Fall NEARC 2024

“If we don’t protect our forests, they can’t protect us” - Lori Daniels professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia (Cyca, 2023). The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre labeled 2023 as the worst wildlife season on record in the country. The fires started in early May and ended in late October (a record early start time & end time). By September 5th 2023, more than 6,132 fires burned 16.5 million hectares of land (an area larger than Greece and more than double the 1989 record) across Canada (Government of Canada). Unlike other years, the fires in 2023 were widespread from the West Coast to the Atlantic provinces and the North. By mid-July, there were 28 mega-fires, each exceeding 100,000 hectares (Government of Canada). Wildfires are a natural and necessary event that maintains the health of boreal forest ecosystems and creates habitat that support native animals and plants that are adapted to fire, however, the 2023 fires were the worst Saskatchewan had seen since 1981. Over the past five years, the province has had an average of 120 wildfires, but there were 209 in June 2023 and 30 active fires (NASA). Boreal forests conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change, however, in recent years forests have become an emitter of carbon due to wildfires, pathogens, and invasive insects, taking advantage of the vulnerable conditions left by the aftermath of a wildfire.

An Act Concerning Equitable Access to Broadband (P.A. No. 21-159), directs the Office of Poliey and Management (OPM) to develop and maintain a map showing broadband availability and adoption, including download and upload speeds. This poster overviews how OPM's GIS Office leverages and processes public and provider submitted data to measure and track broadband deployment in state. PA No. 21-159 also sets a goal for broadband access at speeds of 1 Gbps download and 100 Mbps upload. Our data collection show ISPs increasing high-speed internet availability statewide. With continued state partnerships and funding from lIJA, ARPA, and the BEAD program, progress is expected to accelerate, aiming for near-complete coverage within the next few years.

Managing a vast network of Type A Signs across Vermont's district highways presents significant challenges for the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans). With over 66 thousand Type A Signs distributed throughout the state, traditional approaches to maintenance and replacement are becoming increasingly impractical. In response, VTrans is transitioning to a corridor-based asset management strategy to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

This research focuses on developing a data-driven approach to prioritize sign replacement along highway corridors based on sign age. By leveraging geographic information systems (GIS) technology, the state highway network was divided into sign corridors, and the average age of signs within each corridor was calculated. Corridors were then classified according to sign age, informing a systematic approach to replacement prioritization.

The mission of VTrans' asset management is to provide quality, data-driven recommendations for the optimal allocation of resources across the highway network. The Data Management Section within the Asset Management Bureau plays a crucial role in maintaining and analyzing asset information to guide decision-making processes.

The proposed corridor-based strategy introduces a treatment analysis that advocates for the replacement of Type A Signs on a 15-year cycle, ensuring timely maintenance and adherence to VTrans' asset management objectives. This research contributes to the advancement of GISbased asset management practices, offering insights into optimizing maintenance strategies for large-scale infrastructure networks.

Keywords: GIS, asset management, corridor-based strategy, Type A Signs, highway network,
maintenance prioritization, data-driven decision-making.

The University of Connecticut's "Eco-Digital Storytellers" is an unique program that trains undergraduate students in geospatial technologies, digital media and design, and near-peer mentoring. Those students go on to mentor high school students as they apply the same technologies to spotlight environmental stories close to home. This poster presents an overview of this National Science Foundation funded work and will showcase the final products (StoryMaps) of the first cohort of Eco-Digital Storytellers.

Co-Authors: Publicover, Dave and Poppenwimer, Catherine

In recent years, the potential value of forests as a “natural climate solution” has garnered significant attention. Forests remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon as organic matter in wood and soil. They also provide an important renewal resource that can replace the more carbon-intensive steel and concrete in buildings.

Currently, the growth of forests in the United States offsets about 10% of the country’s annual CO2 emissions. However, minimizing the continued loss of forests and managing them sustainably is critical to ensuring that their role in limiting climate change is maintained and enhanced.

