The Information Science Branch develops and applies approaches that integrate natural science, computer technology, and information management to address key natural resource issues. Branch staff work with USGS scientists and data managers to convert field observations into GIS-oriented data and metadata products. The Branch also supports ecological and landscape modeling, including the development of species distribution, state-transition, stochastic, and mechanistic models. This work improves and expands the universe of ecological data that is readily available to the scientific community. In addition, the Branch develops high-priority species observation and model data, GIS and remote sensed research artifacts, and metadata.
Surface Disturbance and Reclamation Tracking Tool (SDARTT)
Working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Information Science Branch helped design, develop, and implement the Surface Disturbance and Reclamation Tracking Tool (SDARTT). This effort produced a national data collection and reporting application, allowing BLM offices to build an inventory of geospatial landscape disturbance data and then apply planning scenarios for further disturbance, reclamation, and mitigation. The BLM uses this set of tools to determine whether: interim and long-term requirements and criteria are being met, reclamation and monitoring protocols are providing appropriate and sufficient information, and data are being collected as specified. This effort enables the BLM to evaluate large amounts of data and to derive information that was previously unavailable, such as total acreage impacted, spatial changes over time, habitat fragmentation, stage of reclamation by feature or as a summary, and the success of reclamation efforts at a landscape level.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Surface Disturbance and Reclamation Tracking Tool (SDARTT)
The Information Science Branch develops and applies approaches that integrate natural science, computer technology, and information management to address key natural resource issues. Branch staff work with USGS scientists and data managers to convert field observations into GIS-oriented data and metadata products. The Branch also supports ecological and landscape modeling, including the development of species distribution, state-transition, stochastic, and mechanistic models. This work improves and expands the universe of ecological data that is readily available to the scientific community. In addition, the Branch develops high-priority species observation and model data, GIS and remote sensed research artifacts, and metadata.
Surface Disturbance and Reclamation Tracking Tool (SDARTT)
Working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Information Science Branch helped design, develop, and implement the Surface Disturbance and Reclamation Tracking Tool (SDARTT). This effort produced a national data collection and reporting application, allowing BLM offices to build an inventory of geospatial landscape disturbance data and then apply planning scenarios for further disturbance, reclamation, and mitigation. The BLM uses this set of tools to determine whether: interim and long-term requirements and criteria are being met, reclamation and monitoring protocols are providing appropriate and sufficient information, and data are being collected as specified. This effort enables the BLM to evaluate large amounts of data and to derive information that was previously unavailable, such as total acreage impacted, spatial changes over time, habitat fragmentation, stage of reclamation by feature or as a summary, and the success of reclamation efforts at a landscape level.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.