Developing Tools to Support World-Class Science
Since fRI Research began in 1992, the GIS Program has provided a core service. Our team works closely with many of the researchers, developing the best tools and methods to advance their research.
The GIS Program transforms peer-reviewed science into tools, datasets, and visualizations. Using a combination of ArcGIS products, SQL, python and R, we developed and delivered a variety of mapping and analysis tools to fRI Research partners. The GIS Program also helps to collect, manage, and process data. We design databases and workflows to help the organization’s researchers streamline their analyses, so that they can continue to focus on their core interests while letting the GIS Program do the heavy lifting.
Objectives
- Customizations: Creating useful and relevant GIS tools and scripts to streamline internal workflows.
- Tool development: Developing and maintaining tools that can be put in the hands of our partners.
- Online mapping and web tools: Showcasing research and tools in interactive ways.
- Knowledge transfer: Writing blogs or giving workshops on some of the tools and customizations created by the GIS Program.
Created scripts to process the incoming GPS collar data from grizzly bears
GPS collar scripts now append cleaned GPS data directly into an Access database
Version 1 of our maps and models covering 100,000 sq. km delivered
Updated and improved maps, models, and tutorial now covering 127,000 sq km
Expanding from the original Phase 3 area to Phase 3, 4, 5, and 6 areas.
Original GPS collar AML scripts converted to Python
Completed habitat mapping for the entire Alberta grizzly bear range
Improvements and updates to the maps and models
Includes new food-based habitat model
Created script to tag each GPS location with ToD based on local sunrise/set
Improvements and updates to the maps and models
Implemented new arcpy geoprocessor and scripts modularized
Improvements and updates to the maps and models
Created the first version of the Google Map Animation using GPS locations
Background maps updated and enhanced for a better user experience
Added den RSF, caribou-grizzly RSF, road reclamation, and sightability tools
Improvements and updates to the maps and models
Time of Day tool adapted to work with caribou GPS locations
Improvements and updates to the maps and models
Indev since 2007, a tool identifies suspected bear feeding and resting areas
GIS story map created about grizzly bear movements in a managed forest
Research-derived datasets delivered to partners
Improvements and updates to the maps and models
Tool measures travel distances from town to seismic line to assess accessibility
Tool predicts abundance of food after harvesting, fire, MPB, and MPB-control
Google Maps API-based tool packaged and distributed to partners
Predicts habitat change under different management scenarios
Online interactive storymap about GBP research feat. bears in JNP
Habitat change detection tool developed
New tools added to calculate road density and habitat change
Created a patch analysis tool & scripts to streamline labourious analysis tasks
