DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF GIS AND QUANTATIVE GEOGRAPHY TOOLS TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED ANALYSIS OF THE U.S. ARMY CORE OF ENGINEERS (ACOE) W

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0226699
• Grant No.: 2011-39567-31031
• Proposal No.: 2011-05084
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2011
• Project End Date: Dec 31, 2012
• Grant Year: 2011
• Program Code: [FF-I]- IBCE, Admin. Discretionary & Reim. Research

Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824

Performing Department
Dept. of Community, Agriculture, Recreation & Resource Studies

Non Technical Summary
Michigan State University will build a mapping system and web-based interface using Google maps which will integrate this information for use in the VERS Modernization Project. The mapping system will identify (1) recreation area boundaries, (2) entrances and exists, and (3) traffic counters. The mapping system will allow the ACOE to incorporate and regularly update information VERS related information. Further, the system will create a web-based user environment that will enable ACOE field staff to evaluate status of current recreation area configurations and traffic meter locations, recommend changes in recreation area configurations (add, delete, split, combine) and traffic meters (delete, add, move), and track status of decisions and implementation.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

50%

Developmental

50%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
134	0599	3010	50%
134	0599	3100	50%

Knowledge Area
134 - Outdoor Recreation;

Subject Of Investigation
0599 - Recreational resources, general/other;

Field Of Science
3010 - Economics; 3100 - Management;

Keywords

gis

geography tools

army core of engineer water projects

inventory

maps

Goals / Objectives
This project is an important component of the Army Corps of Engineers efforts to update and enhance its Visitation Estimation and Reporting System (VERS). Michigan State University is developing a comprehensive GIS analysis of (1) recreation area boundaries, (2) lake boundaries and the location of (3) VERS traffic counters. Michigan State University will build a mapping system and web-based interface using Google maps which will integrate this information for use in the VERS Modernization Project. The mapping system will identify (1) recreation area boundaries, (2) entrances and exists, and (3) traffic counters. The mapping system will allow the ACOE to incorporate and regularly update information VERS related information. Further, the system will create a web-based user environment that will enable ACOE field staff to evaluate status of current recreation area configurations and traffic meter locations, recommend changes in recreation area configurations (add, delete, split, combine) and traffic meters (delete, add, move), and track status of decisions and implementation.

Project Methods
Step 1: Identify and map ACOE Recreation Projects (PSAs) Identify the location of all ACOE Recreation Projects (PSA) on Google Maps. The coordinates of all PSAs will be determined and mapped. This will be accomplished using (1) Corps' Recreation Project brochures (2) aerial photos, and consultation with USACE staff. Develop web-based forms (Interface) showing all the PSA locations have been identified and verified. Step 2: Develop recreation area boundary maps and incorporate USACE staff notes into a VERS GIS Database Produce a PDF maps for each PSA that will be used (1) to communicate with USACE staff (e.g., answer questions, check inconsistence), and (2) to draw recreation area boundaries and making notes for the following steps. Identify and map PSA boundaries. Develop a web-based interface to record and incorporate project staff notes (e.g., area is closed) into the VERS GIS Database. Step 3: Determine and traffic counter locations for each Project and PSA Enter data related to traffic counter evaluation obtained from ACOE project field staff into VERS GIS Database. Identify and map traffic counter location (current or proposed showed on PSA map) using the PSA maps developed by project field staff. Verify traffic counter angles to be sure they cross the road . Determine and record the number and distribution of traffic counter relative to different PSAs. Step 4: Map and incorporate visitation importance notes into VERS GIS Database Integrate all field notes (i.e., traffic counter locations, boundaries, entry areas, recreation area changes) as part of the GIS maps specific to locations on the maps. Enter the subject/content of the notes into VERS GIS Database. Step 5: I identify and map all the entrance(s) and exit(s) for each PSA Utilize information and maps provided by project field staff in combination with road network maps and aerial photo to identify and obtain coordinates of all entrance(s) and exit(s).. Step 6: Convert all geo-information (boundaries, traffic counter locations, entrances) into KML files Convert geo-information into KML files for each ACOE recreation n project. The KML file will be used as a communication tool to verify visitation information, update and evaluation site configuration.

Progress 09/01/11 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A Web-based Natural Resource Inventory and Analysis Tool was developed and tested. The demonstration system displays fee and water boundaries for 485 Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) projects. It also maps and summaries (i.e., counts and measurements) for 9 different resources including (1) critical habitat, (2) important bird areas, (3) breeding bird survey routes, (4) coal deposits, (5) wetlands, (6) karst formations, (7) oil and gas wells, (8) federal protected areas, (9) impaired waters, (10) road density. This resource information is available within project boundaries and within 1 mile and 10-mile buffers form the boundaries The system allows users to perform overlays of different resources layers and provides overly maps, counts and measurements such as the number of oil and gas wells on critical habitat areas. The system provides summary and ranking information (i.e., measure and counts) at the project level and aggregate summaries for districts, divisions and different water shed levels. The system also provides socio-economic and economic information 10, 30 and 50 miles form the projects including such things as housing densities, population, household growth rates, unemployment and per capita income. GIS information including water boundary and fee boundary maps, recreation area boundaries, location of traffic counters, recreation facilities and public access points were provided to assist in modernizing the Army Corps of Engineers Visitation Estimating and Reporting System. A web site was developed to provide access to KML files showing this information for all ACOE projects. Users with passwords can download these maps. Users can also modify and update the information and store the changes on the server. A web-based survey was developed focused on collecting visitor spending information was developed for use by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of their 2012 VIS On-site Survey. The survey received OMB approval and was administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. A total of 879 surveys were completed and returned. The survey data will be analyzed with an emphasis on developing visitor-spending profiles for use in the ACOE's RECONS Model. PARTICIPANTS: Dr Yue Cui and Dr Ed Mahoney, Michigan State University, worked collaboratively with staff of the ACOE's Institute of Water Resources and Engineer Research and Development Center Waterways Experiment Station to design and carry out the research. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience of this project are ACOE staff persons. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: During the course of developing the GIS Maps the capacity and potential benefit for developing a web-based tool to allow the ACOE to access, analyze and update the resource information and GIS maps became apparent. The ACOE requested that this be undertaken.

Impacts
The outputs from this project were used by the ACOE as part of its VERS Modernization Project. This included re-locating traffic counters and developing sampling schemes for on-site surveys. The web-based survey that was pilot-tested during 2012 by the ACOE will be analyzed and modified for use in 2013 and 2014. It will become the primary instrument for gathering visitor spending information by the ACOE. This spending information will be used for estimating economic impacts of ACOE recreation. The demonstration Natural Resource Inventory and Analysis Tool was reviewed by ACOE biologists and is now being enhanced. The tool will be made available for use by the ACOE in 2013.

Publications

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