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GAP Analysis of Geospatial Data from Selected Pacific and Caribbean Units of the National Park Service

GAP Analysis of Geospatial Data from Selected Pacific and Caribbean Units of the National Park Service


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Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to develop a spatial framework to integrate and synthesize existing, disparate, digital spatial, temporal and information databases for several National Park Service (NPS)-managed Pacific and Caribbean Park Units. Information content will be assimilated into a web-based mapping and database portal with FGDC compliant metadata records. Additionally, the aforementioned product will be evaluated to determine and prioritize gaps in geospatial information.

Project Summary

Through a GAP analysis, this project serves to identify, obtain, synthesize, and evaluate all existing ecological, oceanographic, socio-economic, cultural, and remote sensing datasets available for several NPS-managed Pacific and Caribbean marine Park Units. These units include:

  • Buck Island Reef National Monument, USVI
  • Virgin Islands National Park, USVI
  • Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Reserve, St. Croix, USVI
  • Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, St. John, USVI
  • War-in-the-Pacific National Park, Guam
  • National Park of American Samoa
  • Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Hawaii
  • Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii

This effort will inventory and incorporate all existing digital products and geospatial information into a common geodatabase. A custom web portal will be designed and implemented to provide access to the data and metadata with security access enabled as requested by NPS.

Implementation of successful management and monitoring strategies for NPS Caribbean and Pacific Park Units is predicated upon having a complete inventory of past and present datasets and information. While a host of academic, Federal, State, NGO, and Territorial entities have collected information for the respective Park Units, this information is disparate in its temporal, spatial and quantitative coverage.

Developing a systematic and synoptic inventory and monitoring program requires understanding of baseline mapping and databases available so as to be able to strategically target and fill existing informational gaps. The outcome of this project will be to provide baseline of the existing digital information within the MPA’s, but will also afford the first opportunity to systematically compile information for these locations into a common spatial framework. This information will primarily serve to better inform local NPS managers as to the existing state of resources, provide a baseline for future comparative efforts, and guide present and future monitoring efforts. Furthermore, these data and the monitoring activities conducted by NPS and NOAA will serve a larger research, management, and monitoring strategy by enabling inter-jurisdictional comparisons of coral reef ecosystems world-wide.

Products

Future -

Future -

  • Final Deliverable Report (September 2011) – Report detailing the results of the GAP analysis and recommendations on prioritized future data acquisition (mapping, methodology, classification scheme) efforts to meet management needs
  • Spatial Data - All acquired spatial data, derived data, and FGDC metadata will be made available at a web and data portal.
  • GIS Products - All data will be provided as an ArcGIS geodatabase with underlying projection information, shapefile and attributes.

Partners

Relevant Links

Time Frame

September 2009 - September 2011

For More Information

Project Manager:
1305 East West Highway
SSMC-IV, N/SCI-1
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-3028 ext 171



1305 East West Highway
SSMC-IV, N/SCI-1
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-3028