Forest Service Web Maps Design Use and Evaluation

Forest Service Web Maps: Design, Use, and Evaluation Lindsey Kiesz May 2014 Advisor: Dr. Alex Klippel

Outline • Introduction to project: a web map • Forest Service direction and background • Design process and design criteria • Project status

Designing a Map • Background • Northwest Forest Plan • Aquatic and Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Program • Watershed score • Multi-agency • Bureau of Land Management • US Fish and Wildlife Service • Needs Northwest Forest Plan Area Source: Collier, Odell (2002). Reproduced here for educational purposes. • Share data with many agencies • Agency Hydrologists will review model outputs

What is the Forest Service? Ranger hats? • National Park Service • or US Forest Service? A ranger hat Source: National Park Service (2014), reproduced here for educational purposes. • Federal agency in the Department of Agriculture “Caring for the land, serving people” “The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. ” Forest Service (2013)

• FS Map goes here… Map of the contiguous United States. National Forest Land shown in green.

What is a Web Map? • Dynamic maps • Arc. GIS API for Java. Script or Google Maps API • Static maps • Arc. GIS map products • . Pdf • Figures

Paper versus Web Maps Paper Web • Printing costs • Reach a greater audience • Better resolution • Software, training costs • Screen resolution • More information

Forest Service Web Maps “The broad objectives of conducting information programs and activities are to: 1. Increase public awareness of and understanding of Forest Service programs, activities, benefits, and services, and stewardship of natural resources. 2. Facilitate the participation of individuals, organizations, groups, other Federal agencies, and State, local, and tribal governments in Forest Service decision making processes, programs, and activities. ” Source: Forest Service Manual (2012)

Forest Service Web Maps • Arc. GIS Online for Organizations • Arc. GIS Server • Google Maps • Campgrounds and trailheads • Web mapping technologies business rules • Internal documents related to file naming standards and other internal processes for publishing maps. • No extensive design and evaluation guidelines for the map itself.

Design • Design Process: • Needs assessment • Users, Tasks, Data, Products • Draft • Publish • Evaluation • Iterative

Design Criteria Overview • Map Design • Many print map cartography concepts apply to web maps • Web Map Design • Criteria for web maps • Web Criteria • Meet web standards

Map Design Map elements present Title, legend, scale bar Simple and balanced ü Intuitive colors and symbols ü Data accuracy ü Completeness ü

Web Map Design Display at different scales ü Basemap consideration ü Intuitive icons and map interaction Search capability Zoom icons, popups ü

Web Criteria Display in web browser Website Accessibility (508 Compliance) ü Some limitations Web Standards ü Forest Service Web Standards ü Metadata Final map will have a link to metadata Availability ü

Evaluation West Bend Project Map elements present ü Simple and balanced ü Intuitive colors and symbols ü Data accuracy ü Completeness ü Display at different scales ü Basemap consideration ü Display in web browser ü 508 compliance ü Web Standards ü Forest Service Web Standards ü Intuitive map interaction ü Search capability Metadata ü Availability ü

Capstone Project Status • Map • Currently draft • Map data ready Summer 2014 • Finalize design and evaluation criteria • Survey/Evaluation by intended audience • Internal documents • Criteria and guidelines • Information for managers

Presentation • Northwest GIS Users Conference • • Lynnwood, WA. October 13 to 17, 2014 WORKING ACROSS BORDERS Abstract due August/September 2014

References • • • • • Brewer, Cynthia (2005). Designing Better Maps, A Guide For GIS Users. Redlands, CA: ESRI Press Brown, A (2001) Web Maps and Tourists in Kraak, MJ, Brown, A. Web Cartography: Developments and prospects (pp. 127 – 137) London: Taylor & Francis. Cartwright, W (2005). Maps on the Web. In Peterson, M. P. (Ed. ). (2003). Maps and the Internet. (pp. 35 – 56) Elsevier. Cinnamon, J. , Rinner, C. , Cusimano, M. D. , Marshall, S. , Bekele, T. , Hernandez, T. , Glazier, R. & Chipman, M. L. (2009). Evaluating web-based static, animated and interactive maps for injury prevention. Geospatial health, 4(1), 3 -16. Collier, K, , Odell, S. (2001). The Northwest Forest Plan An Overview. Retrieved 4/13/2014 from http: //www. reo. gov/documents/presentations/NFP-transplan-approvedodes. ppt Detwiler, J. (2014). Types of Web Maps. The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 4/26/2014 from https: //www. eeducation. psu. edu/geog 863/resources/l 3_p 4. html Forest Service Manual (2012). FSM 1600 -Information Services, Chapter Zero Code. Retrieved 4/16/2014 from http: //www. fs. fed. us/im/directives/fsm/1600_zero_code. doc Forest Service (2013) About Us – Mission. Retrieved 4/10/2014 from http: //www. fs. fed. us/aboutus/mission. shtml Klippel, A. , Freska, C. & Winter, S. (2006) You-are-here maps in emergencies – The Danger of getting lost. Journal of Spatial Science, 51(1), pp 117 -131 Mc. Neil, P (2012). The Designer’s Web Handbook. Ohio: HOW Books National Park Service (2014). Ask A Ranger. Retrieved 4/10/2014 from http: //www. nps. gov/fost/forkids/ask-a-ranger. htm Nivala, A. M. , Brewster, S. , & Sarjakoski, T. L. (2008). Usability evaluation of web mapping sites. The Cartographic Journal, 45(2), 129 -138 Regional Ecosystem Office, (no date) Regional Ecosystem Office. Retrieved 4/21/2014 from reo. gov Robinson, A; Hardisty, F, & Chaplin, G. (2014). What is Design. The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 4/26/2014 from https: //www. e-education. psu. edu/geog 583/node/91 Svennerberg, G. (2010) Beginning Google Maps API 3. Apress van Elzakker, C. P. J. M. (2001). Use of maps on the Web. In M. J. Kraak & A. Brown (Eds. ), Web cartography: Developments and prospects (pp. 21 -36). London: Taylor & Francis Us Department of Heath and Human Services (2014). Comply with Section 508. Retrieved 4/26/2014 from http: //guidelines. usability. gov/guidelines/28 You, M. , Chen, C. W. , Liu, H. , & Lin, H. (2007). A usability evaluation of web map zoom and pan functions. International Journal of Design, 1(1), 15 -25.

Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest