Links

GIS @ OSU
Oregon Coast Geospatial Clearinghouse (OCGC)
OSU Map Room, Valley Library
H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest Internet Map Server
Oregon Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (OGDC)
Digitally Integrated Mining of Oregon Networked Data (DIMOND)
ODFW Aquatic Inventories Project
U of O Map & Aerial Photo Library
PISCO & COMCI

Internet Discussion Forum for Statewide GIS Issues (GIS in Action 2002 Conference)

Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center
Willamette Project for Institute for Natural Resources
Institute for Natural Resources Press Release

ANNOTATED Links Below, compiled by Janine Salwasser

Oregon Sources

Dynamic Estuary Management Information System (DEMIS) - DEMIS is an ongoing project of the Oregon Ocean-Coastal Management Program intended to provide a useful information depot for traditional and digital information relating to estuaries in Oregon.

InfoRain - Inforain has, since 1996, been the flagship website for Ecotrust's "bioregional information system," a unique effort to discern and describe patterns of change in North America's coastal temperate rain forest. At this website, users can create maps, download data, and access online daily conservation news.

The Oregon Coast Geospatial Clearinghouse - a collaborative effort between Oregon State University, federal, state, and regional entities. It was developed to disseminate natural resources data for management, research and educational applications, and it is a searchable node of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The node includes coastal and marine resource thematic data and FGDC-compliant metadata. Protocols are currently being established for maintenance and update, and training will be provided to clearinghouse users and cooperators. An initial focus on Science, Technology, and Industry has quickly expanded to digital collections for other knowledge domains include the humanities, social sciences, area studies, and the arts.

Oregon Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (OGDC) - formerly known as the State Service Center for GIS, coordinates GIS activities and maintains the website that hosts spatial data shared by Oregon State agencies. It is OGDC's intention to make Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs) and compressed Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQs) imagery available on this website in the future.

Oregon Natural Heritage Program (ORNHP) - The Oregon Natural Heritage Program aquires, maintains and distributes information on the organisms and ecoystems that constitue Oregon's natural heritage. ORNHP is a cooperator with the National Gap Analysis Program.

Pacific Northwest Ecosystem Research Consortium - This web site provides access to datasets for the Willamette River Basin of existing and future conditions; an atlas of maps and analyses; and links to people resources.

Water Connections - a site at Oregon State University that provides a direct connection between watershed councils, agencies, resource managers, and other folks interested in water and watershed issues in Oregon with scientists and extension agents at OSU. Water-related questions, OSU resources, watershed information sharing, and subscription to an electronic newsletter are accessible from this site.

Other Statewide Sources

California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES) - an information system developed by the California Resources Agency to facilitate access to a variety of electronic data describing California's rich and diverse environments. The goal of CERES is to improve environmental analysis and planning by integrating natural and cultural resource information from multiple contributors and by making it available and useful to a wide variety of users.

Colorado Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS)

• Colorado Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS) System for Conservation Planning (SCoP) - The System for Conservation Planning project is designed to help communities set goals for conservation of wildlife diversity and to inform those communities of the economic and regulatory mechanisms available to achieve those goals. SCoP combines state-of-the art interactive mapping technology, up-to-date wildlife data and educational resources.
• Colorado Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS) Species Occurrence and Abundance Tool - The Species Occurrence and Abundance Tool gives a list of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that are known or likely to occur in a county of choice.

Delaware DataMIL - An on-line collaboratory for the integration, updating, and maintenance of Delaware's Spatial Data Framework. This site was designed by a team that included the state government, the University of Delaware, and the USGS. It will provide Delaware's GIS community with a way to continually update and improve its framework data and is a main Pilot Project for the USGS National Map.

Denver Public Library Conservation Collection - Founded in 1960, this collection comprises over 2,000 linear feet of manuscript material as well as significant book, photograph, and document collections (note: not a digital library.) The Wilderness Society, The American Bison Society, and The Outdoors Writers Association of America have made this the repository for their organization records. The holdings reflect all aspects of the rise of the conservation and environmental movement in the U.S. In 1977, the Collection became the Regional Energy Environment Information Center offering real-time research and news about the development and promotion of alternative forms of energy.

Information Center for the Environment (ICE) - based at the University of California, Davis, provides public access to California natural resource data using an interactive query system on the World Wide Web. The main goals of ICE include providing GIS, database systems, and modeling support to environmental resource projects, and developing easy-to-use public access to a wide variety of environmental information. From ICE, the California Rivers Assessment (CARA) provides web access and information about watersheds throughout the State.

Idaho Digital Atlas - created by by researchers from Idaho State University, the Idaho Geological Survey, and Boise State University, among others. It is GIS-based and provides access to data sets in geology, biology, geography, hydrology, and climatology.

Inside Idaho - a digital geospatial and numeric data library for the state of Idaho. INSIDE Idaho was made possible by a 1999 Congressional Appropriated National Leadership grant awarded to the University of Idaho Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. An additional 1999 FGDC "Don't Duck Metadata" grant provided by the US Geological Survey made the creation of FGDC compliant metadata possible for INSIDE Idaho. The project is a cooperative effort between the University of Idaho, federal and state agencies, and local communities.

GIS Data Deli - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources GIS Data Deli, is an internet-based spatial data acquisition site that allows users to download raw computer-readable data for use in their Geographic Information System (GIS), image processing system, or traditional database environment. The site includes links to extensive and summary level data descriptions (metadata) to support our users.

Natural Resources Library - The Natural Resources Library at the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, Duluth provides information services to the Institute's technical staff, UMD community, industry representatives and members of the general public who are in need of research materials or information related to natural resources. The Natural Resources collection includes reference materials and publications related to natural resources. Major areas of emphasis include forest products, peat, industrial minerals, iron ore, non-ferrous minerals, ecosystems, environmental chemistry, resource analysis, and business development. The collection contains about 6,000 monographs, technical reports, conference proceedings, maps, patents, and reference tools.

Montana Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) - Established in 1985, the Montana Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) was designed to simplify the task of identifying and acquiring natural resource information. As a program of the Montana State Library, NRIS makes information on Montana's natural resources easily and readily accessible. Serving government agencies, business and industry, and private citizens, NRIS operates a clearinghouse and referral service to link users with the best sources of information and service.

Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC) Clearinghouse - a metadata archive of Olympic Peninsula geospatial and biological data. Natural and cultural resource information is brought together reflecting the region's diverse marine and terrestrial ecology, land ownership, and land use. Compiled metadata complies with Federal Geographic Data Committee and National Biological Information Infrastructure metadata content standards.

Puget Sound Regional Synthesis Model (PRISM) - designed to advance education and research, partnerships using Puget Sound as a focus. The integrating theme of PRISM is the movement of water. ItÕ's a good example of data synthesis and visualization.

Texas Environmental Center (TEC) - a non-profit organization that produces Web and CD-ROM-based environmental programs. TEC developed one of the first online libraries in a partnership with Rice University.

UC Berkeley Digital Library Project - This project is developing the tools and technologies to support highly improved models of the "scholarly information life cycle." The goal is to facilitate the move from the current centralized, discrete publishing model, to a distributed, continuous, and self-publishing model, while still preserving the best aspects of the current model such as peer review. Collections include California botanical data, zoological data, geographic data, documents, and photographs.

Utah Conservation Data Center (UCDC) - The UCDC in the Utah Department of Natural Resources is the central repository for Utah biodiversity information. It primarily focuses on plant and animal species information. A particularly useful feature is the "make a wildlife map". Associated with UCDC is the password protected Natural Resources Library at http://dnrlibrary.state.ut.us/.

Wyoming Natural Resources Data Clearinghouse - Most of the data in this clearinghouse has been compiled by individual projects at the University of Wyoming Natural Resources Data Clearinghouse. In spring 1998, the SDVC conducted a survey of University of Wyoming projects and research utilizing spatial technologies and producing/using spatial datasets. Six categories were identified: botanical/ecological; land-use/agricultural; educational; geological/industry; water-related and zoological Preliminary metadata for other datasets will be available through the Clearinghouse's search tool, providing contact information and background about datasets that are not yet available on-line. The clearinghouse also serves natural resource data from outside organizations/agencies affiliated with the University such as the Bureau of Land Management, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Forest Service.

