BaseMap data developed by Mn/DOT staff. Efforts will concentrate on the evaluation and update of the existing public road network.
Funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation
Stacey Stark (GISL)
S.L. Stark . The Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory's Role in the Creation of a Statewide Roadway Data Resource. Presented at the Northland Advanced Transportation Systems Research Laboratories Research Day, 2004.
Coastal Area Imperviousness Assessment and Education
This project prepared the impervious surface calculations to implement the NEMO ( Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) program in many communities in the Minnesota Lake Superior basin. An assessment of four different procedures for obtaining impervious surfaces using aerial photography and GIS technology, will compare the accuracy and efficiency of each, and use the most accurate to calculate current impervious surface amounts for the coastal zone region. The mapping of impervious surfaces on a regional basis will reduce both the cost and the time required to bring the NEMO program to all communities in this region. The result of this project will make NEMO available to all interested communities in this region, and allow them to identify potential surface and ground water quality hazards in various development scenarios.
Funded by MN DNR Coastal Program and the Center for Community and Regional Research.
Jesse Schomberg (MN Sea Grant), Stacey Stark (GISL) , Mark White (NRRI)
Modeling Solar Radiation Estimates with Solar Analyst
The ArcView extension Solar Analyst (HEMI, Los Alamos , NM ) was used to estimate solar radiation at wetlands in 6 National Parks. The output was used to estimate UV-B exposure to wetlands as part of a characterization of amphibian habitat in 6 National Parks. A second part of this project artificially modified existing digital elevation models (DEMs) to account for vegetative cover around the wetland sample sites (essentially creating a different horizon than the ground). The height of the vegetation impacts the solar radiation estimate, and these modifications are to estimate what that impact might be. Clinometers were used in the field to measure zenith angles to the horizon at 10 -12 azimuths at each site. These angles were used to modify the DEM at a 300 meter radius from the wetland sample site coordinates with the "effective" vegetative horizon height at that distance.
Funded by EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division.
Stacey Stark (GISL) , Steve Diamond (Mid-Continent Ecology Division, EPA)
Diamond, SA, PC Trenham, MJ Adams, BR Hossack, RA Knapp, D Bradford, PS Corn, K Czarnowski, SL Stark , PD Brooks, D Fagre, B Breen, NE Detenbeck, K Konnessen. Estimated ultraviolet radiation doses in wetlands in six National Parks. Ecosystems. In press.
Stark, S.L , Solar Radiation Estimates Using Digital Elevation Models . Presented at the MN GIS/LIS Consortium Conference, October 2003.
Diamond, S; S.L. Stark . Estimating solar radiation exposure in wetlands using radiation models. Presented to the Department of Biology, University of Minnesota , Duluth . October 2003.
Watershed Characterization, Classification, and Assessment Framework
Nationwide, there is a strong need to streamline methods for assessing impairment of surface waters, diagnosing cause of biological impairment, estimating total maximum daily loads (TMDL's) and/or prioritizing watershed restoration activities. To more efficiently deal with TMDL-related issues, an integrated approach to small watershed assessment, diagnosis, and restoration planning that is based on differences in sensitivity and probability of impairment among watershed classes is needed. Objectives of this collaborative Regional-Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (R-EMAP) included developing and testing a small watershed characterization and classification system to explain variation in reference condition.
Detenbeck, N E., L.A. Jagger, S.L. Stark , M.A. Starry. 2004. Watershed Classification Framework for the State of West Virginia : WV R-EMAP Final Report. EPA/600/R-03/141. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division Report. Duluth , MN .
Watershed Characterization for fish population studies
Watershed area, channel gradient, percentage of watershed in mature forest, percent recently logged, and percent lake and wetland cover, were quantified using ARC/INFO software from GIS data obtained from a variety of sources. Mature forest cover was quantified as >15-year-old stands using the GIS developed from late 1980s Thematic Mapper and Multi-Spectral Scanner satellite imagery.
Brazner, J., D.Tanner, N.Detenbeck, S.Batterman, S. Stark , L. Jagger, and V. Snarski. Regional, watershed, and site-specific environmental influences on fish assemblage structure and function in western Lake Superior tributaries. Canadian J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science. Vol. 62, pp. 1254–1270. June 2005.
Brazner, J., D. Tanner, N. Detenbeck, S. Batterman, S. Stark , L. Jagger, and V. Snarski. Landscape Character and Fish Assemblage Structure and Function in Western Lake Superior Streams: General Relationships and Identification of Thresholds . Environmental Management Vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 855–875. May 2004.