Source: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA submitted to
USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES TO FACILITATE ARID LANDS RESEARCH, OUTREACH, AND DECISION SUPPORT
Sponsoring Institution
State Agricultural Experiment Station
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0151312
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
ARZT-1257080-S12-194
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2009
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2013
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Hartmann, H.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
888 N EUCLID AVE
TUCSON,AZ 85719-4824
Performing Department
Natural Resources & the Environment
Non Technical Summary
The U.S. national investment in research related to arid/semi-arid lands and their management, including satellite and in situ observation systems, modeling research, and the education of scientists has produced significant advances in understanding of the interaction among physical and social processes, their variability and impacts, and options for sustainable management. However, realization of the full socio-economic benefits of those investments remains incomplete because decision makers have difficulty: 1) simply accessing and managing the plethora of information from multiple sources, 2) correctly interpreting and conceptually understanding advanced scientific information, and 3) linking information across time horizons (e.g., the past, present, and future), issues (e.g., climate variability and range management), and within a risk management framework. These barriers become especially serious when environmental or social conditions, or research findings, are changing. This project directly confronts these barriers, by developing websites and decision support tools that help stakeholders access, analyze, interpret, and understand observations, models, and research related to resource management in arid and semi-arid regions. These websites and tools take a variety of forms, depending on the specific problems confronting stakeholders, agencies and their constituents, and students. They include websites for organizing information resources, online learning modules, webtools for managing products available from multiple online providers and incorporating them into newsletters, webtools facilitating citizen monitoring and reporting, and webtools for interpreting and analyzing data and forecast products.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
9030199303020%
9030320303020%
9030710303030%
9030790303030%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
0710 - Desert and semidesert shrub land and shinnery; 0790 - Rangelands, other; 0199 - Soil and land, general; 0320 - Watersheds;

Field Of Science
3030 - Information and communication;
Goals / Objectives
1)Engage with the research community, stakeholders, information intermediaries, and operational agencies to determine needs for information resources and decision support tools relevant to science-based management of resources in arid and semi-arid regions. 2)Research and development of information and analyses relevant to science-based management of resources in arid and semi-arid regions. 3)Employ advanced information technologies in the development of decision support tools and information resources, relevant to science-based management of resources in arid and semi-arid regions. 4)Develop web-based learning modules and other training materials to facilitate learning and decision making, relevant to science-based management of resources in arid and semi-arid regions.
Project Methods
The first objective requires meaningful engagement and collaboration with the research community, stakeholders, information intermediaries, and operational agencies. Rather than simply asking what various stakeholder groups need, we work with other research groups in the context of their ongoing projects to determine what stakeholder groups do; their expressed frustrations about information gaps, problems, and perceived research needs; and what research can provide to address stakeholder frustrations. The second objective is contingent on the determined needs of stakeholders. In most cases, the specific approach is developed in collaboration with other researchers, and perhaps even stakeholders. For the third objective, we develop decision support tools from a user-centric perspective using an iterative, interdisciplinary, and interactive approach with significant continued stakeholder involvement. We also design the tools to facilitate efficient permanent maintenance and evolutionary development of the underlying system data and software. The fourth objective recognizes that stakeholders have different capabilities to access, interpret, and understand seasonal climate forecasts and supporting information. Related to both the third and fourth objectives, we conduct usability tests on our websites, webtools, and learning modules as a means to validate and refine user requirements. Each website, webtool, or learning module project includes significant auditing of usage as a means for better understanding use of the tools and information. Tracking online interactions provides the research community with a better understanding of user capabilities and a concrete basis for deepening dialogue with decision makers or partner researchers about requirements for additional products, information delivery, knowledge development, and decision support. To preserve confidentiality, we report requests made by users using techniques that dissociate other information from personal identification. The auditing will use questionnaire surveys, workshop and focus group discussions, or in-depth interviews, as appropriate for specific applications. Metrics of success include Diversity, which measures whether users encompass a broad range of sectors, different cultures, and economic levels; Scalability and Transferability, which measure, respectively, whether work serves more users, or new users in other contexts; and Recommendability and Linkability, which measure, respectively, the extent to which products are distributed by an intermediary, or integrated into external websites.

Progress 07/01/09 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The PI left the University of Arizona and no longer has any affiliation with the University.

Publications


    Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Activities: Repaired Rangelands West website; assessed user needs via online survey analysis, focus group interview design, conduct and analysis, synthesis of multiple user needs assessments. Developed or extended 7 other decision support tools. Designed 3 online learning modules. Application programming for Stealth Health. Assessing water resources sector needs, capacity related to climate change. Evaluating methods to combine paleoclimatological information, historical observations, climate change projections. Designing communication of Colorado River flow projection uncertainties. Examining impacts of misinterpreting climate forecast products. Events: Organized, facilitated special session, presented 2 training talks on information technology at 7th Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop. Facilitated session to develop adaptation options for climate change action plan at Grand Canyon National Park Climate Friendly Parks Workshop. Gave 5 invited presentations at science conferences or stakeholder meetings on climate change impacts, adaptation, or translational science. At Western Rangelands Partnership annual meeting, gave talks on website status and online survey analysis. Services: Review of NWS CPC and Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Review of NOAA climate activities through Climate Working Group of Science Advisory Board. Review of national climate activities through American Meteorological Society Board on Enterprise Economic Development and Committee on Climate Services. Advised Carpe Diem project on hydroclimatic science and project initiatives on headwaters restoration, Colorado River policies, and nexus of climate, water, and energy. Training of NWS personnel on climate forecast interpretation, communication, and evaluation in 3 classes in Operational Climate Services Residential Training Course. Tutored 3 groups on implementation of collaborative software development processes: CPC, Carolinas Integrated Science Assessment, and Southeast Climate Consortium. Products: Learning Modules (4): Rainwater Harvesting (rwh.arid.arizona.edu). Water Conservation and Drought Management (submitted to the National Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners). Project WET Water Cycle (projectwet.arid.arizona.edu/login/). Website and Decision Support Tools (8, O=operational, P=prototype, E=extended): Rangelands West, O (rangelandswest.org). Forecast Evaluation Tool, O (fet.hwr.arizona.edu/ ForecastEvaluationTool). Climate Information Delivery and Decision Support System, P (cliddss.arid.arizona.edu/CLIDDSSClient). Automated Hydrologic Threshold Alert System, OP (ahtas.arid.arizona.edu). PaleoToolKit, P (erebor.arid.arizona.edu:8080/paleoToolDemonstrations/july3_2009/ test.html). Dynamic Drought Index Tool, OE (www.ua-alic.com/ddit/). AgroClimate, OE (agroclimate.org). Small Grains Analysis Tool, P. Dissemination: Rainwater Harvesting module featured on UA news page, TV and radio stations, Tucson Water billing insert, presentation at 2 meetings of potential user groups. PaleoToolKit featured in 2 workshops with Southwest water managers. FET featured in monthly updates in Southwest Climate Outlook newsletter, NWS training course. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Holly Hartmann, Principal Investigator. Carla Casler, Rangelands West needs assessment, Western Rangelands Partnership liaison. Katherine Waser, rainwater harvesting module content development. Anne Thwaits, web design. Theresa Crimmins, online learning module project coordination and context development. Damian Hammond, computer system analysis, software system design, software programming. Ellen Lay, IT project coordination, application analysis, software programming. Chris Hansen, undergraduate student, graphics and IT support. Sunararajan Srinivasan, Masters student, software programming and testing. Jeannette Estes, Masters student, hydroclimatic research. Matthew Mealy, Masters student, climate and economics research. Kiyomi Morino, post-doctoral research associate, research on integration of climate change projections, water management and planning. Lezlie Moriniere, post-doctoral research associate, climate change scenario planning and adaptation planning. Akrim Tamimi, hydrologic forecast evaluation and manuscript writing. Partner Organizations: University of Arizona Libraries, Institute for the Study of Planet Earth (ISPE), Center for Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA), Arizona Cooperative Extension, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Western Rangelands Partnership. Training Opportunities: experiential learning opportunities provided for 1 undergraduate student, 3 Masters students, 2 post-doctoral research associates. TARGET AUDIENCES: Rangelands West website targets range specialists, land managers, students. Climate websites and tools target water and land resource managers, risk managers, climate applications research community, and other interested publics. Learning modules target water and land resource managers, private small-lot forest managers, information intermediaries, homeowners. Methodology target audiences are federal agencies with operational responsibilities, including the National Weather Service and the National Park Service, and regional or national organizations active in policy and decision making (e.g., Carpe Diem, American Meteorological Society). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Due to budget cuts, two positions were eliminated and career staff retired (C. Casler and K. Waser). A. Thwaits left ALIC to pursue graduate school. T. Crimmins joined the National Phenological Network. Project became more tightly focused on development of web tools and climate applications research and development.