National or Multi-State Sources

Alexandria Digital Library (ADL) - an online information system inspired by the Map and Imagery Laboratory (MIL) in the Davidson Library at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The ADL currently provides access over the World Wide Web to a subset of the MIL's holdings, as well as other geographic datasets. A consortium of researchers, developers, and educators, spanning the academic, public, and private sectors, are exploring a variety of problems related to a distributed digital library for geographically-referenced information.

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) - based at Columbia University and consists of metadata and data resources, information systems, interactive applications, and discussion lists. CIESIN also maintains 3 major programs: 1) Global Change Research Information Office; 2) Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center; and 3) World Data Center for Human Interactions in the Environment which is one of more than 40 centers comprising the World Data Center System

Climate Source - the exclusive distributor of spatial climate data sets developed by the PRISM climate mapping program at Oregon State UniversityÕ's Spatial Climate Analysis Service (SCAS). 38 climate elements for the lower 48 states are available in a variety of GIS formats for a fee.

Community of Science, Inc. (COS) - a leading Internet site for the global R&D community. It includes COS Expertise, the world's largest database of detailed, first-person profiles of researchers, containing more than 460,000 entries. COS works in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities and is currently carrying out projects with HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) and the World Bank Institute. COS is a privately held company. Researchers rely on COS to help them stay current on research activities, news and publications; track funded research; and purchase supplies and services that are relevant to their work.

Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) - an information system dedicated to the collection, enhancement, and distribution of materials that facilitate learning about the Earth system at all educational levels.

Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) - a collaborative effort involving more than 1100 scientists and students investigating ecological processes over long temporal and broad spatial scales. The Network promotes synthesis and comparative research across sites and ecosystems and among other related national and international research programs. The National Science Foundation established the LTER program in 1980 to support research on long-term ecological phenomena in the United States. The 24 LTER Sites represent diverse ecosystems and research emphases. In Oregon, the H.J. Andrews LTER program has become a major center for analysis of forest and stream ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest.

National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) - Here scientists conduct collaborative research on major fundamental and applied problems in ecology. The Center facilitates integrative research aimed at synthesizing existing data and information, and subsequently making these data available in accordance with their data policy. It fosters new techniques in mathematical modeling, dynamic simulation, visualization of ecological systems, and digital mapping of complex ecological phenomena.

National Library for the Environment - The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) maintains the National Library for the Environment as a universal, timely, easy-to-use, single-point entry to quality environmental data and information for the use of all participants in the environmental enterprise. The online Library includes directories of academic environmental programs, journals, funding sources, meetings, job opportunities, news sources, laws and treaties, reports, reference materials, and more. NCSE works to ensure that users understand the context and quality control relevant to all information provided.

National Wetland Research Center (NWRC) - their research library digital collection includes: species profiles; habitat suitability index models; a waterfowl management handbook; and a technical report series.

NatureServe - a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals, and ecological communities of the United States and Canada. NatureServe provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe is a product of the Association for Biodiversity Information in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

OneFish Community Directory - an online database and directory of fisheries research and development information managed by a community of leading researchers and fisheries experts around the globe.

StreamNet - a cooperative venture of the Pacific Northwest's fish and wildlife agencies and tribes and is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Features include online data, maps, library, fish facts, fish and wildlife program, contacts, and project management tools. It is designed to support efforts to manage and restore the region's aquatic resources.

Virtual Library of Ecology and Biodiversity - this division at Rice University is affiliated with the Virtual Library (see below) and specializes in reviewing internet information sources pertaining to ecology and biodiversity based on their educational value.

Virtual Library (VL) - VL is noted as "the oldest catalog of the web", started by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of html and the web itself. Unlike commercial catalogs, it is run by a loose confederation of volunteers, who compile pages of key links for particular areas in which they are expert. Even though it isn't the biggest index of the web, the VL pages claim to be widely recognized as being amongst the highest-quality guides to particular sections of the web.