USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure Program Grant for Collaborative Ecosystem Data Enhancement

The NBII is a collaborative effort among federal, state, local, agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and private sector groups to provide an integrated gateway to biological data and information. NBII is used by researchers, resource managers, decision makers, educators, and the general public for many purposes that include conservation and land-use decisions, scientific research, policymaking, and general information needs of its users.

Using enterprise portal technology, NBII provides an integrated framework for accessing the vast amount of existing disparate biological and natural resources data, information products, and analytical tools that support and enhance science-based decision-making for the nation. In 2001, the NBII program was authorized to establish a series of regional and thematic Nodes throughout the country with the objective of providing data and information relevant to those areas available that support efforts of federal, non federal, university, non-profit, and citizens of each Node.

The NBII is looking for collaborative opportunities with a University to increase the availability and usefulness of biological and natural resources related scientific data and information by developing or enhancing them through visualization products, tools, models, web based applications, and/or semantic systems. Technical assistance relates to the following research areas:

Data Access Wizards
The purpose is to further the application development of the FAR and MAIN Data Access Wizards to meet the growing requirements of the Nodes and to expand NBII node collaboration. This cooperative effort brings together scientific information for researchers and managers that include interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Efforts include enhancing the user interface, enhancing search capabilities, developing new data search results options, specifically to include bird conservation data, developing a list of basic requirements for the tool by the NBII network, and developing integration and relationships to the FGDC Metadata Clearinghouse activities that will facilitate access to widely dispersed data and information throughout the nation for fisheries and bird conservation, and other information specific to the Mid-Atlantic region.

Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
The purpose is to further the development of the web mapping application developed for the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV) to further meet the needs of the partnership to assist with the identification and prioritization of conservation actions.

Efforts include identifying needs of the EBTJV partnership, collaborating with EBTJV partners and researchers, developing more content and information on the project, the data, and web mapping application. Efforts also include collaborating with EBTJV partners to develop a mechanism for updating brook trout status data as it becomes available through the web mapping application within the species range.

Chesapeake Bay Mapper
The purpose is to further the development of the web mapping application developed for the Chesapeake Bay Program to further meet the needs of the program and its partners.

Efforts may include collaborating with experts in the community (including USGS scientists) and other Chesapeake Bay partners to develop a coordinated method for identifying and accessing satellite imagery and aerial photography for the Bay region, particularly land use/land cover data and habitat changes over time to set a baseline of information that is currently available.

Sturgeon Database Development
The purpose is to develop the data component of sturgeon information from multiple locations to facilitate collaboration among the researchers and the agencies involved. This cooperative effort to build an interagency database to integrate and provide research data and information to support sturgeon data integration for research and management includes interaction with various federal agencies as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Efforts include collaborating with NOAA–National Marine Fisheries Service to develop a user friendly web-database interface that brings together sturgeon tagging data, genetic information, tissue storage data, as well as associated environmental data that currently resides in four different locations to facilitate access, perform queries, and retrieve customizable reports.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
The purpose is to enhance data sharing throughout the entire nation. The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources cooperative effort brings together scientific data, models, tools and other resources that provide information for researchers and managers that impact both fisheries and aquatic resource issues both regionally and nationally. The effort includes interaction with various state and federal organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. The products will be available to scientists, policymakers, and the public.

Efforts include development of web-based applications for existing and new partners, geospatial data and information data acquisition, storage, and maintenance, development of internet map services and visualization capabilities for information about fisheries and aquatic resource species populations and community dynamics, aquatic habitats, conservation and restoration activities and research, land use, aerial photography, satellite imagery, climate, hydrography, genetics, recreation, among others applicable to the fisheries theme. Efforts also include metadata development, partnership development, node collaboration development, and participation in NBII program and partner meetings. The objectives of these efforts are to facilitate access to the widely dispersed information and encourage collaboration among partners.

Mid-Atlantic Region
The purpose is to enhance data sharing within the region including the states of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. The Mid-Atlantic cooperative effort brings together scientific data, models, tools and other resources that provide information for researchers and managers that impact regional issues. The effort includes interaction with various state and federal organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. The products will be available to scientists, policymakers, and the public.

Efforts include development of web-based applications for existing and new partners, geospatial data and information data acquisition, storage, and maintenance, development of internet map services and visualization capabilities for information about flora and fauna of the Mid-Atlantic region and well as land use, aerial photography, satellite imagery, and climate, among other regional issues that arise. Efforts also include metadata development, partnership development, node collaboration development, and participation in NBII program and partner meetings. The objectives of these efforts are to facilitate access to the widely dispersed information and encourage collaboration among partners.

Overall, the USGS and CESU participants will collaborate to develop and deliver biological data and information, tools, models, products, and web-based systems, and in ensuring the information reaches professionals in federal and state agencies, educators, and ultimately the public. The CESU partnership will supplement and enhance work already underway on these various geographic and thematic Nodes and their projects to contribute in the development of a national NBII network.