Enhancing your maps with Open StreetMap Data
Presenters: Kimberly Rivera and Tiziana Gelmi Candusso
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday June 1st
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta, Atlanta Ballroom A
Cost: $15
Wildlife ecology and behavior are strongly driven by landscape characteristics, especially in urban regions. Cities are among the world's most heterogeneous landscapes however, global land cover maps often represent urban areas as a single, homogeneous class therefore limiting our ability to build useful spatial ecological models over large scales. However, we can use community-based geographic databases, such as OpenStreetMap (OSM), to improve the quality and spatial resolution of urban land cover data. OSM is an open-source mapping platform storing landscape information in the form of geographic polygon features identified by a series of attributes. Extracting a few features from the OSM database for small areas can be done directly online, however, extracting larger study areas, or extracting the full database is much more difficult. In this workshop, we will flex our spatial muscles in R to 1) understand OSM, explore and extract OSM data to make land-use land-cover (LULC) maps, 2) replicate this process in a study area of your choice and define the completeness of the OSM data available, and 3) fine tune your map to the data available for your study area, and your research interest. Your take-home will be a functional LULC map of your study area that you can use on your research! We encourage a basic to intermediate level of R language to participate in this workshop.
How to locate and monitor raptor nests in urban environments
Presenters: Harnawaz Boparai and Emily Rapach, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Atlanta Ballroom B and outdoors
Cost: $15
Raptors are colonizing and flourishing in urban areas all over the world. There are several monitoring efforts in cities worldwide studying how these large, charismatic animals can flourish in the city. Most notably, these studies monitor the breeding activity of urban raptors. This workshop will be given by a graduate student from California Department University, Los Angeles (CSULA) and a biologist from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR). Information will briefly cover the history of studying raptors in urban areas, current urban breeding raptor projects worldwide, the equipment and techniques in the field to use for observing raptors, followed by an interactive group activity where all the participants and workshop leaders go outside to observe urban raptor activity in downtown Atlanta. This workshop will take up half a day (four hours). The first hour will be indoors, the workshop leaders will introduce themselves and go over methods and information. The following two and a half hours will be outdoors where the leaders and participants work together to find active raptor territories or nests in downtown Atlanta. The final half-hour, the group will reconvene indoors and discuss their findings and thoughts of their outdoor observations. The goal of the workshop is to introduce participants to how urban raptor monitoring works and potentially take this experience back with them to their respective institutions and employ their own urban raptor projects.
Navigating Urban Wildlife Management: State-Level Strategies and Solutions
Presenters: Jessica Alderson; Joseph Plappert; Judit Green; Natasia Moore; Kelly Norrid; Addison Gaines; Sam Kieschnick; Rachel Richter; Lois Balin; Ernesto Garcia-Ortega
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday June 1st
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta, Atlanta Ballroom B
Cost: $15
In an era of rapid urbanization, effective management of parks, open spaces, and wildlife habitats has never been more critical. Urban environments increasingly serve as habitats for diverse wildlife, presenting unique challenges and valuable opportunities for management. This workshop, "Navigating Urban Wildlife Management: State-Level Strategies and Solutions," aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively address urban wildlife issues. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Urban Wildlife Technical Guidance Program plays a vital role in this effort, with Urban Biologists stationed in the top six largest metropolitan areas in Texas. These experts provide urban communities with professional planning guidance, management recommendations, research, and public outreach associated with wildlife, habitat, and natural resource management. Through a combination of expert-led presentations, case studies, and interactive discussions, attendees will explore strategies for managing human-wildlife interactions, promoting biodiversity, and implementing sustainable practices. Key topics will include policy frameworks, community engagement, habitat restoration, and conflict resolution.
Urban Wildlife Storymapping Workshop
Presenters: Adam Rohnke and Ann Smithson
Time: 1:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Tuesday June 3rd
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta, Atlanta Ballroom C&D
Cost: $15
ArcGIS StoryMaps allows creators to share comprehensive “storytelling” experiences through features such as text, digital media, and interactive maps. This workshop will provide a basic overview of the StoryMaps platform and will guide participants through the creation of their own story map, with an emphasis on showcasing urban wildlife data for a general audience. We will also review the different free and paid plans available for participants without an existing Esri® license. Participants are welcome to bring their laptops to follow along actively. This workshop requires no advanced GIS knowledge and is suitable for all audiences.