Wai‘anae Ecological Characterization

Spatial Information

GIS Applications for Watershed and Coastal Resource Management

There are innumerable applications of GIS in planning and natural resource management, from presentation of planning scenarios and government decision-making to in-depth analysis of environmental processes and impacts of human activity. GIS can be especially helpful for assessing water quality issues. For example, GIS can be used to develop watershed models and flooding scenarios, monitor coastal erosion and water quality, and estimate the effects of impervious surfaces and land use changes on coastal resources. For a detailed example of how a customized water quality tool created for use in Wai‘anae can be used for coastal management, please see the Coastal Water Quality Tool section.

Several map projects (.mxd files) have been developed for use with ESRI®'s ArcMap™ software with data from the Wai‘anae Ecological Characterization (WEC) geographic information system (GIS). Each map project addresses a particular theme relevant to coastal and natural resource management. They are meant to give an introduction to the types of data and information that could be utilized in watershed and coastal resource management for the Wai‘anae area. These map projects and the WEC GIS are only available on CD-ROM. To order a copy of the WEC CD-ROM, please complete an online request form.

  • Terrestrial Environment
    With the appropriate data, GIS can allow you to examine the changes in, and characteristics of, natural vegetation and human development over time. This map project includes spatial layers that characterize the vegetation and land cover of the Wai‘anae moku in the present day and in the past. Data layers include the extent of recent and pre-human native ecosystems, recent and historic land cover, and soils.
  • Coastal Hazards
    Mitigation of hazards is a major concern of coastal managers and community decision-makers. GIS can be used to aid the decision-making process in planning for appropriate development as well as hazard preparedness and response. This map project includes data layers that show the 100-year and 500-year flood zones, the tsunami evacuation zone, building footprints, and population density.
  • Coastal and Marine Habitat
    GIS can be used to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the quality and quantity of coastal and marine resources, important in the consideration of changes to land use, resource extraction, and other types of human activity. This map project includes data layers that show the benthic habitat and bottom type off the coast of Wai‘anae, marine managed areas, fish aggregating devices, and coastal wetlands.
  • Land Use
    Land use can have significant impacts on coastal and natural resources. Depending on the activity, land use can affect such things as water quality, natural habitat, and even shoreline erosion. GIS can help coastal and resource managers understand the geographic relationship between land use and natural resources, which can lead to more appropriate and sustainable development. This map project depicts land use in the Wai‘anae moku. Data layers include land use, zoning, state land use districts, and agricultural lands.
  • Public Dimension
    In coastal and natural resource management it is important to understand the characteristics of the human environment as well as the natural environment. Land ownership, community resources, and public facilities and infrastructure can all affect resource managers' decisions. This map displays GIS data layers on public facilities, land ownership, and community resources.

These map projects are intended to be viewed using the ArcMap application, which gives you full functionality in viewing and manipulating the data. However, if you do not have access to ArcMap software, you can view the maps using ArcReader™ software, which allows you to examine a map's data layers but does not give you all the same functionality as ArcMap. This free software can be downloaded from ESRI's Web site (http://www.esri.com/products.html). A brief tutorial on using ArcReader is included in the Tutorials section. The ArcReader maps are available on the WEC CD-ROM, which can be ordered by completing an online request form.

For More Information

Several local agencies and organizations are using GIS for watershed applications in the Wai‘anae region. Please visit their Web sites or contact them for more information on their activities in your area.

In addition, these organizations can provide additional GIS data and resources:

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