This story will describe the value and current status of New England forests as a natural climate solution, and how “carbon-friendly” forest management can enhance carbon storage in forests while providing a sustainable flow of timber products. It will also show how the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is applying this type of management in our Maine Woods Initiative forests, and how the increased carbon storage in our forest is supporting AMC’s efforts to reduce our organizational greenhouse gas emissions.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition impacting the central nervous system. Although it is widely acknowledged that ALS stems from interactions between genetic and environmental factors, the exact etiology of ALS is still unclear and has catalyzed a global research pursuit. Our research quantifies the correlation between environmental nickel exposure and ALS incidence in Ohio utilizing GIS methods within ArcGIS Pro. We acquired AERMOD atmospheric dispersion and pollution data from the EPA containing annual average chemical concentrations across the US in CSV files. Nickel concentrations from Media 1 (point sources) and Media 2 (non-point sources) were aggregated annually and converted into vector shape files. The data is then transformed into raster format, adjusting chemical values for integer operations. We ran logistic regression to calculate Odds Ratios for ALS and nickel exposure, using novel methods to consider migration history prior to diagnosis and population density as confounding factors. A moving window analysis is used to iteratively examine the influence of population density on the spatial distribution of ALS cases. For migration history, we employed an expanding window to read the exposure value of subjects at diagnosis and years prior, resulting in nickel and nickel compound exposure data that spanned over twenty-five years of subjects’ migration history. Our analysis expands on previous studies by accounting for migration history and forgoing the assumption that subjects reside in one location indefinitely. Surprisingly, some of our results indicate that pure nickel and nickel compounds have significant protective effects against ALS development. This effect is more prevalent in rural areas than urban ones and is largely consistent across different windows of migration history. Our findings warrant further investigation into the physiological and geospatial connections between nickel and ALS.

An offshore wind lease refers to a designated section of the ocean where developers can obtain the rights to develop wind energy projects. These areas are divided by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) which holds leasing auctions to bidders who are then granted the legal authorization to assess the area and install wind turbines. The U.S. Central Atlantic and Gulf of Maine regions have emerged as potential development areas for future offshore wind projects and energy development. The Central Atlantic region originally was drafted to have eight Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) that covered approximately 1.7 million acres off the coasts of North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The Final Sale Notice (FSN) includes lease area A-2 which covers 101,443 acres, and lease area C-1 which covers 176,505 acres of space. BOEM has also announced the proposal for an offshore wind energy auction in the Gulf of Maine. The eight lease areas in this region could provide up to 15 gigawatts (GW) of energy which is enough to power over 5 million homes in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. The auction process begins with BOEM announcements, followed by environmental assessments that shape the WEAs. Winning bidders secure the legal authorization to proceed with offshore wind development. This poster explains and illustrates the dynamic process of offshore lease auctions, from initial announcements to post-auction development.

Evaluating post-treatment outcomes following invasive species management efforts is a critical component in understanding efficacy, yet these data are often collected at limited spatial scales, are underreported, decentralized, and may be difficult to access. As a result, outcomes of invasive species treatments and management effectiveness, especially at larger scales, are largely hidden from broader audiences, including practitioners for whom this information is most valuable. In this study, we present a novel process for leveraging data from centralized geospatial databases to efficiently evaluate management efforts at a regional scale. Using the wealth of data aggregated in New York State’s iMapInvasives database as a case study, post-treatment data were identified, organized into management sites, and then analyzed to determine outcomes of treatment. Results from the processing of more than 7,000 management sites show that 68% lack sufficient post-treatment monitoring data to assign an outcome for the treatment, raising concerns about the ability to evaluate management efforts even where large volumes of treatment data are available. However, where post-treatment data were available, 66% of sites showed progress towards suppression of the target invasive population. These findings are a novel description of regional invasive species treatment outcomes in New York State, but importantly, this evaluation process can be broadly applied in other regions to leverage the invasive species data compiled in GIS databases by organizations, governmental agencies, and the public. With continued modification and increased adoption of this evaluative process, invasive species managers can track project progress, identify best practices, and more easily share outcomes with peers in the field, thus ultimately improving all management efforts.

The Maine Comprehensive Plan Data Portal and Mapping Services StoryMap is an interactive platform that provides one-stop access to crucial data and mapping services for comprehensive plan development. Comprehensive plans outline a community’s vision for the future, encompassing infrastructure projects, community initiatives, policies, and regulations. The StoryMap simplifies the process by centralizing all the necessary data, saving communities valuable time and resources. Residents, planners, and consultants can navigate Chapter 208 review criteria with ease, utilizing relevant datasets from various states and federal agencies. Users can explore interactive maps, informative narratives and downloadable datasets on topics like historic preservation, demographics, and environmental features to inform their planning efforts.

This map is a new take on a 40-year-old map I used as a kid while staying at our cabin in Pittsburg, NH. Unable to find a current detailed version, I embarked on recreating it using modern tools. The process included field collection, data validation, mining, cleaning, and an attempt at cartography. My journey is detailed in my Medium story, showcasing the challenges and triumphs along the way.

