Forest Service Web Maps:Design, Use, and EvaluationLindsey KieszMay 2014Advisor: 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• Share data with many agencies• Agency Hydrologists will review

model outputsNorthwest Forest Plan AreaSource: Collier, Odell (2002). Reproduced here for educational purposes.

What is the Forest Service?Ranger hats?

• National Park Service • or US Forest Service?

• 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)

A ranger hatSource: National Park Service (2014), reproduced here for educational purposes.

• FS Map goes here…

Map of the contiguous United States. National Forest Land shown in green.

What is a Web Map?

• Dynamic maps• ArcGIS API for JavaScript or Google Maps API

• Static maps• ArcGIS map products• .Pdf• Figures

Paper versus Web Maps

Paper• Printing costs

• Better resolution

Web• Reach a greater audience

• Software, training costs

• Screen resolution

• More information

Forest Service Web Maps

“The broad objectives of conducting information programs and activitiesare 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• ArcGIS Online for Organizations

• ArcGIS 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 elements present Title, legend, scale bar

Simple and balanced

Intuitive colors and symbols

Data accuracy

Completeness

Map Design

Display at different scales

Basemap consideration

Intuitive icons and map interaction Zoom icons, popups

Search capability

Web Map Design

Display in web browser

Website Accessibility (508 Compliance) Some limitations

Web Standards

Forest Service Web Standards

Metadata Final map will have a link to metadata

Availability

Web Criteria

EvaluationWest Bend Project Map

Map elements present

Simple and balanced

Intuitive colors and symbols

Data accuracy

Completeness

Display at different scales

Basemap consideration

Display in web browser

508 compliance

Web Standards

Forest Service Web Standards

Intuitive map interaction

Search capability

Metadata

Availability

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.e-

education.psu.edu/geog863/resources/l3_p4.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/1600/1600_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• McNeil, 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/geog583/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