Services
Overview
Using proven field methods combined with years of on-the-ground experience and cutting-edge geospatial technology, Terra Solutions provides managers with critical time-sensitive information to effectively manage and monitor broad landscapes. The team at Terra Solutions has the ability to create, analyze, and interpret data that will aid managers in establishing superior management practices, promoting time and cost savings, and affording a solid foundation by which effective management efforts may be driven.
Terra Solutions offers unique geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) solutions to a global audience of managers and land users interested in enhancing management practices with geospatial technologies. GIS and RS data facilitate the extraction of previously unseen relationships between numbers and spatial locations. This power enables users to make critical, far-reaching, rapid decisions about land management and continuously monitor the results of those decisions. Maintaining its place at the leading edge, Terra Solutions also removes the ambiguity brought about by constantly changing technology. The company is a leader in applying geospatial data to rangeland management, inventory, and monitoring projects. The successes of the Terra Solutions staff are evident through numerous projects and continuing efforts to create new programs that enhance land managers' ability to make vital decisions.
Geospatial Data
The use of geospatial data (geographic information systems and remote sensing) in rangeland inventories, rangeland management and monitoring processes has increased the ability of managers to analyze, update, and publish data. Each data layer is accessible via common GIS packages and can be made available via the Internet. GIS layers contain relevant attributes and can be updated at any time. Also, data storage becomes difficult with multiple books and/or paper maps. Electronic data, when handled properly, allows users to maintain data for long periods and produce unlimited hard and soft copies on numerous forms of media while maintaining original data integrity.
Terra Solutions specializes in the use of geographic information systems and remotely sensed imagery (both aerial and satellite) to provide information in an organized and enhanced format that expedites complicated decision processes. The dynamic team at Terra Solutions has a broad knowledge base, and includes range managers, range specialists, geographers, application developers, systems specialists, and staff certified in NEPA document creation. The team has the unique ability to provide managers with organized and useable GIS data, multi-scale monitoring solutions, current and potential stocking rates, key range site locations, best-placement range improvement locations, integrated field data collection systems, custom applications, Internet-based GIS data access solutions, data aggregation and organization, and personal GIS instruction.
Data Preparation
Many organizations have GIS data, but few actually use it, and even fewer use it correctly. GIS data is often poorly collected, rarely updated, and typically not presented in a format that facilitates management decisions. The extensive and often complicated process of collecting and analyzing GIS data can be overwhelming to even the most experienced GIS technician. With the unique ability to capture and store large quantities of data, Terra Solutions is equipped to rapidly transform these data into useful information and to provide it in a useable format. Creating useable data, however, is only the first step to successfully maintaining a geospatial dataset. Because of the continuously evolving conditions that exist in the real world, geospatial data must be maintained on a regular basis in order to retain its validity for management applications. Terra Solutions offers data management solutions and on-site training to those users who wish to learn how to maintain their geospatial datasets.
Multi-scale Monitoring Solutions
The breakdown of most monitoring protocols stems from the following three issues: 1) not using monitoring data to evaluate if management techniques are meeting goals; 2) using cookbook methods of monitoring that do not necessarily consider the unique ecological traits for the given landscape; and 3) using point data collection that is not necessarily representative of the entire landscape.
Terra Solutions uses geospatial technology to provide tools for land managers to evaluate and define exactly what management protocols should be, based on predefined goals and intrinsic threats and/or potentials of a given land management unit. Once management protocols are clearly defined, monitoring strategies can then be designed to evaluate the success of these protocols in reaching management goals. While geospatial technology aids in solving the first two issues, its true value is in designing monitoring protocols which are truly representative across the landscape. Rather than having few random samples (which tend to not be representative of large areas), or large numbers of samples (which are statistically representative, but economically unfeasible), Terra Solutions employs unique geospatial methods that aid in locating representative monitoring sites based on landscape characteristics. These methods provide managers with a minimum number of possible samples while representing the landscape as a whole. Remote Sensing technology is quickly becoming a viable method for landscape monitoring, and Terra Solutions is at the forefront of developing RS monitoring protocols, enabling point-based monitoring to be extrapolated across large landscapes.
