Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Tools webinars

28 August 2009, 10:16am

The Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Tools Network is very pleased to announce three webinars about key EBM tools and toolkits in late September and early October: an integrated land-sea planning toolkit, science communication tools, and visualization and analysis software for topography and bathymetry. Descriptions, dates and times, and information on registering for the webinars is below. There is a separate registration link for each webinar. The webinar system will be enabled an hour prior to the start of the webinar to allow users to test their systems.

Presentation on an Integrated Land-Sea Planning Toolkit and its use in Aransas County, Texas, by Kiersten Madden of the Mission-Aransas NERR, Amy Anderson of Placeways, and Ian Varley of NatureServe (September 22, 2 pm US EDT [United States and Canada]). In this project, three decision-support tools (Placeways’ CommunityViz, NatureServe Vista, and NOAA’s Nonpoint-Source Pollution and Erosion Comparison Tool) were used in an integrated manner to develop alternative land use strategies that best meet ecological and socioeconomic sustainability objectives, including water quality and estuarine-marine resource objectives, for Aransas County, Texas, Aransas County is a coastal county that supports a healthy estuary with diverse and rare habitats. The county is experiencing rapid population growth, and the community is interested in protecting the quality of life, natural resources, and water quality. This presentation will describe the project context, how the local community is involved in use of the toolkit, and methods for using the tools in an integrated manner. A final product of the project is a toolkit that can be transferable to other locations and implementation guide. This project was funded in part as an EBM Tool Demonstration Project by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. Register for the webinar at the link below.

Overview of Science Communication Tools by Bill Dennison and Tim Carruthers of the University of Maryland (September 30, 1 pm US EDT [United States and Canada]). The Integration and Application Network (IAN) produces a variety of communication products including newsletters, posters, books, reports, brochures, and conceptual diagrams. These products synthesize scientific findings using effective science communication techniques. This webinar will give an overview of the scientific communication products that IAN produces with a focus on conceptual diagrams and conceptual diagramming tools. Conceptual diagrams or “thought drawings” depict essential attributes of the system and can evolve to capture increased understanding of the system. They can help clarify thinking and avoid ambiguity, provide a communication interface that combines current scientific understanding with community priorities and environmental values, and identify gaps and priorities. IAN provides a variety of resources, examples, tools and tutorials available along with a symbol library of over 1500 custom symbols to help you produce your own conceptual diagrams. Learn more at http://ian.umces.edu. Register for the webinar at the link below.

Demonstration of Fledermaus by Erin Heffron of Interactive Visualization Systems (October 7, 1 pm US EDT [United States and Canada]). Fledermaus is 3D visualization and analysis software for topographic and bathymetric data. The software suite allows users to create and interact with full-resolution terrain and bathymetric surface models, and then integrate those surfaces with a variety of other data types to make a "scene." Users can add images, vertical imagery, ASCII points and lines, Electronic Nautical Charts, 3D models, ESRI shapefiles, and AutoCAD DXF and DWG files to build visualizations of interrelated data. Fledermaus can also load, process, and visualize multibeam sonar and LIDAR data, can process and mosaic multibeam backscatter data, and be used to run profiles along a surface, do slope and rugosity calculations, and create fly-throughs. There are tools for the visualization of real-time movement of vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles, or anything getting a NMEA GPS location. The latest version of Fledermaus supports the integration and display of time-stamped data allowing visualization of earthquakes, sediment migration, and wave propagation over time. For academic institutions and non-profits, the price per license ranges from $799 to $1995, a 90% discount off of commercial pricing. Government also gets a discount off of commercial pricing. There is a free downloadable viewer so users can share visualizations with others. Tools to integrate with ESRI ArcGIS and to process and visualize water column data, such as plumes or fish populations, are under development. Learn more at www.ivs3d.com. Register for the webinar at the link below.

For those who cannot make the webinars, recording will be available through the EBM Tools Network website at the final link below, a few days after the presentation.

If you have any other questions about the demonstrations, please contact me at sarah_carr@natureserve.org. To sign up for announcements of future EBM tool presentations or demonstrations, sign up for EBM Tools Network updates at the EBM website.

Integrated Land-Sea Planning Toolkit webinar

Overview of Science Communication Tools webinar

Demonstration of Fledermaus webinar

Webinar recordings

EBM Tools Network updates

Geo: International