Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are invaluable to Third Rock because nearly all the data we gather comes from field samples and measurements. GIS allows us to analyze and view results directly. Third Rock utilizes a multitude of digital mapping resources for various projects, including new road construction and reconstructions, charting gas and water mains, stream restorations, and habitat and vegetation surveys to name a few.
Third Rock uses GIS for mapping on a daily basis. Our staff can generate maps of a project area and identify areas of interest before heading into the field, which increases our staff efficiency. Maps commonly created and used at Third Rock include maps of project area boundaries, property lines, aquatic and terrestrial resources, all of which can be overlaid on a topographical base, road maps for field use, and geologic maps for analysis. Frequently used resources and data are listed below:
- wetlands from the National Wetland Inventory
- floodplains from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- county roads
- streams from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- topographic and geographic 7.5-minute quadrangles from the USGS
- land cover data from the USGS National Land Cover Data Set
- digital orthographic images (aerial photographs)
- historical Sanborn maps
- regulatory databases
- U.S. Census TIGER/Line data
In addition to mapping, Third Rock routinely uses GIS as an analysis tool. Common examples include using GIS software to calculate the size of a wetland, to delineate watersheds, or to determine an area of habitat intersected by a project area. Similarly, Third Rock has analyzed historical mapping resources such as Sanborn maps to determine past land uses.
Third Rock also incorporates data collected from Global Positioning System (GPS) units into its mapping. GPS technology used by Third Rock staff includes a Trimble GEO XT, Trimble Pro XH DGPS receiver and a Trimble Recon data logger, four Garmin V and 6 GPS Map 60c hand-held GPS units. Third Rock staff can identify points or areas of interest, such as the location of an endangered plant or the boundaries of a wetland, and have this information available for further analysis or mapping. With additional post-processing using differential correction, accuracies of less than one meter can often be achieved.
Our local area network (LAN) links 25 computer workstations to two Windows 2000 servers. We have eight ArcView® workstations, one Autodesk Map® 2002 workstation, and four Microstation V8 workstations that support mapping, drafting, and modeling. Additionally, we have one high-speed, HP Design Jet 1050C color inkjet plotter and a Canon Color ImageRunner 3220. Our GIS supporting software includes:
Aquatic Sampling |
|
|
|
Noise Monitoring |
|
|
|
Terrestrial Biology |
|
|
|
Laboratory |
|
|
|
GPS/Survey |
|
|
|
Diving |
|
|
|