Current and Potential Stocking Rates
Calculation of stocking rates across land management units has always been a cost- and time-intensive process. There are a number of factors that affect stocking rate calculations, such as water developments, desired utilization, management goals, and land treatments. Terra Solutions has developed an innovative method which gives land managers the ability to rapidly determine stocking rates based on various combinations of factors.
As an example, range treatments are typically employed to alter the productivity across certain areas - ones that are often critical areas of use to managers. Treatments, such as pipeline, trough, or fence line placement, must be economically justified by increases in productivity (AUMs). Using these tools, Terra Solutions can help management determine where to spend their limited resources in order to achieve the greatest economic benefit.
Key Range Site Locations
Key range site locations are often difficult to determine using paper maps and ground-level visual observation. Using specialized programs, Terra Solutions can provide rapid site location based on a given set of requirements, such as proximity to roads, fence lines, developments, treatments, size, or other rules governing the location of key range sites. The total area of a management unit must often be described by a minimum amount of area represented by key range sites. Geospatial technology offers rapid, accurate, and repeatable calculations as opposed to the time-consuming process of calculating total representative area by hand.
Range Improvement Locations, Best Location
Combining the unique ability to calculate stocking rates and geospatial queries, Terra Solutions can identify best-placement locations for desired range improvements. Ground-level observation alone cannot provide a complete picture of the landscape. By placing the manager above the range and employing specialized tools, areas best suited to improvements can be rapidly identified and assessed prior to on-site visits. This critical information helps managers save time and money, decreasing the potentially devastating chances of misplaced improvements. Terra Solutions has the ability to assess soils, ownership, production, vegetation, elevation, slope, aspect, and a host of other data layers important to land improvements.
Integrated Field Data Collection Systems
Terra Solutions has extensive knowledge of real-time data collection. Utilizing off-the-shelf hardware technology and advanced collection software, Terra Solutions has automated and simplified the complex process of field data collection. Using ESRI's ArcPad software in conjunction with a direct database interface, field data collection is accelerated, while at the same time decreasing potential user error. Field crews populate customized databases in an efficient manner allowing data to be easily used in GIS or in combination with management-critical data. This database instantly provides to managers the ability to corroborate data and store GPS locations for future studies or to update current information. This ability to utilize GPS navigation tools will enhance future use of the rangeland inventories, monitoring, and management data. Utilizing available GIS layers while in the field will increase the field crew's ability to generate accurate data and locate specific locations. Additionally, use of electronic field data collection units allows field crews to upload and analyze field data immediately following collection. These processes create rapid data transfer streams and give managers quick access to data on demand.
Custom Application Development
Many times a custom application is more suited to a particular project than out-of-the-box solutions. This is especially true if the users are not familiar with the commercial products (such as GIS, RS, or database software), or the required tasks are difficult to accomplish with the basic software. Terra Solutions has the ability to build customized applications based on any of these technologies in order to provide a more effective working environment for clients.
Internet-Based GIS Data Access Solutions
Data created using geospatial technologies loses significant value if it is inaccessible to potential users. Unfortunately, simply sharing geospatial information is not as easy as sending an e-mail or creating a CD ROM. The greatest potential method of sharing geospatial information is through Internet-based applications such as Internet Map Servers (IMS). Internet-based GIS data access is the newest method of GIS data delivery. Placement of GIS data online allows users to access this critical information anywhere in the world with Internet access. Additionally, managers can restrict sensitive or in-progress information to select users if they so choose. Current technologies allow wireless access to Internet sites, promoting field access to current, up-to-date GIS and RS information, thus improving and accelerating management decisions. Internet-based GIS applications also allow managers to travel and present their data without complicated presentation processes.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Instruction
Every geospatial application has a unique set of needs, methods, and products. Unfortunately, most GIS training is largely an exercise in using "canned" data. This is usually only moderately helpful to a specific set of geospatial circumstances. Managers not versed in the use of GIS technologies (or those wishing to promote use amongst employees) find Terra Solutions' personal, on-site GIS instruction invaluable. The team at Terra Solutions has organized and instructed numerous classes on GIS, GPS, and field data collection systems, establishing effective teaching methods for each of these tools.Terra Solutions customizes classes to meet specific requirements of individuals requesting training. The staff at Terra Solutions is highly skilled at describing and eliminating potential problems and bottlenecks of a geospatial workflow. The classes are designed to address these issues and provide understanding of the necessary steps to a seamless data stream.