Information Science

Branch Chief: Vacant

The FORT Information Science Branch staff enhance discovery and management of our natural world and turn information into knowledge. Branch staff offer expertise in information management and delivery, information technology and security, GIS and remote sensing applications, and other environmental information science products including Web applications, decision-support systems, and integrated access to distributed databases.

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In the News

New Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling Package for VisTrails

A new addition to FORT's Resource for Advanced Modeling will significantly enhance habitat suitability and species distribution modeling. The Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (SAHM), released in March 2012, was created to both expedite habitat suitability modeling and help maintain a record of the various input data, pre- and post- processing steps, and modeling options incorporated in the construction of a species distribution model. SAHM is constructed as a "package" of modules that can be used within VisTrails, an open-source management and scientific workflow system designed to integrate the best of scientific workflow and scientific visualization systems. SAHM works by combining environmental predictor layers of the study area — such as climate and remote sensing data — with field sampling measurements for a particular species. The program then runs statistical models using these data to analyze habitat requirements of the species of interest and predict its potential distribution based on habitat suitability. Model outputs help land and natural resource managers generate maps to aid in predicting and managing species of concern.

Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling Package for VisTrails (SAHM: VisTrails)

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