Presents

1. Presents

2. Proposal to Create and Implementa Geodatabase for Freeman Center,Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX

3. Team Members • Hunter Krenek: GIS & Remote Sensing Analyst • Joe Dowling:Asst. Project Manager • Peter Vogt: GIS Analyst • Alfredo Perez: Project Manager

4. Introduction • What is The Freeman Center? • Freeman Center is 4,200 acres of land in the Texas hill country that is owned by Texas State University, with the goals to provide effective stewardship of the center’s ecosystem and infrastructure. • 3,485 acres entrusted to Texas State University in 1981 by Harry Freeman.

5. Introduction • What is the Freeman Center? • Given for educational studies related to farming, ranching, and game management. • 3 Fold Mission • Education • Outreach • Research

6. Introduction • Current Research • Texas A&M’s Eddy Co variance towers • Records • Weather conditions • Grassland Monitoring • Forestry Monitoring.

7. Introduction • Purpose • The primary goal of this project will be to build a digital geodatabase that will enable future research and assist in the maintenance of the ranch. • Secondary goals for this project include map generation for an atlas and an illustrated brochure, plus a land-cover classification for Acacia farnesiana

8. Introduction • Dr. Huebner expressed interest in analyzing the spread of Acacia Farnesiana –also known as Weesatch- across the Freeman Center. Weesatchis a native-invasive thorny shrub with limited browse potential

9. Introduction • Scope • The physical extent of our study area is 4200 acres of land owned by Texas State University known as The Freeman Center Taken From GoogleEarth

10. Introduction • Scope • Digital Scope • Development of geodatabase including physical and cultural features present on the property. • GPS data Collection • Geodatabase Design • Digitizing Data • Data Management • Cartographic Modeling

11. Data and Methodology • Design of conceptual model of geodatabase • Needed for better understanding and visualization of final product. Facilitates workflow.

12. Methodology • Collect data by using GPS unitsin the field and transferring it to the geodatabase trying to maintain its integrity • The transferring will be performed using Pathfinder software which allows to create files that are compatible with ArcGIS

13. Methodology • Create a database schema using ArcCatalog • This includes deciding on the feature class types: lines, points, polygons. • Classifying the feature classes further into categories. For example: two track roads, caliche roads, inner fences, property fences, etc.

14. Methodology • Digitization of features and conversion of .kml and .kmz files to appropriate format for later use. • This will be done importing the files to ArcCatalog and converting them with ArcGIS conversion tools.

15. Methodology • Layer development and map creation • This will include using model builder to create the various layers that will allow to porduce the comissioned maps. Various ArcTools will be used. Examples of these tools may be:

16. Remote Sensing Methodology • Acquire remotely sensed imagery of the AOI • Perform necessary corrections • Gather training data on site with Trimble GPS unit for increased accuracy in the identified spectral response of Acacia farnesiana • Perform a supervised land cover classification

17. Remote Sensing Methodology • Change detection requires that multiple images of the same AOI acquired at similar times of the year undergo the same landcover classification. • Once classified, a multi-date composite image change detection is performed which compares the extent of Acacia farnesianaand identifies its spread over a 5 year period.

18. Primary: Construction of a viable Geodatabase Consisting of Cultural and Physical Features Secondary: Building cartographic models including a physical Atlas and supervised classification of Acacia farnesiana. Expected Results

19. Geodatabase Uses • Data Manipulation • Map generation • Geographic Research Resource

20. Cartographic models • Bound Atlas • Ease navigation • Supervised classification of Acacia farnesiana • Provide a benchmark for further research

21. Conclusion and Discussion • The project will deliver the Freeman Center a geodatabase which will catalogue and make readily available information needed for spatial analysis and reference in future projects. • Geodatabase will also help improve the efficiency of maintenance procedures on the ranch.

22. Time Table • Timetable • The time-table for this project is 10 weeks in length: • Weeks 1–2: ascertaining the client's specific wants and needs, identifying the cost of required services, gathering GPS datum in the field,creating schema for geodatabase, and any additional research found necessary for planning the project. • Weeks 2–6: data acquisition and manipulation, geodatabase population, • Weeks 7-8: map generation and atlas design, supervised land-cover classification using GPS training data. • Week 9: Finish atlas, prepare final product and presentation • Week 10: Present final deliverables

25. Final Deliverables By the end of the project we expect to have readily available the following items: • Detailed Final Report accompanied with a PowerPoint presentation. • CD/DVD copies of Map Atlas along with printed copy. • Brochures with pertinent maps and information. • Professional poster for display in the Geography Department. • Webpage to be embedded into Freeman Center’s website. • Drive containing the geodatabase with instructions and metadata.

26. Q&A Session