    Impacts
    Change in knowledge: Climate Change - Decision makers need methods for structuring their thinking about prospective climate change, adaptation strategies, and planning. Scenario planning is a useful approach for considering climate change in the context of multiple stressors and large irreducible uncertainty. Decision makers would benefit from a roadmap that connects scenario planning with other methods for considering climate change, e.g., vulnerability assessment, sensitivity analysis, robust decision making. Collaborative Software Development - Climate applications research and development groups have increased understanding of web services and collaborative processes. NWS personnel understand how to interpret and communicate their seasonal climate forecast products, and how to evaluate and communicate forecast performance. Rangelands Management Information - The Western Rangelands Partnership and Arizona Rangelands Group better understand the information and website needs of their current and prospective users. Rainwater Harvesting - People using the learning module understand how to design and build practical methods to harvest rainwater for landscaping needs in their own yards. Change in actions: Three external partners (CPC, CISA, SECC) embraced and integrated collaborative software development in their projects. The Carpe Diem project received funding for new initiatives related to climate change and water policy. The National Park Service (NPS) solicited ALIC to conduct scenario planning for Glacier National Park and regional partners, using collaborative internet technologies and a 2-day workshop, and to develop a scenario planning template for use at other NPS units. The University of Hawaii solicited ALIC collaboration to use our CLIDDSS web tool for developing portfolios of climate and related information for coastal hazard managers in the Pacific Region.

    Publications

    • Crimmins, T., and Rupprecht, C., 2009. Online learning modules for an Extension program: useful and utilized Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education (in press).
    • Mahmoud, M., Liu, L., Hartmann, H., Stewart, S., Wagener, T., Semmens, D., Stewart, R., Gupta, H., Dominguez, D., Dominguez, F., Hulse, D., Letcher, R., Rashleigh, B., Smith, C., Street, R., Ticehurst, J., Twery, M., van Delden, H., Waldick, R., White, D., and Winter, L. (2009). A formal framework for scenario development in support of environmental decision-making. Environmental Modeling and Software 24(7):798-808 (Received award for Best Paper of 2009: Integrated Modeling category).


    Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: (1) Websites: Rangelands West major repair and upgrade, Sonoran Desert Knowledge exchange website created and delivered to Univ. AZ Libraries, Univ. AZ School of Natural Resources website created and delivered, maintenance of International Arid Lands Consortium website, transfer of USAIN website to OK State Univ. (2) Online Learning Modules (OLM): Caulerpa OLM completed and delivered to US Fish and Wildlife Service, AZ Project WET OLM released and used by Tucson School District, content expert for UCAR/COMET Hydrologic Verification OLM. (3) Decision Support Tools: initiated transfer of Forecast Evaluation Tool to National Weather Service, demonstration of Climate Information Delivery System (CLIDDSS) to NOAA Pacific Region IDEA Center, Automated Hydrologic Threshold Alert System continued operation for Umpqua River in OR, prototype demonstration of TreeFlow Paleo-ToolKit analog-based drought analysis tools, prototype extension of Dynamic Drought Index Tool to AZ and NM, prototype extension of AgroClimate climate risk tool to NM, design of AZ Drought Watch and Drought Impact Reporting System. (4) Research: advances in scenario science and applications, collaborative software development process implementation in research environment, decision support, stakeholder engagement. Results disseminated through 13 professional development trainings; 26 talks at workshops, conferences, and seminars. (5) Webtool capability enhancement: 1 basic server, 2 high-capacity virtual servers, 2 laptops for staff, personal backup systems for entire staff, contracted domain on remote virtual server, multifunction printer, debugging and tracking software, internal and external staff training. (6) Student support: Supported four students (2 undergraduate, 2 graduate) in experience-based software development or hydroclimatic applications research projects. (7) Project Development: 9 new externally funded projects initiated, 10 projects completed, 7 continuing projects. All projects have collaborative partners. (8) Professional Activities: ALIC staff served on 9 committees and boards, including 1 committee chair, received 4 awards, organized 1 conference session, facilitated 5 stakeholder/research discussion events, participated in 3 invitation-only workshops. (9) Other: discontinued Arid Lands Newsletter and forced 2 retirements due to University budget cuts. PARTICIPANTS: (1) Individuals on Project: Holly Hartmann - Director, Carla Casler - Associate Director, Katherine Waser - Editor, Anne Thwaits - Web Designer, Theresa Crimmins - Research Scientist, Ellen Lay - Software Programmer, Damian Hammond, Software Programmer. (2) Partner Organizations: NOAA NWS Climate Services Branch, Office of Weather, Water, and Climate Services, Climate Prediction Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Western Region Headquarters, River Forecast Centers, Office of Hydrologic Development, Climate Program Office, Regional Integrated Science and Assessment Program, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, Integrated Data and Environmental Applications Center, National Climatic Data Center, Earth Sciences Research Laboratory, Department of Interior National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Climate Impacts Group/University of Washington, Western Water Assessment/University of Colorado-Boulder, Southeast Climate Consortium/University of Florida, Carolinas Regional Integrated Science and Assessment/University of South Carolina, California Applications Program/Scripps Research Institute and University of California-San Diego, Pacific Region RISA/University of Hawaii, Rangelands West Partnership consortium of 19 universities in the U.S. West, Carpe Diem project team that includes regional water management agency members, non-governmental organizations, and foundations, American Meteorological Society, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Center for Operational Meteorology Education and Training Program, US Agricultural Information Network, USGS National Phenology Network, New Mexico State University, University of Georgia, University of California-Irvine, Riverside Technology Inc., Resources for the Future Inc., USDA Forest Service, Pennsylvania State University, SAIC, University of Alaska, University of New Hampshire, Tucson Public School District, Ohio State University, among others. (3) Collaborators: Arizona Water Institute, University of Arizona Institute for the Study of Planet Earth, Science and Technology Center for the Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas, Climate Assessment for the Southwest, University of Arizona Libraries, School of Natural Resources, Water Resources Research Center, Cooperative Extension, Laboratory for Tree Ring Research, Dept. Geography and Regional Development, Dept. Hydrology and Water Resources, Dept. Agricultural and Resource Economics, Dept. Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, Center for Latin American Studies, among others. (4) Training/Professional Development: Students - 2 undergraduates, 2 Masters students, 13 professional development training events, sixth grade students in Tucson School District, AZ, NWS Weather Forecast Office Personnel from among the 122 WFOs across the US, hydrologic forecasters from each of the 13 River Forecast Centers, Tuscon Adobe Users Group. Decision support tools, websites, and online learning modules used by thousands of decision makers from a variety of professional sectors, researchers, stakeholders, students. TARGET AUDIENCES: (1) Target Audiences: students, researchers, operational agencies, decision making professionals, and stakeholders from a variety sectors, including water, land, and other natural resources management, public and private enterprise, especially those concerned with arid lands. (2) Efforts: student work experiences, student research experiences, workshops, facilitated focus group discussions, online learning modules, internet-based decision support tools and applications, professional development training programs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Termination of Arid Lands Newsletter due to lack of state funding.

    Impacts
    Collaborated with more than a dozen University of Arizona units, more than 50 external organizations. Served over 1000 students with Project WET online learning modules and demonstrated actual learning. Reinvigorated Rangelands West Partnership interest in continued development of Rangelands West web portal, citations database, and expert content contributions. Changing paradigms of climate and forecast interpretation and skill evaluation; National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, Weather Forecast Offices, and River Forecast Centers incorporating more effective communication protocols and quantitative verification metrics in their forecast operations. Changed paradigms of software transfer and decision support tool sustainability for 3 collaborators, including the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Florida; software transfer and independent maintenance paradigm has been replaced with structured collaborative development, version control, and problem reporting approaches. Changing perspectives about how to incorporate climate change projections and scenarios in management of water and other natural resources, in research, applications, and decision making communities; climate-driven system sensitivity analysis being replaced or supplemented with multi-dimensional narrative-driven scenario planning that incorporates the more traditional quantitative modeling approach. Improved knowledge of the observed and anticipated impacts of global and regional warming on vegetation phenology and river basin water supplies.

    Publications

    • Arid Lands Newsletter #60. Desertification and local resilience. Published June 2008.
    • Crimmins, M.A. and T.M. Crimmins, 2008. Monitoring plant phenology using digital repeat photography. Environmental Management 41:949-958.
    • Crimmins, T., M. Crimmins, D. Bertelsen, and J. Balmat, 2008. Relationships between alpha diversity of plant species in bloom and climatic variables across an elevation gradient. International Journal of Biometeorology 52:353-366.
    • Crimmins, T.M., M. Mauzy, and S. Studd, 2008. Assessing exotic plant distribution, abundance, and impact at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments in Arizona. Ecological Restoration 26:44-50.
    • Feldman, D.L., K.L. Jacobs, G. Garfin, A. Georgakakos, B. Morehouse, P. Restrepo, R. Webb, B. Yarnal, D. Basketfield, H.C. Hartmann, J. Kochendorfer, C. Rosenzweig, M. Sale. B. Udall, and C. Woodhouse, 2008. Making decision-support information useful, useable, and responsive to decision-maker needs. In: Decision Support Experiments and Evaluations using Seasonal-to-Interannual Forecasts and Observational Data: A Focus on Water Resources. A Report by the US Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research [N. Beller-Simms, H. Ingram, D. Feldman, N. Mantua, K.L. Jacobs, and A.M. Waple, Eds.]. NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC, pp. 101-140.
    • Hartmann, H.C., 2008. Decision support for water resources management. In: Uses and Limitations of Observations, Data, Forecasts, and Other Projections in Decision Support for Selected Sectors and Regions. A Report by the US Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research [M. Macauley, Ed.]. NASA Applied Science Program, Washington, DC, pp.45-55.
    • Liu, Y., M. Mahmoud, H. Hartmann, S. Stewart, T. Wagener, D. Semmens, R. Stewart, H.V. Gupta, D. Dominguez, D. Hulse, R. Letcher, B. Rashleigh, C. Smith, R. Street, J. Ticehurst, M. Twery, H. van Delden, and D. White, 2008. Formal scenario development for environmental impact assessment studies. In: Developments in Integrated Environmental Assessment-Volume 3, A.J. Jakeman, A. Voinov, A. Rizzolli, and S. Chen (Eds.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 145-162.
    • Crimmins, T.M. and M. Crimmins, 2008. The critical role that citizen scientists can play in identifying adaptation strategies to climate change. Arid Lands Newsletter 60: 25-28. Online: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln60/aln60toc.html
    • Waser, K., 2008. Editors Note: Linkages between desertification and climate change, revisited. Arid Lands Newsletter 60: 1-3. Online: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN /aln60/aln60toc.html
    • Hammond, D., 2008. CVS cheatsheet. Arid Lands Information Center, Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona, 1pp.
    • Hammond, D. and E. Lay, 2008. Tutorial: how to connect products to CLIDDSS. Arid Lands Information Center, Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona, 12 pp.
    • Thwaits, A., 2008. Top ten tips for Firebug users. Arid Lands Information Center, Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona, 1pp. Online: http://tag.arizona.edu/ monthly/2008 04-2008_firebug_handout.pdf.
    • Thwaits, A., 2008. Review of Adobe Illustrator CS3 How-Tos: 100 Essential Tips. Tucson Adobe User Group, Online: http://tag.arizona.edu/reviews/adobei llustratorcs3 how_tos_100essentialtech.html.
    • Casler, C., 2008. IALC website maintenance and enhancement activities. Final Report, Project #07C-01, 1 July.
    • Casler, C., 2008. Meeting Report, Rangelands West Partnership, WERA-1008. Online: http://nimss.umd.edu/homepages/saes.cfmtrackID=8556.
    • Casler, C. 2008. Final Report, Caulerpa educational materials for online delivery, US Fish and Wildlife Service.


    Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Variability, Social Vulnerability, and Public Policy in the Southwest US" Regional Assessment Activities - CLIMAS (NOAA Climate Program Office- RISA) http://www.climas.arizona.edu/ System-wide Advancement of User-Centric Climate Forecast Products (National Weather Service Climate Test Bed) http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ctb/ The Forecast Evaluation Tool: Expansion and Support of Climate Services (NOAA NWS Climate, Water and Weather Services Division) http://hydis6.hwr.arizona.edu/ForecastEvaluationTool/ Index and Impact Tools to Improve Drought Monitoring and Preparedness (NOAA Climate Program Office - Coping with Drought) Linking the Past, Present and Future: Integrating Tree-ring Reconstructions, Instrumental Records, and GCMs in Scenarios for the US Southwest (NSF SAHRA Science and Technology Center) Customized Information Management Tools for Pacific Region Integrated Data Enterprise (PRIDE) Products and Applications (NOAA PRIDE and National Ocean Service) Reconciling Projections of Future Colorado River Stream Flow (NOAA - Coping with Drought) Reducing New Mexico's Agricultural Drought Vulnerability through Stakeholder Assessment and Climate Decision Support (NOAA Coping with Drought) Tree-Ring Reconstructions of Hydroclimatic Variability in the Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico (NOAA - Coping with Drought) Scenario Development to Support SAHRA Modeling Activities (NSF SAHRA Science and Technology Center) Arizona DIRS: Drought Impacts Reporting System Changing Rural Landscapes website Sonoran Desert Knowledge Exchange Rangelands West (http://rangelandswest.org/) ALIC hosted and coordinated the 6th annual meeting of the Western Rangelands Partnership (WERA 1008) in March 2007 at the University of Arizona. It was attended by 34 rangelands scientists and agricultural librarians from nineteen participating Western land-grant universities. Conference presentations: Crimmins, T. and C. Rupprecht. 2007. "Online learning modules for natural resource education in Arizona." Arizona Agriculture Extension Association Winter In-Service Meeting. 13-14 December, Maricopa, Arizona. Rupprecht, C. and Crimmins, T.M. 2007. "Features of Effective Self-paced Online Learning Modules." Arizona Adult Education State Conference. 11-14 December, Phoenix, Arizona. Crimmins, T.M., Crimmins, M.A., Bertelsen, D. and Balmat, J. 2007. "Relationships between Alpha Diversity of Plant Species in Bloom and Climatic Variables Along an Elevation Gradient." Southwest US Region, American Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing. 5 October, Tucson, Arizona. Crimmins, M.A. and Crimmins, T.M. 2007. "Watching Grass Grow: Monitoring Plant Phenology Using Digital Repeat Photography." Southwest US Region, American Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing. 5 October, Tucson, Arizona. Crimmins, T.M. 2007. "Handheld GPS and GIS Technology for Natural Resource Management." Citizen Science Toolkit Workshop. 20-23 July, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Poster. PARTICIPANTS: Holly Hartmann, Principal Investigator Carla Long Casler, Project Manager, Katherine Waser, Editor Anne Thwaits, Web Designer and Architect Theresa Crimmins, Online Instruction Specialist Partner Organizations: University of Arizona Libraries Institute for the Study of Planet Earth (ISPE) Center for Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA) Arizona Cooperative Extension US Agricultural Information Network Western Rangelands Partnership TARGET AUDIENCES: Rangelands West - range specialists, land managers, students. Climate websites and tools target everyone from weather forecasters and researchers to the general public. Project WET learning module, an online interactive instructional tool and assessment system for the Arizona Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) program. The site was designed to assess 6th grade student learning about water and weather and to improve retention and assess users' knowledge. The site is being used by 30 teachers and approximately 1,900 sixth-grade students in Arizona. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Due to space constraints at the Office of Arid Lands Studies, the ALIC library collection was closed and redistributed to organizations which would make best use of the materials and make them available to researchers most active in the particular areas: UA Libraries (Science Engineering Library, Special Collections, and Map Collection), Maricopa Agricultural Center, UA Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, faculty and students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Departments of Geography, Near Eastern Studies, and the Arizona State Museum. Documents were also donated to the U.S. National Phenology Network, and the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. ALIC will continue its focus of electronic delivery of information and developing new web tools.

    Impacts
    ALIC's many websites are accessed by a variety of users around the world. Statistics show usage by hundreds of thousands of users, many viewing 20 or more pages per visit.

    Publications

    • Arid Lands Newsletter, Issue # 59, "What's so special about drylands," published August 2007
    • Crimmins, M.A., Zaimes, G., Haas, N., Jones, C.K, Garfin, G. and Crimmins, T.M. 2007. Changes on the range: A novel exercise to explore interactions between range management decision making and climate change. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education. 36:76-86.
    • Mau-Crimmins, T. 2007. Effects of removing Cynodon dactylon from a recently abandoned agricultural field. Weed Research. 47:212-221.
    • Crimmins, T. "Five Miles & Twenty Years Later... Dave Bertelsen's Amazing Data Set." Sky Islands Alliance Newsletter, Summer 2007.
    • Waser, K. Editor's note: How DO we know what's so special about drylands? Arid Lands Newsletter #59, August 2007. Online: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln59/aln59toc.html


    Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

    Outputs
    Dissemination of research information about the arid and semiarid lands of the world remains critically important and by providing researchers, government officials, and the public with easily accessible information on the world's arid regions and Western rangelands. The Arid Lands Information Center continues to increase the knowledge and understanding of these areas to facilitate informed decision-making. ALIC continued to develop web sites for projects involving rangeland management and geospatial extension, watershed management, invasive species, Deserts of the World. Active projects during this reporting period included: 1) development of learning modules on invasive species for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. National Agricultural Library, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2) development of learning modules on rangelands monitoring in Western uplands for the National Learning Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners, 3) redesign of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum homepage and design for the Center for Sonoran Desert Studies website, development of new learning modules on Arizona's riparian areas for Arizona Cooperative Extension, 4) creation of the Agriculture Electronic Library in Afghanistan for the International Arid Lands Consortium, 5) implementation of new features on the Western Watersheds website, 6) creation of the Deserts of the World website for the International Arid Lands Consortium, and 7) design and implementation of new structure, capabilities, and design of the Rangelands West website and continued participation in The Rangelands West Partnership which is made up rangeland scientists and librarians from the 19 participating Western land-grant universities. (ALIC hosted the 5th Annual Meeting in March 2006).

    Impacts
    Given the exponential increase in the amount of information now available electronically, it is more important than ever to provide users with reliable websites that offer quality and evaluated information, along with learning and decision-making tools. All ALIC websites continued to increase in use during this reporting period demonstrating the importance of this new information resources and decision making tools.

    Publications

    • Henzel, J., B. Hutchinson, and A.Thwaits. 2006. Beyond web services: A library-extension demonstration for delivering personalized applications. Library Hi Tech 24(1): 126-141. Online: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/ViewContentServlet?Filename=Pub lished/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/2380240110.html
    • Waser, K. (ed). 2006. Soil Management for Drylands. Arid Lands Newsletter No. 58, Winter 2005. Online: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln58/aln58toc.html.
    • Waser, K. 2006. Editor's note: To nurture life, we must nurture the soil. Arid Lands Newsletter No. 58, Winter 2005. Online: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln58/waser.html.


    Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

    Outputs
    During the third year of the Using Information Technologies to Facilitate Arid Lands Research and Outreach project, the following activities were accomplished in fulfillment of the four objectives: (1) The Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC) at the University of Arizona has expanded collaborations with campus and other organizations to further develop web tools to disseminate knowledge about the worlds arid regions, particularly in areas related to natural resource management. This included further enhancements of the regional U.S. Rangelands West portal [http://rangelandswest.org], new graphing and visualization capabilities for a database of Arizona watershed data [http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/], and continued development of a web database of information on Western rangelands invasive weeds which has been added to the invasivespeciesinfo.gov website [http://alic.arid.arizona.edu/invasive/html/]. In addition ALIC has collaborated on creating two web learning modules on Rangeland Monitoring in Western Uplands and on Arizonas Riparian Areas. (2) The ALIC library database is currently available at http://saint-denis.library.arizona.edu:4000/cgi-bin/ALICLogon.cgi on the UA Library's server using SiteSearch software. During 2005, however, the UA Library said it would no longer be supporting SiteSearch applications. Because of this and problems with customer support for ProCite, the bibliographic software ALIC has used for a number of years, ALIC decided to transfer its catalog the relatively inexpensive but flexible Reference Manager software. This labor-intensive effort was completed and the ALIC catalog will soon be available through the web. In addition, library school interns examined uncataloged documents in the ALIC collection on the topics of soils and Native American land management to determine which were unique and should be cataloged, and which were duplicated either in the UA Library collection or in another U.S. library. (3) ALIC has been working with programmers to create a sophisticated technical infrastructure for operating Deserts of the World as a fully searchable database-driven portal. In addition, new content on the Badia, Negev, and Sonoran Deserts as wells as a general overview of the worlds arid regions have been developed and are currently being added to the portal. (4) This year, one issue of the Arid Lands Newsletter was compiled, published, and distributed electronically and in paper format on the theme of water use efficiency in agriculture and rural areas. Another issue is in progress on the topic of soil management for drylands.

    Impacts
    Given the exponential increase in the amount of information now available electronically, it is more important than ever to provide users with reliable websites that offer quality and evaluated information, along with learning and decision-making tools. All ALIC websites have seen a rise in usage statistics including an average daily hit count of 750 per day for the Arid Lands Newsletter and nearly 3,000 per day for Rangelands West.

    Publications

    • Henzel, J. and B. Hutchinson. Using Web Services to Promote Library-Extension Collaboration. (accepted, Library Hi Tech, spring 2006)
    • Hutchinson, B. et al. (2005) Collaboration and Cooperation Among Libraries, Cooperative Extension, and Agricultural Experiment Stations in Land-Grant Universities: The Results of a 2004-2005 Survey. Available on USAIN website: http://usain.org/library_extensioncollab/CollaborationReportFinal6-05 .pdf.


    Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

    Outputs
    During the second year of the Using Information Technologies to Facilitate Arid Lands Research and Outreach project, the following activities were accomplished in fulfillment of the four objectives: (1) The Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC) in the University of Arizona Office of Arid Lands Studies has continued to work collaboratively to further develop a variety of web resources using advanced web technologies to disseminate information about the arid regions of the world. This included continued coordination of the Rangelands West regional U.S. web initiative [http://rangelandswest.org], enhancements of the remote sensing and GIS applications for rangeland management in the U.S. as found on RangeView [http://rangeview.arizona.edu/], completion of a website on wildfire alternatives for Arizona and New Mexico [http://walter.arizona.edu/], further expansion of capabilities and GIS applications for a database on Arizona watersheds [http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/], and a web database of Western rangelands invasive weeds which was added to the invasivespecies.gov web site [http://alic.arid.arizona.edu/invasive/html/]. In addition, a new project was initiated to create a learning module on vegetation monitoring. (2) The ALIC library collection database continues to be developed using ProCite software. The online catalog is available at [http://ag.arizona.Edu/OALS/oals/alic/alic.html]. During this project period, 300 new citations were entered into the database. In addition, donated materials from the Arizona office of the Bureau of Land Management and from several recently retired arid lands researchers particularly in the area of water resources were processed for the library collection. (3) ALIC received an International Arid Lands Consortium grant to collaborate with participants in Israel and Jordan to build a Deserts of the World web resource. During this year, ALIC also has continued to refine and add additional information to the component Sonoran Desert web site [http://alic.arid.arizona.edu/sonoran/]. (4) This year, two issues of the Arid Lands Newsletter were compiled, published, and distributed electronically and in paper. Issues completed in 2004 covered different aspects of the topic of fire ecology.

    Impacts
    Given the exponential increase in the amount of information now available electronically, it is more important than ever to provide users with reliable web sites that offer quality and evaluated information. Usage statistics for selected ALIC-maintained web sites include: Rangelands West visitors in 2003 numbered 81,869 and 120,109 in 2004 visitors; Watersheds website visitors in 2003 totaled 34,325 and 38,358 in 2004; Arid Lands Newsletter visitors totaled 157,961 in 2003 and 188,539 in 2004.

    Publications

    • Jones, D.E., G. Ruyle, and B. Hutchinson. 2003. Building a Collaborative AgNIC Site as an Outreach Model: Rangelands of the Western U.S. The Reference Librarian 82:125-140.


    Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

    Outputs
    During the first year of the Using Information Technologies to Facilitate Arid Lands Research and Outreach project, the following activities have been accomplished in fulfillment of the four objectives: (1) The Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC) has worked collaboratively to further develop a variety of web resources using advanced web technologies to disseminate information about different aspects of the worlds arid regions. This included remote sensing and GIS applications for rangeland management in the U.S. as found on RangeView [http://rangeview.arizona.edu/], models for wildfire alternatives for Arizona and New Mexico [http://walter.arizona.edu/], expanded capabilities and GIS applications for a database of Arizona watershed data [http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/], and a web database of Western rangelands invasive weeds which will be added to the invasivespecies.gov web site [http://alic.arid.arizona.edu/invasive/html/]. In addition, a new project has been funded to create a web resource on land management in the country of Jordan. (2) The ALIC library collection database continues to be developed using ProCite software. The online catalog is available at [http://ag.arizona.Edu/OALS/oals/alic/alic.html]. During this project period, 200 new citations were entered into the database. In addition, 16 boxes of documents on bioenergy and water conservation and municipal water studies were donated to the Information Center; (3) ALIC submitted a proposal with collaborators in Israel and Jordan to expand the prototype Deserts of the World web resource. During this year, ALIC also has continued to refine and add additional information to the related Sonoran Desert web site [http://alic.arid.arizona.edu/sonoran/]. (4) This year, two issues of the Arid Lands Newsletter were compiled, published, and distributed electronically and in paper. Issues completed in 2003 covered the topics of using geospatial technologies to develop participatory tools for natural resources management and fire ecology.

    Impacts
    Given the exponential increase in the amount of information now available electronically, it is more important than ever to provide users with reliable web sites that offer quality and evaluated information. In addition, learning and decision-making is facilitated when web resources are overlaid with easy to use and geospatially referenced interfaces.

    Publications

    • Jones, D.E., G. Ruyle, and B. Hutchinson. 2004. Rangelands of the Western U.S.: Outreach Using the AgNIC Model. The Reference Librarian. (in press)
    • Hutchinson, B.S. and G. Ruyle. 2003. Partnering for Better Management of Western Rangelands: Using Web Technologies to Get the Word Out. Journal of Agricultural and Food Information 4(3):75-89.
    • Hutchinson, B. 2003. Building a Global Arid Lands Information System: A Collaborative Approach. Arid Lands Newsletter 52. [http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln52/aln52toc.html]
    • Previous article also was published in Proceedings of the IALC Conference and Workshop: Assessing Capabilities of Soil and Water Resources in Drylands: the role of information retrieval and dissemination technologies, October 20-25, 2002, Tucson, AZ.


    Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

    Outputs
    During the third year of this project, the following activities have been accomplished in the four objective areas: 1) the Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC) has continued the development of Web sites focused on land management and related arid lands issues. This has involved working with other University of Arizona units to develop Web-based databases for land and water management decision-making as well as designing and maintaining other informational Web sites. In particular, ALIC has continued working closely with the Arizona Remote Sensing Center and other units on geospatial interfaces to land resource data. It has also begun a Western regional rangelands Web initiative to bring quality rangeland management information and data to the global community. The following Web sites are illustrative of ALIC's work in this area: Rangelands of the Western U.S. http://rangelandswest.org; Public Land Grazing Management, Walker Basin Allotment http://ag.arizona.edu/vbarv/walker/walker.html; Managing Arid and Semi-Arid Watersheds http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/index.html; and RangeView: Geospatial Tools for Natural Resource Management http://rangeview.arizona.edu/. In addition, ALIC coordinates the information dissemination activities of the Arizona Center for Phytomedicine Research (ACPRx) http://acprx.pharmacy.arizona.edu/ and the Bioactive Agents of Dryland Biodiversity in Latin America project http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ICBG/bio-home.html; 2) ALIC continues to build the online catalog for its document collection; more than 200 items have been added during the past year, bringing the total to more than 8,400. ALIC also has begun to develop a Deserts of the World web site drawing on the knowledge gained through its collections and related activities; 3) ALIC continues to maintain and expand outreach through various Web sites covering worldwide arid lands information http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/; and 4) two additional issues of the Arid Lands Newsletter have been published http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/ALNHome.html.

    Impacts
    By providing researchers, government officials, and the public with easily accessible information on the world's arid regions and Western rangelands, we increase the knowledge and understanding of these areas to facilitate informed decision-making.

    Publications

    • Gardner, M., J. Gilbertson, B. Hutchinson, T. Lynch, J. McCue, and A. Paster. 2002. Partnering for Improved Access to Agricultural Information: The Agriculture Network Information Center (AgNIC) Initiative. (American Research Libraries) ARL Bimonthly Report 223, August 2002.
    • Haseltine, M., M.B. Baker, and B. Hutchinson. 2002. Technology Transfer of Watershed Management Information. AIH Journal, Hydrological Science and Technology 18(1-4): 77-88.
    • Haseltine, M., B. Hutchinson, and M.B. Baker. 2002. Improving Access to Watershed Management Information. Hydrology and Water Resources in Arizona and the Southwest 32: 113-120.


    Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

    Outputs
    During the second year of this project, the following activities have been accomplished in the four objective areas: 1) the Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC) has continued the development of four extensive and interrelated Web sites focused on land management issues. This has involved working with other University of Arizona units to develop Web-based databases for land and water management decision-making. In particular, ALIC has continued working closely with the Arizona Remote Sensing Center on geospatial interfaces to land resource data and the Management Information Systems department on database interfaces. The following Web sites are illustrative of ALIC's work in this area: AgNIC: Managing Rangelands http://ag.arizona.edu/agnic/range.html; Public Land Grazing Management, Walker Basin Allotment http://ag.arizona.edu/vbarv/walker/walker.html; Managing Arid and Semi-Arid Watersheds http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/index.html; and RangeView: Geospatial Tools for Natural Resource Management http://rangeview.arizona.edu/. In addition, ALIC began a new project for the Arizona Center for Phytomedicine Research (ACPRx) which has involved the initiation of a new Web site at the URL: http://acprx.pharmacy.arizona.edu/; 2) ALIC continues to build the online catalog for its document collection; more than 200 items have been added during the past year, bringing the total to more than 8,200. ALIC also is in the planning stages for developing an Arid Lands Information System portal using Web Services technologies; 3) ALIC continues to maintain and enhance various Web sites covering worldwide arid lands information http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/; and 4) two additional issues of the Arid Lands Newsletter have been published http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/ALNHome.html.

    Impacts
    By providing researchers, government officials, and the public with easily accessible information on the world's arid regions and Western rangelands, we increase the knowledge and understanding of these areas to facilitate informed decision-making.

    Publications

    • Baker, M.B., B. Hutchinson, E. Pfirman, M. Haseltine, and J. Schalau. 2001. Management of Arid and Semi-Arid Watersheds: Decision-Making Tools and Technology Transfer. Hydrology and Water Resources in Arizona and the Southwest. Proceedings of the 2001 Meetings. Vol. 31: 7-12.
    • Hutchinson, B.S. and G. Ruyle. 2002. Partnering for Better Management of Western Rangelands: Using Web Technologies to Get the Word Out. Submitted to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Information. (accepted)


    Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00

    Outputs
    During the first year of this project, the following activities have been accomplished in the four objective areas: 1) the Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC) has been involved in developing three extensive and interrelated Web sites focused on land management issues. These include: AgNIC: Managing Rangelands http://ag.arizona.edu/agnic/range.html; Public Land Grazing Management, Walker Basin Allotment http://ag.arizona.edu/vbarv/walker/walker.html; and Watershed Management in the Southwest http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/index.html. In addition, ALIC has worked with the Arizona Remote Sensing Center (ARSC) on developing GIS interfaces to land resource data available on the Web sites listed above; 2) ALIC continues to build the online catalog for its document collection; more than 1,000 items have been added during the past year, bringing the total to over 8,000. ALIC also continues to refine a plant catalog database of Chilean, Argentine, and Mexican arid lands plants; 3) ALIC continues to maintain and enhance various Web sites covering worldwide arid lands information http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/; and 4) two additional issues of the Arid Lands Newsletter have been published http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/ALNHome.html.

    Impacts
    By providing researchers, government officials, and the public with easily accessible information on the world's arid regions and Western rangelands, we increase the knowledge and understanding of these areas to facilitate informed decision-making.

    Publications

    • Timmermann, B.N., G. Wachter, S. Valcic, B. Hutchinson, et al. 2000. The Latin American ICBG: the first five years. Pharmaceutical Biology 37(Supplement):35-54.
    • Hutchinson, B.S. and G.B. Ruyle. 2000. Wired without the barbs: using the Internet for rangeland information. Rangelands 22(6):19-22.
    • Hutchinson, B., E. Suarez, R. Fortunato, A.M. Beeskow, R.Bye, G. Montenegro, and B. Timmermann. 2000. Conservation and ethnobotanical programs of the Bioactive Agents from Dryland Biodiversity of Latin America Project. Arid Lands Newsletter 48, November/December 2000. [http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln48/aln48toc.html]


    Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99

    Outputs
    During the past three years, OALS has continued to be involved in a wide variety of international research initiatives in such diverse areas as monitoring desertification activities, the development of arid land plant resources, the use of remote sensing for natural resource management and vulnerability mapping, and famine early warning systems. In each case publications and/or Web sites have been produced and disseminated to document the methodologies employed and project results. In addition, OALS has been actively involved in collecting, organizing, and managing materials in support of these projects for the purpose of information dissemination and access. Specific examples of these activities include: 1) the creation of a Web-based database to track desertification monitoring activities around the world; 2) the continued development of a desktop and Web-based database of arid lands plants in Latin America; 3) the continued development of Web sites related to arid lands information topics; and 4) the dissemination of information on issues affecting arid lands development through publication of the Arid Lands Newsletter available via the Web.

    Impacts
    By combining technical know-how and long-range planning, we have worked to create a dynamic set of information resources that provide researchers, policy makers, and interested persons throughout the world with the knowledge needed to efficiently manage their arid regions. (See Web sites at: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/oals.html)

    Publications

    • Coates, W.E. and R. Ayerza. 1998. Commercial Production of Chia in Northwestern Argentina. Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, 75(10):1417-1420.
    • Gerba, C.P., J. Thurston, J. Falabi, P. Watt and M.M. Karpiscak. 1998. Optimization of Artifical Wetland Design for Removal of Pathogenic Virus and Protoza. Second International Conference on Advanced Wastewater Treatment, Recycling and Reuse, International Association on Water Quality, Milan, September 14-16, 1998. Vol. 1, pp. 527-534.
    • Gunatilaka, A.A.L., N.E. Jacobsen, J.Y. Liang, K.S. Huang, and L. Yang. 1998. Novel Taxane Diterpenoids from the Chinese Yew, Taxus chinensis. Proceedings, 14th Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, 58.
    • Hutchinson, C.F. 1998. Social science and remote sensing in famine early warning. Diana Liverman, Emilio Moran, Ronald Rindfuss, and Paul Stern eds. People and Pixels: Linking Remote Sensing and Social Science. National Academy Press. Washington. Pp. 189-196.


    Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98

    Outputs
    The objectives of the Office of Arid Lands Studies (OALS) in managing its international activities is to facilitate the timely transfer of knowledge gained through research and development related to the world's arid lands. During 1998, OALS did this by continuing to provide a variety of services and products to the research, government, academic, and public communities. Specifically, OALS, through its Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC), continued to identify and acquire a collection of largely non-traditional documents that further the knowledge and understanding of the world's arid and semi-arid regions. These materials are indexed and entered into the ALIC database using ProCite software. This database is now available on the Web. ALIC also is involved in a project with Chile, Argentina, and Mexico that has resulted in a plant catalog database of Latin American arid lands plants. A Web site has been created to access information about this project and the database. Other international involvements include participation in the International Arid Lands Consortium, continued development of information handling capabilities for the Arid Zone Program at the University of Chile, and participating in a United Nations project to conduct a worldwide survey on desertification monitoring activities, which will result in a web-based database of relevant. ALIC also is involved in developing a wide variety of Web sites to provide information on OALS activities and various agriculture-related topics. In addition, OALS continues to publish the research magazine Arid Lands Newsletter twice a year. The complete version is available electronically via the Web and a condensed version is made available in print format and distributed throughout the world free-of-charge. Each issue looks in depth at a particular topic relevant to understanding and managing the world's arid regions. This publication and the referenced Web sites can be reviewed using the following URL: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/

    Impacts
    (N/A)

    Publications

    • Hutchinson, B., ed. 1997-1998. International News column in Information Outlook (The monthly magazine of the Special Libraries Association).
    • Hutchinson, B. 1998. Members on the move around the world. Information Outlook 2(1):7.


    Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97

    Outputs
    The objectives of the Office of Arid Lands Studies (OALS) in managing its international activities is to facilitate the timely transfer of knowledge gained through research and development related to the world's arid lands. During 1997, OALS did this by continuing to provide a variety of services and products to the research, government, academic, and public communities. Specifically, OALS, through its Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC), continued to identify and acquire a collection of largely non-traditional documents that further the knowledge and understanding of the world's arid and semi-arid regions. These materials are indexed and entered into the ALIC database using ProCite software. Current plans are to make this database available via the Web during 1998. The ALIC also is involved in a project with Chile, Argentina, and Mexico that has resulted in a plant catalog database of Latin American arid lands plants. A Web site has been created to access information about this project and the database. Other international involvements include participation in the International Arid Lands Consortium, continued development of information handling capabilities for the Arid Zone Program at the University of Chile, participation in developing environmental information management activities for the government of Malawi, and representation of CAB International in North America. The ALIC also is involved in developing a wide variety of Web sites to provide information on OALS activities and various agriculture-related topics. In addition, OALS continues to publish the research magazine Arid Lands Newsletter twice a year. The complete version is available electronically via the Web. Additionally, a condensed version is made available in print format and distributed throughout the world free-of-charge. Each issue looks in depth at a particular topic relevant to understanding and managing the world's arid regions. This publication and the referenced Web sites can be reviewed using the following URL: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/

    Impacts
    (N/A)

    Publications

    • Hutchinson, B., L.M. Alvare, and M. Mejia. 1997. IAALD Sponsors New Technologies Workshop in Chile. Quarterly Bulletin of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists, volume 42, no. 1, pp. 23-27.
    • Hutchinson, B., ed. 1997-1998. International News column in Information Outlook (The monthly magazine of the Special Libraries Association).
    • Hutchinson, B. Planning for Environmental Information Management in Malawi. Tucson, AZ: Office of Arid Lands Studies for the Malawi Ministry of Research and Environmental Affairs, February 1997. 21 pp.


    Progress 01/01/96 to 12/30/96

    Outputs
    International activities included continued participation in the International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) with the ongoing Web site project. New crop development project with two universities in Argentina. Participation in an international ecological sustainability conference in Israel. Construction of water harvesting sites in Israel. CAB International Library Liaison Activity for North America. Famine early warning project with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Application of remote sensing technologies to monitor arid lands resources in Saudia Arabia. Application of principal components analysis to land cover mapping in coordination with the Shimizu Corporation in Japan. Granduate instruction in new crop development in Argentina. Coordinated a three-day workshop in Chile on the use of new technologies to access agricultural information.

    Impacts
    (N/A)

    Publications

    • Hirosawa, Y, SE Marsh, and DH Kliman. 1996. Application of standardized principal components analysis to land cover characterization using multitemporal AVHRR data. Remote Sensing of Environment. In Press.
    • Hutchinson, B and J Bancroft. 1996. Building an Arid Lands Information Network on the Internet. Quarterly Bulleting of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists, volume 41, no. 2.
    • Hutchinson, CF. 1996. Africa and America: desert connections. Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 11:3(34-36).
    • Hutchinson, CF. 1996. The Sahelian desertification debate: a view from the US Southwest. Journal of Arid Environments 33(4):519-524.
    • Ravetta, DA and SP McLaughlin. 1996. Ecophysiological studies in Hesperaloe funifera (Agavaceae): a potential new CAM crops. Seasonal patterns of photosynthesis. Journal of Arid Environments 33:211-223.


    Progress 01/01/95 to 12/30/95

    Outputs
    International activities included: 1) participation in the international arid lands consortium including the continued development of a) an ialc web-site; and b) construction of an effluent and water harvesting system for irrigation in agroforestry production; 2) the completion of the design phase of a plant database of arid lands plants in Chile, Argentina, and Mexico with gis applications; 3) the continued development of an internet-based reference service for arid lands information, including the availability of four online newsletters (arid lands newsletter, bio-d prospects newsletter, and tierras aridas conexiones), publications lists, and general project information; 4) compilation of reports on food security in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Azerbaijan, Honduras, and the Horn of Africa; 5) development of information handling capabilities for the arid zone program at the University of Chile; 6) completion of a worldwide bibliography on desertification; and 7) North American representation for cab international, a multi-national agricultural scientific, development and information organization.

    Impacts
    (N/A)

    Publications


      Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94

      Outputs
      INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: 1)PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARID LANDS CONSORTIUM INCLUDING THE INITIATION OF: A)A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO DESIGN AND BUILD AN IALC COMPONENT OF THE ARID LANDS INFORMATION NETWORK, AND B) A PROJECT ON EFFLUENT AND WATER HARVESTING FOR IRRIGATION IN AGROFORESTRY PRODUCTION; 2)THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF A PLANT DATABASE OF ARID LANDS PLANTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND A COMPANION BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASE; 3)THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARID LANDS INFORMATION NETWORK AS A WORLD WIDE WEB SITE ON THE INTERNET, INCLUDING THE LOADING OF THREE NEWSLETTERS (ARID LANDS NEWSLETTER, BIO-D PROSPECTS NEWSLETTER, AND TIERRAS ARIDAS CONEXIONES), PUBLICATIONS LISTS, AND GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION; 4)COMPLIATION OF REPORTS RESULTING FROM FOOD SECURITY SURVEY IN TAJIKISTAN AND ON URBAN FOOD SECURITY ISSUES; 5)DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION HANDLING CAPABILITIES FOR THE ARID ZONE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE; 6)COMPLETION OF THE PUBLICATION, ARID LANDS RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS: WORLD DIRECTORY; 7)ONGOING WORK TO COMPILE A COMPREHENSIVE, WORLDWIDE BIBLIOGRAPHY ON DESERTIFICATION; 8)REPRESENTING THE MULTI-NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIFIC, DEVELOPMENT, AND INFORMATION ORGANIZATION, CAB INTERNATIONAL, IN THE AMERICAS.

      Impacts
      (N/A)

      Publications


        Progress 01/01/93 to 12/30/93

        Outputs
        Provided support for projects involving: 1) a collaborative effort to study and conserve the biodiversity of native plants and their potential natural products in arid regions of South America; 2) participation in the International Arid Lands Consortium, which develops solutions to arid lands development problems; 3) the continued development of famine mitigation methodologies; 4) rapid food security assessments in Zambia and Ethiopia; 5) environmental monitoring in Malawi; 6) establishing baseline indicators for range and forest burning in The Gambia; 7) development of geographic information systems database elements for Haiti; 8) the rehabilitation, utilization, and management of dryland ecosystems in South America; and, 9) development of sustainable agriculture in arid regions of Chile.

        Impacts
        (N/A)

        Publications

        • BRUNNER, J., D. DWORKIN, and C. HUTCHINSON. 1993. Malawi Agricultural Sector Assistance Program, Environmental Sub-Activity. Mission Statement and Recommendations submitted to the U.S. Agency for International Development, Lilongwe. March.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1993. A Strategic Framework for Promoting Household Food and Nutritional Security in Drought Situations. Food Forum, November.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1993. Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods in Areas Prone to Recurrent Droughts. Arid Lands Newsletter, Fall.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1993. Household Food Security in Zimbabwe. An Issues Paper. Rome: The International Fund for Agricultural Development, African Division, Project Management Department.
        • HASELTINE, M., K. JOHNSON, and B. HUTCHINSON. 1993. Famine Mitigation Bibliography: Southern Africa. Washington, D.C.: USAID, OFDA, The Famine Mitigation Activity Support Project.


        Progress 01/01/92 to 12/30/92

        Outputs
        Provided support for projects involving (1) simulation modeling of deforestationand land degradation in the Guinea Highlands using geographic information system (GIS) software (U.S. AID); (2) application of GIS techniques for risk assessment and vulnerability mapping (U.N. FAO and U.S. AID); (3) development of a computer workstation for famine early warning (U. N. FAO); (4) application of airborne and satellite remote sensing to assess rain forest (Brazil) land-cover classification accuracy assessment (Nature Conservancy); (5) application projects on famine mitigation (U.S. Dept. of State); (6) development of time effective survey techniques for Rapid Food Security Assessment (U. S. OFDA); (7) Rapid Rural Appraisal in Nepal (U.S. AID); (8) preparation of environmental profiles providing background information for famine mitigation activities in Angola, Ethiopia, and Sudan (U. S. OFDA); (9) development of collaborative effort to study and conserve the biodiversity of native plants and their potential natural products in arid regions of South America; (10) participation in the International Arid Lands Consortium, which develops solutions to arid lands development problems.

        Impacts
        (N/A)

        Publications

        • ADELSKI, E. 1992. The People's Republic of Angola: A Country Profile. Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona, Office of Arid Lands Studies.
        • CALDWELL, R. 1992. Ethiopia: A Country Profile for Famine Mitigation Planning and Implementation. Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona, Office of Arid Lands Studies.
        • COYLE, P.E., MACK, M.D., GOLDSTEIN, D.M., FRANKENBERGER, T.R. and BRECKENRIDGE, R.S. 1992. Republic of the Sudan: A Country Profile. Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona, Office of Arid Lands Studies.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1992. Indicators and Data Collection Methods for Assessing Household Food Security. Rome: International Fund for Agricultural Development.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1992. "Issues of Farmer/Consumer Participation in Research and Development". In Proceedings of a Workshop on Social Science Research and the CRSPs. Lexington, Kentucky: U.S. Agency for International Development.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1992. Rapid Food Security Assessment. Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona, Office of Arid Lands Studies.


        Progress 01/01/91 to 12/30/91

        Outputs
        Provided technical support and advised in establishment of consultative group ingeographic information systems (GIS) to the USAID Natural Resources Information Management for Africa Project. Developed GIS applications for crop assessment and famine early warning for FAO. Initiated a multi-year famine mitigation activity for Africa for the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. Provided technical support to USAID India Geographic Information Systems Program. Conducted a ford Foundation-funded GIS study for U.S.-Mexico transboundary water resources management. Performed simulation modeling of deforestation and land degradation in the Guinea Highlands. Helped develop a program for monitoring the impact of home gardening activities on the consumption of Vitamin A-rich foods in Nepal. Carried out a house-hold food security (hfs) assessment in Malawi and wrote concept paper on hfs for the International fund for Agricultural Development. Developed a hfs and nutrition strategy for African regions for USAID. Received MacArthur Foundation grant to study the chemistry of Grindelia in Northern Chile as a potential cash crop. Studied bioactive compounds from arid adapted geophytes in cooperation with the University of La Serena in Chile. Active in the International Arid Lands Consortium which develops solutions to arid lands development problems. Participates on the AAS, Western Hemisphere, US-Chile panel for scientific programs.

        Impacts
        (N/A)

        Publications

        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. and M.B. LYNHAM. 1991. Household Food Security and Coping Strategies Along the Senegal River Valley, in T.K. Park, ed., Risk and Tenure in Arid Lands: The Political Ecology of Development in the Senegal River Basin. UA.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1991. The Importance of Household Coping Strategies to Famine Mitigation, in, Proceedings of the Famine Mitigation Workshop, USAID, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the USDA, Office of International Cooperation.
        • FUENTES, E., A.E. HOFFMANN and B.N. TIMMERMANN. 1991. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 63:331-332.
        • HUTCHINSON, C.F. 1991. Uses of satellite data for famine early warning in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Remote Sensing 12:1405-1421.
        • HUTCHINSON, C.F. 1991. Integration of remote sensing and farming systems research in West Africa, in, Adli Bishay and Harold Dregne, eds., Desert Development, Part 1: Desert Agriculture, and Biology. Harwood Publishers. Chur.
        • HUTCHINSON, C.F., S.E. MARSH, and J.L. WALSH. 1991. Development of computer workstation for early warning, in Proceedings of Resource Technology 90. American society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. pp. 424-433.


        Progress 07/01/90 to 12/30/90

        Outputs
        Designed the Watershed and Applied Reseach Development Project for USAID/Praia Cape Verde. This project addresses key issues in agricultural and natural resource development in Cape Verde. Designing a cooperative development project involving the United States, the Soviet Union, and the Government of Botswana that focuses on the establishment of a Land Resource Monitoring Unit for sustainable land use planning in Botswana. Completed annotated bibliography and synthesis on the worldwide impact of garden projects on vitamin A status. Developed a GIS-based agricultural land use system for Senegal. Conducted a comparison of multisensor and multitemporal satellite data for mapping land cover dynamics in the West African Sahel. Designed a computer based work station for FAO. The Arid Lands Information Center continues to act as the North American Office for CAB International. Directed a project entitled Nutrition in Agriculture Project funded by USAID. This project carried out research activities in Mauritania, Ecuador, Lesotho, and the Philippines. Editor of the Journal of Farming Research-Extension and Culture and Agriculture.

        Impacts
        (N/A)

        Publications

        • HUTCHINSON, C.F. 1990. Regional Resource Assessment; and Site Evaluation; in Board on Science and Technology for International Development. The Improvement of Tropical and Subtropical Rangelands. Nat. Acad. Press, Washington, DC. 379 pp.
        • GILRUTH, P.T., HUTCHINSON, C.F. and BARRY, B. 1990. Assessing Deforestation in the Guinea Highands of West Africa Using Remote Sensing. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing; Vol. 56, p. 1375-1382.
        • HUTCHINSON, C.F. and MARSH, S.E. 1990. Design of a Computer Workstation for the Global Information and Early Warning System. ART Program Report 90-1. Coll. of Agric., Univ. of AZ, Tucson, Arizona. 56 pp.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. and GOLDSTEIN, D.M. 1990. Food Security, Coping Strategies and Environmental Degradation. Arid Lands Newsletter, Vol. 30 (Fall/Winter). pp. 21-27.
        • SOLERIE, D., CLEVELAND, D.W. and FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1990. Gardens and Vitamin A. A Review of Recent Literature. Report to the Intl. Science and Technology Inst. for the Vitamin A Field Support Project, USAID.
        • FRANKENBERGER, T.R. 1990. Production-Consumption Linkages and Coping Strategies at the Household Level. In Proceedings of the Agric. Nutrition Linkage Workshop USAID, Bureau for Science and Technology, Office of Nutrition, Washington, DC.