Read more here: https://medium.com/@jon.atwood.81/pittsburg-nh-you-are-here-c81b9d1a30cc

The primary objective of this study was to detect vegetation cover changes resulting from visitor use using remote sensing technology. Pre-classification change detection analyses based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was mainly utilized to measure vegetation increases and decreases at Cadillac, Penobscot, and Sargent Mountain Summits, Acadia National Park, Maine. Specifically, by analyzing two high spatial remote sensing data collected in 2001 and 2021, vegetation cover changes were mapped and compared at the three summits. Overall, the measured vegetation cover changes at various thresholds and selected spatial extents showed similar patterns and trends in vegetation conditions, indicating more increases at Cadillac and more decreases at Sargent and Penobscot Summits during the timeframe. For example, based on the NDVI and ISODATA algorithm, the vegetation increase and decrease were 2.04% and 1.69% at Cadillac, 0.24% and 2.38% at Sargent, and 0.14% and 5.46% at Penobscot. The outcomes of the study provide strong evidence that the active management currently being used at Cadillac Mountain was not only beneficial but also effective in enhancing the amount of vegetation cover for the last fifteen years. Along with this result, the advantages of using remote sensing technology and data in detecting vegetation conditions are also discussed.

The Road Centerline Update Request App (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5b7c6df52704408da630658a1a922ac1) was developed using ArcGIS Experience Builder to help Vermont Agency of Transportation Mapping Unit staff and other outside state agencies report issues with the Vermont Road Centerline Data and to enter pending changes for annual updates to Town road mileage. The intent was to create a spatially enabled tracking and reporting system for the Mapping Unit and to eventually replace an access database that tracks pending changes. In the future, this app will hopefully be shared with municipalities to use to report any new, discontinued, class changes, or mapping problems with existing roads. If applicable, this reporting can then be used in conjunction with Certificates of Highway Mileage that each town must submit annually to VTrans.

Salt marshes are important ecosystems, providing critical habitats to many animals and protecting coastal communities from the effects of storms. Climate change and other anthropogenic impacts pose large threats to the stability of salt marshes. Accelerating sea level rise is expected to cause significant losses in salt marsh territory, while also pushing these systems to migrate horizontally into upland areas. It is crucial to identify areas of salt marsh conservation in relation to their vulnerability to sea level rise and their migration potential. This study looks at salt marsh in the Lower Cape Cod Region, which is low-lying and amongst the most vulnerable in Cape Cod. Using data outputs developed by Woods Hole Group from the Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model, information on salt marsh loss, stability and migration in response to sea level rise by 2050 and 2070 was extracted. Land use and land cover data from MassGIS was then used to filter out salt marsh migration into areas where migration is less realistic due to existing developments. The geospatial analysis was conducted using ArcGIS Desktop 10.3.1 and further statistical analysis was done in Excel. This poster will highlight four areas where conservation efforts can be made to preserve and enhance the resilience of salt marshes in the face of rising sea levels. The identified areas are critical due to their potential for successful migration and lower levels of human interference. The findings from this study aim to inform local policymakers, conservationists, and stakeholders about priority areas for salt marsh conservation, encouraging proactive measures to protect these vital ecosystems against the impending challenges posed by climate change.

Geospatial analysis of the St. Lawrence University campus in Canton, NY was used to gain a better understanding of the impact of limited vehicle access to inner campus and indirect routes to high volume call areas on the response time of St. Lawrence University Emergency Medical Services (SLU EMS).

GPS points were acquired at every entrance to buildings on the main campus, using an EOS Arrow 100 mobile GPS unit and the Esri Field Maps app on an iPhone 13. This data collection was performed in a feature layer designed in ArcGIS Online. Other feature layer datasets, used to account for the designated parking locations of the SLU EMS response vehicle, were created within ArcGIS Online. All datasets were migrated into ArcGIS Pro for spatial analysis.

Survey123 can improve data collection efforts through the use of Arcade scripting, Microsoft Power Automate, and calculations within the SurveyConnect application. By using factors like geographic location, previous survey responses, and layer attributes, Survey123 can auto-populate answers and simplify your workflow. Learn to take advantage of these features in collaboration with other services like ArcGIS Online and Field Maps.

