photo from a ridgetop of foothills and mountains, trees in foreground. photo credit julie duval

GIS Services

Right from our organization’s start in the early 1990s, we have prioritized strong GIS capabilities to power our science. Our GIS team works closely with our biologists on many research projects to help organize, process, and manage spatial data, work out data sharing agreements with partners, and create scripts and tools to improve the researchers’ efficiency.

Program Lead
Julie Duval
logs and caribou in a snowy forest
This 3-year study will evaluate the potential of new forest management practices to benefit both woodland caribou and growth and yield.
Woodland caribou calving areas and calf survival in relation to habitat selection, anthropogenic disturbance, and exposure to predation risk
This project will identify caribou calving habitat and relate calf survival to predation risk and anthropogenic disturbance.
Swan Hills (BMA 7) Grizzly Bear Population Inventory
This DNA mark-recapture study uses hair snags to conduct the first ever estimate of the population of grizzly bears in BMA 7.
Clearwater (BMA 4) Grizzly Bear Population Inventory
This DNA mark-recapture study uses hair snags to conduct the first repeat estimate of the population of grizzly bears in BMA 4.
Establishment of PSP Network to Monitor Stand Dynamics and Establish Yield Curves for Stands Killed by MPB
As a result of significant in-flights of mountain pine beetles coming from British Columbia in 2006 and 2009, as well as subsequent local production, there are widely distributed pine dominated stands throughout Alberta that have been significantly affected by MPB-caused mortality. Mortality is most prevalent from West-Central Alberta, in the Grande Prairie are and northwest of Manning.
Linkages between forestry practices, ungulate abundance, and the habitat use and performance of grizzly bear in and adjacent to woodland caribou habitat
This project will improve our understanding of how forestry practice is affecting ungulates and how grizzly bears are responding.
Can forestry and silviculture practices help increase caribou functional habitat in west-central Alberta?
This project will evaluate and mitigate industrial impacts on west-central Alberta Caribou herds.
The Columbia Trail
Uncovering a piece of history.
Potential Impacts of Mountain Pine Beetle and Management Actions on Grizzly Bear and Caribou Populations in West-Central Alberta
This project will determine how MPB-killed stands are impacting caribou and grizzly bear habitat.
Response of threatened species to linear features and landscape change in a managed forest ecosystem in West Central Alberta
How are caribou affected by the roads and seismic lines criss-crossing their habitat?
Analysis and restoration of seismic cutlines in Southern Mountain and Boreal caribou range in west-central Alberta
Starting in 2013, this project is looking at how caribou and wolf behaviour is related to cutlines.
Grizzly Bear Handling Knowlege Transfer with the Statlim First Nation in Lillooet, BC
A collaboration with the Environment Program at St’át’imc Government Services (SGS) to improve management of grizzly bears.
Collecting Scat with Citizen Science to Monitor Grizzly Bear Populations
Collecting the DNA from scat is a non-invasive method of tracking grizzly bear populations.
Impacts of New Forestry Approaches on Grizzly Bear Habitat Use and Movement
This project will investigate whether new approaches to forestry can minimize impacts on resident grizzly bears.
Yellowhead (BMA 3) Grizzly Bear Population Inventory
This project uses DNA from hair snags to create a population inventory of grizzly bears in BMA 3 and Jasper National Park.
Grizzly Bear Research Database
The GIS Program is centralizing and maintaining the Grizzly Bear Program's massive spatial database.
GeoConnections FRImap
This was a product for exploring west-central Alberta. The platform that it used was deprecated.
Grizzly Bears and Pipelines: Response to Unique Linear Features
This project will assist the oil and gas industry and land managers to better understanding the response of grizzly bears to pipelines.
Research to Support Recovery and Long Term Conservation of Grizzly Bears in Alberta
This project develops population recovery targets based on habitat, and non-invasive techniques for monitoring grizzly bear reproductive performance.
Research and applied tools to enhance forest management linkages to Grizzly Bear conservation and recovery in Alberta
This project will use new and existing data sets to produce tools for use in forest management planning related to grizzly bear and caribou habitat use.
Dynamic Regeneration of Grizzly Bear Food Model
This is a GIS tool developed by the fRI Research Grizzly Bear Program that regenerates the spatial grizzly bear food models developed by Dr. Scott Nielsen.
Ecosystem Based Management in the Boreal Forest: Interactive Map of Case Studies
Interactive StoryMaps | GIS Products
Interactive map to view case studies across Canada.
Studying Grizzly Bears in Alberta
Interactive StoryMaps | GIS Products
Over two decades of data, tools, and knowledge.
Explore the Caribou Webtools
Interactive StoryMaps | GIS Products
An ESRI Story Map about the online GIS tools to support caribou and their habitat.
Wanderers
Interactive StoryMaps | GIS Products
A StoryMap about the GIS and Grizzly Bear Program's work to conserve grizzly bear's in Alberta.
predator movement on seismic lines infographic. download pdf for full text
Summaries and Communications | Infographics
Graphical abstract for the paper, "Natural regeneration on seismic lines influences movement behaviour of wolves and grizzly bears."
wolf
Scientific Publications | Peer Reviewed Papers
Peer reviewed paper from the Caribou, GIS, and Grizzly Bear Programs.
Geographic Scope of fRI Research
Interactive StoryMaps | GIS Products
An interactive map of where our programs and associations are conducting research.
Grizzly Bear Movement in a Managed Forest
Interactive StoryMaps | GIS Products
ESRI StoryMap made for the AFPA by the Grizzly Bear Program
Footnotes: Spring 2015
Summaries and Communications | Newsletters
Spring 2015 newsletter from fRI
courtney burk heather daw sam chevalier
Announcement
New roles for three great people.
Employment opportunity gis analyst casual
Announcement
Thank you to all who applied. Applications are now closed.
Meet Tanya Muswera
Blog
Welcome to our new GIS Analyst!
fRI Research is Hiring a GIS Analyst
Announcement
Application deadline: October 7, 2021
See How Road Densities Are Changing in Grizzly Bear Habitat
Blog
A feature of the GBTools GIS Product makes it easy to see which watersheds have high road densities, and how that has changed.
fRI Research Congratulates its Newly Certified GIS Professional, Dan Wismer
Announcement
Recognizing and supporting the professional development of an excellent GIS Analyst.
Grizzly Bear Habitat Time Series
Blog
Dan Wismer describes and visualizes 18 years of grizzly bear habitat change.
Habitat States Now Supports Harvest Sequence Input
Blog
Dan Wismer describes an update to the Grizzly Bear Tools.
Caribou Habitat Disturbance Tool
Blog
Dan Wismer, our GIS analyst describes a new online tool that lets users run management scenarios to see the effects on caribou habitat.
Julie Duval
Julie Duval
Manager
heather daw
Heather Daw
GIS Analyst

Featured Story Maps

Story Map: Studying Grizzly Bears in Alberta