Expanding Roles for Gap Analysis Data in Arkansas

In Arkansas, the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST) is just completing the production phase of Gap Analysis and will soon be entering the distribution and implementation phase. Efforts are now being directed to the usability of the Arkansas Gap Analysis data, for which the Utah Gap Analysis' prototype CD-ROM package provides an excellent sample methodology. This article concentrates on some extended uses of Arkansas Gap Analysis (AR-GAP) data in the private sector and some methods of information dissemination.

In Arkansas and many other states, Gap Analysis can be much more than "the only land cover mapping game in town" (Loveland 1995); it has the potential to establish or contribute to a framework that fosters statewide communication, data sharing, and exchange (Davis 1995). The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) promotes the realization of data-sharing networks by providing policies and standards for transfer, production, and management of geospatial related data and technologies (see "The National Spatial Data Infrastructure" on the Web at http://fgdc.er.usgs.gov/). Data sharing delivers obvious advantages of cost savings, efficient decision making, and communication among participating organizations. Nedovic-Budic (1995, p. 670) suggests that NSDI may likely follow a "bottom-up approach, building on local and already-established partnerships." Conceived as a bottom-up approach, Gap Analysis relies heavily on support from local state-level partnerships. The spirit of cooperation and sharing inherent in GAP provides an appropriate association with NSDI's mission.

As is the case in other states, AR-GAP is now serving as a mechanism for exchange of data among both private and public entities. AR-GAP, in its early development, forged institutional linkages first among mostly public organizations (Dzur et al. In press). Now, as map products from AR-GAP are being completed, those linkages are expanding to private sector organizations. Some reasons for use of Gap Analysis data by new organizations outside the initial Gap Analysis partnership structure are likely due to timing and acceptance of the technology. When Gap Analysis began in Arkansas, few organizations knew anything about the project. Moreover, few organizations knew much about the emerging technologies of Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, and remote sensing. Today there is more awareness of both technology and Gap Analysis.

One of the first applications of GAP data by a private organization emerged from a previously established partnership with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD). CAST supplied spatial data to an AHTD contractor for application as a framework for defining some EIS mapping goals. Their mapping goals emphasized forested wetlands, emergent vegetation, other wetland cover types, and ponds. Weyerhaeuser is another private entity using AR-GAP data products.

Weyerhaeuser manages close to 850,000 acres of forested land in Arkansas. GAP data were first acquired from CAST's digital spatial data catalog by Weyerhaeuser headquarters in Tacoma, WA. According to Scott Needham, "Our role here at Weyerhaeuser is to facilitate the procurement of spatial data and to redistribute it to our customers, the tree farm operations." In addition to some basic statewide data sets including land forms, geology, soils, and basins, AR-GAP ownership boundaries and spectrally clustered TM data were redistributed to Gary Arpin, GIS Analyst for Weyerhaeuser in DeQueen, AR. According to Arpin, the spectral data provide a regional perspective and show good correspondence with Weyerhaeuser's stand data. Although their pine plantations are identifiable from the data, Weyerhaeuser is not using spectral data for operational use since they rely on finer-scale digital aerial photo data. However, the ownership data are used on field maps. Weyerhaeuser officials acknowledge that data collection can be costly, and welcome organizations such as CAST that maintain digital spatial data archives. Monitoring the digital spatial data catalog via the World Wide Web (WWW) (see "Catalog of Digital Data Available from CAST" at http://www.cast.uark.edu/local/catalog/arkansas), Weyerhaeuser officials indicated an interest in long-term analyses including mill-route surveys and school district level analyses that take advantage of some of CAST's other archived digital data layers.

CAST has been involved in stimulating and coordinating GIS development throughout Arkansas. The information exchange with both Weyerhaeuser and the AHTD contractor was of a traditional "one-way" and "one to one" mode. CAST is exploring other ways of making these data layers available to a wide array of persons and organizations over the WWW. Starting with a simple example of remote computing, the GIS Interactive Mapper home page (see http://www.cast.uark.edu/products/MAPPER/) will allow users to select a geographic region and produce maps with any combination of layers (raster, vector, and site data) available in the digital spatial data catalog. The resultant map can then be displayed on screen or downloaded to a remote site as a postscript file or gif image. While relatively simple and limited, Interactive Mapper fosters "one to many" information exchange that encourages exploration of a wide assortment of data sets, including GAP products, in an easy-to-use electronic environment.

The exact roles and permanent homes of state-level GAP data sets still require further investigation at both state and national levels. Development at the national level can be seen on the horizon with the advent of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). Taking a cue from NSDI, "NBII will provide information on and access to biological databases, information products, directories, and guides maintained by Federal, State, and local government agencies, and private organizations" (see "National Biological Information Infrastructure" at http://www.nbii.gov/on the WWW).

Leadership at the state level is likely to come from a variety of sources including state universities and state agencies. In Oklahoma, for example, Senate Bill 722 was passed into law in 1994 and directs the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to develop a strategic plan for the implementation of GIS in state government (Danger 1995). The commission's stated objectives are to maximize data sharing between state agencies to avoid duplication of effort while improving public access to information (Danger 1995). Collaboration among agencies, private organizations, and nongovernmental organizations will be instrumental for achieving the mutual benefits of a distributed network of geospatial and biological information sources. Gap Analysis will likely hold a pivotal position in the network of data distribution helping to reduce the obstacles to public data access.

Gap Analysis has served as an "information catalyst" for natural resource professionals (Jennings 1995). Moreover, government downsizing underscores the important role of GAP as information catalyst and stimulus for private and public cooperation. Wide distribution and use of GAP data will help address some important issues, such as "How do we manage our biological resources and avoid crises?" To do so necessitates a broader understanding of relationships occurring at multiple scales of biotic organization and physical extent. New relationships and ideas may be formed and discovered through innovative applications of these data sets. "Where does Gap Analysis data end up?" Hopefully, it "ends up" in the hands of those people who need it most: regional planners, scientists, managers, educators - whoever can use, refine, and ask questions of the data to gain greater understanding.

Literature Cited

Danger, J. "Exhibitors demonstrate technology on 'GIS Day'." The Journal Record (Oklahoma City). April 6, 1995.

Davis, F.W. 1995. Information Systems for conservation research, policy, and planning. BioScience Supplement 1995, 45:S-36 - S-42.

Dzur, R.S., M.E. Garner, K.G. Smith, and W.F. Limp. In press. Gap Analysis partnerships for mapping the vegetation of Arkansas. Gap Analysis: A landscape approach to biodiversity planning. Proceedings of the ASPRS/GAP Symposium, February 27 - March 2, 1995, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jennings, M.D. 1995. A Discussion of the adoption and diffusion of Gap Analysis as a technical innovation. Gap Analysis Bulletin No. 4.

Loveland, T. Keynote Address. Fifth Annual GAP Investigators Meeting. Fayetteville, Arkansas. August 8, 1995.

Nedovic-Budic, Z. 1995. Mechanisms for coordinating development and use of GIS databases: A research framework. Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) Proceedings, July 16-20, 1995. San Antonio, Texas.

Rob Dzur
Arkansas Gap Analysis Project
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville