Source: UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND submitted to
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND RREA PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
RREA
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1011317
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
RI0017-CE-RREA
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 2, 2016
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2021
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
August, P, V.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
19 WOODWARD HALL 9 EAST ALUMNI AVENUE
KINGSTON,RI 02881
Performing Department
Natural Resource Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The University of Rhode Island (URI) Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Program is the state's lead organization for facilitating the use of geospatial data and technology by Rhode Island's land stewardship community."Geospatial technology" is a term that collectively represents Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS; e.g., the Global Positioning System operated by the United States), and remote sensing (e.g., image data collected by unmanned aerial systems, airplanes, and satellites).The URI RREA Program is known for very effectively leveraging RREA funding to build up and support a broad foundation of partnerships that share geospatial data and technology with Rhode Island's conservation community. For example, its long-standing support of environmental data distribution by the Rhode Island Geographic Information System consortium has been a mainstay for access to free, accurate, and reliable geospatial data contributed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. In turn, these data are used by a wide range of end users, including foresters, land owners, surveyors, civil engineers, realtors, citizen scientists, and more.The URI RREA Program also continues to be the sole provider of locally-based instructor-lead training in geospatial technology. The training program revolves around natural resource management issues and introduces trainees to resource stewardship concepts while they learn how to effectively work with a GIS.We are enhancing our commitment to serving the forest management needs of private and NGO landowners in this RREA planning cycle. As much of Rhode Island's existing forest cover is privately owned and in small (< 20 acres) parcels, we feel this is an important enhancement of our programming goals.
Animal Health Component
0%
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
1230699302030%
1360699302030%
9030699302040%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery; 123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources; 136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The University of Rhode Island (URI) Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Program facilitates the use of geospatial data and technology for more informed decision making by natural resource managers. The primary objectives of the URI RREA Program are: 1) increasing the amount and reliability of geospatial data and technology resources that are available to Rhode Island's conservation community; 2) increasing the awareness of natural resource managers of the availability of these geospatial resources; 3) increasing the number of natural resource managers skilled in the effective application of these geospatial resources; 4) providing training and guidance in forest management to private and NGO landowners.
Project Methods
The URI RREA Program will meet its goals using a unique combination of technology, education, and partnerships.TECHNOLOGY: In partnership with the URI Environmental Data Center and the URI Information Technology Services Department, the URI RREA Program will continue utilizing existing information technology resources to drive the Rhode Island Digital Atlas, Rhode Island Woods, RIGIS, and URI GPS Base Station websites. These resources consist of web servers, file servers, database servers, content management systems (Drupal and WordPress), and a Trimble Continuously Operation Reference Station (CORS) receiver. An existing collection of Garmin and Bad Elf brand GPS receivers comprise the URI Environmental Data Center's GPS unit lending library.EDUCATION: The URI RREA Program will continue offering 1- and 3-day classes on the use of Esri ArcGIS for Desktop and Esri ArcGIS Online utilizing classroom space provided by the URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences. These classes are offered on a regular basis during the winter, spring, and summer breaks at URI.PARTNERSHIPS: The primary reason why the URI RREA Program is so effective lies within the strength of its partnerships. Existing partnerships with the Conservation Stewardship Collaborative (CSC), Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Rhode Island Land and Water Partnership, Watch Hill Conservancy, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), natural resource programs at other regional land-grant universities, and Rhode IslandView will continue to be fostered. New to this plan of work, the URI RREA Program will also actively support an existing alliance between the URI Department of Natural Resources Science and the USDA NRCS Rhode Island State Office. This alliance provides a valuable advisory service that increases awareness of NRCS partnership opportunities available to private forest owners, and assists owners with applying to NRCS to take advantage of these opportunities.EVALUATION APPROACH: Google Analytics and web server log files will be used to collect data regarding the number of direct contacts and usage of the online services supported by the URI RREA Program. The number of events of supported by the URI RREA Program, and the number of participants in these events, will be tallied on a rolling basis. Participant feedback from the 1- and 3-day geospatial technology workshops will be requested via a Google Form after the end of each workshop. Additional relevant indicators as requested by NIFA, such as number of acres on which forest management was improved, will be assessed on an annual basis by URI RREA Program staff.

Progress 11/02/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Natural resource managers and local decision makers comprise our target audience. This audience typically consists of municipal and state government agencies, community volunteer and non-profit organizations, businesses, and private land owners. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Documented in previous section as outputs for URI RREA Program objectives 2, 3, and 4. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In addition to the previously described professional development and outreach initiatives, URI RREA staff gave seventeen presentations at public events including a public outreach display at Rhode Island's Washington County Fair and hosting a Rhode Island Land Trust Day event. 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 University of Rhode Island Renewable Resources Extension Act Program (URI RREA) promotes and supports the use of geospatial technologies to support natural resource management in our State. We meet our goals through traditional instructor-led training, online data and map distribution services, and mentoring and advising conservation organizations. Objective 1: Increasing the amount and reliability of geospatial data and technology resources that are available to Rhode Island's conservation community The URI RREA Program supported the development of a new data distribution website for the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS) consortium. Based on the Esri ArcGIS Open Data Platform, this new website makes it far easier for Rhode Island's conservation community to access geospatial data about natural resources. For instance, natural resource managers may now view invasive species data compiled by the Rhode Island Forest Health Works Project, zoom into an area of interest, and either add the selected data to a dynamic online map, or traditionally download in a variety of file formats. On the previous RIGIS website, natural resource managers needed to know some fundamentals of working with GIS data to view these data. This technical barrier has been removed thanks to this new website. During this reporting period, the RIGIS online data clearinghouse more than distributed 4.6 TB of data, and the 150 map services affiliated with the Rhode Island Digital Atlas responded to over 5.4 million requests. The URI RREA Program continued to maintain a National Geodetic Survey Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) hosted by the URI Environmental Data Center. This service provides "correction files" that improve the positional accuracy of data collected in the field by GPS receivers, which assist users in more precisely measuring locations of natural features throughout Rhode Island. 17 GB of correction files were downloaded from the GPS Base Station during this reporting period. This CORS station has been a critical geospatial data source for many renewable natural resources conservation organizations throughout our region. URI RREA is currently exploring a partnership with the University of Connecticut's Department of Natural Resources and the Environment to fold this service into a real-time network known as ACORN (Advanced Continuously Operating Reference Network). ACORN consists of a network of nine GPS Base Station receivers distributed throughout Connecticut that allow users to perform Real Time Kinematic (RTK) coordinate positioning using an in-the-field roving receiver while simultaneously leveraging the real-time reference data of the ACORN network. Adding our CORS station as a node would expand the effective area of the real-time network across eastern CT and western RI and open the door for conservation organizations to integrate high-accuracy geospatial positioning into their management and planning at a much lower cost. One of the challenges will be updating our existing GPS receiver/antenna to a more contemporary and compatible model in order to participate in this network. We are pursuing other partnerships and possible grant opportunities to achieve this. Objective 2: Increasing the awareness of natural resource managers of the availability of these geospatial resources. In addition to URI RREA's traditional instructor-led classroom training opportunities, program staff incorporated technology transfer and learning opportunities for its audiences at professional meetings and over the internet. Approximately 500 people attended seventeen additional public presentations given by URI RREA staff during this reporting period. Partners and audiences included municipal land trusts, university classes, private philanthropic organizations, the RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, the RI Flood Mitigation Association, and the RI Department of Environmental Management Pollinator Working Group. URI RREA continued to participate in the eXtension "MapASyst" Geospatial Technology Community of Practice and contribute posts to the URI Environmental Data Center's blog to deliver timely information about the use of geospatial data and technologies. Objective 3: Increasing the number of natural resource managers skilled in the effective application of these geospatial resources. URI RREA continued to update and offer URI's Geospatial Training Program's core course offerings during this reporting period. These courses introduce students to applications of geospatial data and analyses for natural resource protection and forest management. Our class attendees typically consist of volunteers from conservation-focused organizations (e.g., municipal land trusts), state and local government employees, education professionals, students, and private industry. During this reporting period, the "Introduction to GIS" class was offered three times and attended by a total of 44 people. "Working with ArcGIS Online" was offered twice and was attended by 21 people. All students received hands-on software instruction and course books with exercises with accompanying training data. Upon successful completion of the course, students received a URI Certificate of Course Completion. Program evaluations confirmed that participants will use what they learned to affect natural resources management and protection. URI RREA continued to work regionally and partner with colleagues at the University of New Hampshire's and the University of Connecticut's geospatial training programs to develop, modify and expand URI RREA's suite of training opportunities available to its audiences. During this reporting period, ArcGIS.com training materials were shared with colleagues at both universities to use and adapt as needed. Objective 4: Providing training and guidance in forest management to private and NGO landowners. URI RREA provided technical assistance to private forest owners in Rhode Island about how to increase the productivity of their forest products while improving forest health and wildlife habitat. During the reporting period, 36 landowners were directly assisted, which included visiting their properties and providing information about sources of technical and financial support. 14 of these landowners received further technical assistance from URI RREA with applying for additional support from a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program that is conducted in partnership with URI. Technical assistance tasks featured the use of GIS to prepare a portfolio of approximately ten maps per applicant, resulting in a total of more than 140 maps. URI RREA also assisted with both organizing and presenting at the annual Rhode Island Resource Conservation and Development Area Council Coverts Training, a two-day workshop that trains private landowners to improve wildlife habitat on their properties. URI RREA staff also supported a series of three separate workshops for land trusts about how to create vernal pools for rare amphibians. The Rhode Island Woods website continued to be supported by URI RREA, which provides information to the general public about a wide range of forestry issues and promotes RI forestry businesses. The "Woodscaping: A Guide for Small Acreage Woodland Owners" online educational materials developed by URI RREA continue to be used by Rhode Island's Resource Conservation and Development Area's programs for the state's forest owners. The Guide provides planning guidance, project ideas, basic and technical information, and a list of several specific contacts and resources. The collective outcomes of these activities were increased awareness of the general public about forestry issues, and increased numbers of landowners participating in USDA technical and financial assistance programs for forestry in Rhode Island.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: August, P., J. Sassi, K. Rogers, and J. Cressman Greene. 2016. The Geography of the Napatree Point Conservation Area. In State of Napatree Report: 2016. pages 13-23. Janice Sassi, Editor. Watch Hill Conservancy. (www.napatreepoint.info)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: August, P. and J. Sassi. 2016. Camera Trap Reconnaissance of Wildlife in the Napatree Point Conservation Area: 2015-2016 Sampling. pages 85-94. Janice Sassi, Editor. Watch Hill Conservancy. (www.napatreepoint.info)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: August, P., E. Bodell, R. Kleinert, C. Fox, A. Peterson, and L. Craver-Rogers. 2016. Bats of Napatree: A Preliminary Assessment. pages 95-103. Janice Sassi, Editor. Watch Hill Conservancy. (www.napatreepoint.info)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cressman Greene, J., K. Killingbeck, P. August, and J. Sassi. 2016. Assessing Shrubland Dynamics on Napatree Point, Watch Hill. pages 148-152. Janice Sassi, Editor. Watch Hill Conservancy. (www.napatreepoint.info)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Leeson, H., P. August, and J. Sassi. 2016. Native Vegetation Restoration and Invasive Plant Control in the Napatree Point Conservation Area. pages 104-118. Janice Sassi, Editor. Watch Hill Conservancy. (www.napatreepoint.info)