Abstract – The Common Operating Picture (COP) – Mapping During Emergencies
Johnathan Croft – Vermont Agency of Transportation

During major storm events, the Vermont Agency of Transportation activates the Transportation Incident Command Center (TICC) using the Incident Command System (ICS) structure. This structure includes a significant mapping component in the Planning Section that aids in situational awareness by providing a Common Operating Picture (COP) of the extent of highway closures and openings, as the Agency responds to the storm damage. A simple dashboard has been developed to provide insight to the number of closures, partial openings, and segments that were opened. The Common Operating Picture (COP) is accessible to the TICC, State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), as well as the public. The COP is generated through a feed of authoritative closure and opening information from the Traffic Management Center and the 511 system, repackaging it to provide a clear count and extent of closures across the state.

The purpose of this poster is to present an analysis of St. Lawrence University academic building classroom utility each semester over the past ten years. Data was collected between the years 2013 and 2023 on classroom use via the EMS registration system and analyzed using ESRI ArcGIS Applications. The data was then imported into ArcGIS Pro to utilize the ArcGIS Space-Time Cube geoprocessing tool in order to visualize change in mapped academic classroom location use in the second dimension over time as the third spatial dimension. Based on the generated Space-Time Cube, patterns of classroom use were detected, with a higher percentage recorded during the fall semesters when compared to the spring semesters, and a shift in primary use over the ten years of study data collected. This preliminary research demonstrates that classroom use is widespread across campus, with a few classrooms being used a lot or many classrooms being used very little in varied buildings. Because of the multiple reservation systems used by St. Lawrence, unofficial room use, varied semester dates, and a lack of transparency in what goes into the utilization calculations, there is a degree of error in the data represented numerically when looking at the entirety of campus. This analysis of classroom use is important as it can be used to restructure building utility in order to create a more energy-efficient campus, ease the workload of maintenance workers, and cut back on fuel during the months where heating is required.

In 2004, Marie Terlizzi conducted a transect study of a previously unstudied open “room” in Zurich Bog, located in Wayne County, New York as an attempt to locate more rare and threatened orchid species than what was previously recorded. Twenty years after the original study, the original coordinates were revisited and expanded upon to capture broader data on the bog and species found within it, as well as where changes in populations occurred. The five original transects were followed and pH, soil moisture, and canopy cover data for each of the prior plots along them were collected. New permanent 5X5 meter plots in areas not previously recorded were created. ArcGIS was used to track and upload field data to compare the past data with the current data in a web app. By using ArcGIS for data management, there are photos attached to each point for next year's field season to prevent having to guess the exact location where the plots were located. The second chapter of the thesis will focus on using ENVI software in combination with ArcGIS to hone in on the changes occurring to the floating fen on the property, which has been shrinking in size since the neighboring property has dug trenches for muck farming. So far the results have shown a decline and extirpation of past populations of threatened orchids such as Arethusa bulbosa (Dragon’s Mouth) in the bog, but an expansion of the more common Cypripedium populations. The declines are currently suspected to be primarily due to changing pH levels throughout the bog, and the increases from increased open canopy due to management practices. Combined, this data shows the full history of the deterioration of the bog environment and the relationship between this and the disappearance and occurrence of rare orchid species.

Co-Authors: Clay, Jacob, Eikenberry, James, Fleury, Jason, and Grey, Julia.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Vermont (NRCS Vermont) collaborates with private land users (e.g., farmers, forest landowners, etc.), communities, and state and local conservation partners to protect and improve natural resources on private lands throughout the state. These efforts target the conservation of Vermont’s soil, water, air, and other natural resources. For the last twenty years, NRCS Vermont has achieved this through a variety of programs that deliver conservation solutions and support voluntary conservation on working lands to help feed a growing world.

This poster summarizes the current geospatial workflows used by NRCS Vermont to plan, implement, and evaluate conservation efforts. The primary intent is to showcase and summarize Statewide investments over the last two decades. Implementation maps aggregate all installed conservation practices while also highlighting specific investments in cultural resources, easements, and wetlands.

Co-Author: Caitlyn Severy

Building footprints serve a wide range of use cases from being a simple visual on a tax map to urban planning, emergency response, infrastructure management, and environmental assessments. Before analyses can be done using building data, understanding the level of detail (LoD) needed to perform the analysis is necessary, and knowing what attributes are required to get the expected results. Some of the use cases and analyses will be displayed using Esri’s Story Maps application.

My Poster will deal with concerns facing the offshore wind energy industry in the US. Maps shows will cover wildlife impact, viewability from shore, and enginering feasability