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December 1, 2005
Geographic Information Systems, GIS, is defined as computer programming combined with informational databases that can capture, store, check, integrate, analyze, and display data about the earth that is spatially referenced, most often in the form of maps. Trees Foundation's experienced GIS technician is available to work with individuals and organizations to produce GIS maps that will assist them in their pursuit of north coast environmental protection.
The InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council (Council), a Trees Foundation Partner organization, is currently at work on a project to decommission roads and repair stream crossings in the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. The project, funded by the State Water Resources Control Board and State Parks, requires documenting the exact locations of each road and each stream crossing to not only facilitate monitoring of the sites in the future, but also for reporting purposes and for identification in the ongoing field work. A GIS map is the perfect tool, and the Council contacted Trees Foundation for their assistance.
The first step in creating the map was to access Trees Foundation's large digital library and locate a standard 7.5-minute topo quad map. Looking very much like the topo map you might purchase for a backpacking trip, this digitalized version can be displayed on your computer screen as well as printed. Next step was to contact State Parks to provide their digitized road layer for this specific project. One of the advantages of GIS is that additional layers of geographic data can be made to align with other layers, so the State Parks roads data could be displayed right along with Tree's topo quad in a geographically accurate manner.
Utilizing the newly created map, Trees and the Council began the process of photo documenting the treatment sites and recording where each photo was taken so that in a month (or a year, or a decade), another photo could be taken from the same place and angle, compared with the original pre-treatment photo, and used to evaluate the treatment's success over time. A digital camera and GPS (global positioning system) unit are invaluable in this process. This photo documentation consists of finding a suitable place to take a picture of the treatment area, using the GPS unit to surmise the exact latitude and longitude of that spot so it could be found later, and finally recording all details of the photo point--location, angle, photo number, etc.--on paper.
 | The maps above show the different data layers that go into creating the GIS map below. | ![]() | | Photo: maps by Scott Lamorte |
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The final step was to download the photo point locations from the GPS unit into the GIS computer to display the photo points in combination with the State Parks' road layer and topo maps. Copies of the finsihed GIS map now are combined with three layers and can be printed, emailed, and saved electronically. The map will have a final version showing road treatments the council completed thru Oct. 31st.
 | Map depicting road & stream treatments completed as of Aug. 31st. Additional work continued through Oct. 31st. | ![]() | | Photo: map by Scott Lamorte |
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Trees would like to express special thanks to Tasha McKee of Sanctuary Forest for her expert advice on photo documentation. Besides GIS mapping, Trees Foundation can provide training in use of a GPS unit, and we have both a digital camera and a GPS unit available for check out to our Partner groups.
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