Using GIS to serve Environmental Data in Iowa

Daryl Herzmann1

Raymond Arritt1

Dennis Todey2

1Iowa State University

2South Dakota State

Outline

What is GIS?

Why use GIS?

Who uses GIS?

How the IEM utilizes GIS?

Where are we going with GIS?

When will I stop talking?

What is GIS?

a GIS is a system of hardware, software and procedures to facilitate the management, manipulation, analysis, modeling, representation and display of georeferenced data to solve complex problems regarding planning and management of resources(NCGIA, 1990)

Why use GIS?

Interface with many datasets

Interface with many disciplines

Tools to do 'portable' research

RADAR layer from the IEM

with topography from ISU GIS Lab

Who uses GIS?

Most of you probably do

Just about everyone else does too!

GIS framework moving into non-spatial areas.

How the IEM uses GIS?

PostGIS, spatial blade for PostgreSQL

Mapserver, Internet Mapping Server

GRASS, desktop GIS

Internet Mapping Example

Generate dynamic plots of climate data

The data for the plot is immediately available in GIS format for download.

Analyzing Rainfall

Combine NEXRAD estimates with automated observations.

All data shown is immediately available for download.

Custom Growing Season Data

Typical growing season data does not fit actual planting dates.

Users pick timespan and parameter.

Data immediately available for Excel or GIS in CDF format.

Pulling RADAR into GIS

OGC Web Services

Open GIS Consortium (OGC) develops standards for GIS systems to inter-operate

Web Map Service (WMS)

Web Feature Service (WFS)

Dynamically bring in Ortho Quads from the ISU GIS Lab

All generated with Open-Source software and Open GIS standards

GIS Data Services Available

Today's NWS COOP observations

Climate data

Station locations

Current & Historical RADAR composites

Various WMS services

High resolution rainfall (coming soon)

Where are we going with GIS?

Expand our Web Map Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS).

Currently have a RADAR WMS

Will have a WFS before next year

See how we can get weather and climate data to the GIS community in a Free/free and open matter.

When will I stop talking?

NOW!,

but I will start again

after the break!

I'm done, questions?
http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu

Daryl Herzmann

3010 Agronomy

515 294-5978

akrherz@iastate.edu

2003-10-21T21:25:52