“HEADWATERS OF TECHNOLOGY” Integrating a GPS mobile workforce with GIS data collection and management By Jeffrey Mihalik GIS Department Manager Wallace

““HEADWATERS OF HEADWATERS OF TECHNOLOGY”TECHNOLOGY”

Integrating a GPS mobile workforce with GIS Integrating a GPS mobile workforce with GIS data collection and managementdata collection and management

By Jeffrey Mihalik By Jeffrey Mihalik GIS Department Manager GIS Department Manager Wallace & Pancher, Inc.Wallace & Pancher, Inc.

INTRODUCTION

• Background• The Project

– Two Types of Monitoring• SCM (Stream Condition) and Flow

• Tools & Equipment• Base Mapping• Custom Forms• Mobile Workforce Deployment• Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery to the Client• Advantages and Client usage• Supporting Projects

Background

• Coal Operators required by PADEP Coal Operators required by PADEP Monitor (and if necessary, Mitigate) stream flow losses and/or poolingMonitor (and if necessary, Mitigate) stream flow losses and/or pooling due to full extraction underground miningdue to full extraction underground mining

• No. 563-2000-655 “Surface Water Protection – Underground No. 563-2000-655 “Surface Water Protection – Underground BituminousBituminous Coal Mining Operations” effective Oct. 8, 2005. Known as “TGD”Coal Mining Operations” effective Oct. 8, 2005. Known as “TGD”

• Dramatically increased number of streams that needed monitoredDramatically increased number of streams that needed monitored (to include all streams that contain at least two biological taxa)(to include all streams that contain at least two biological taxa)

• Dramatic increase in frequency of monitoringDramatic increase in frequency of monitoring

Stream Condition Monitoring (SCM) - the process of Stream Condition Monitoring (SCM) - the process of identifying the various states of flow or “condition” of identifying the various states of flow or “condition” of

stream segments.stream segments.

Types of Monitoring

SCM involves traversing a stream from its downstream confluence to its headwatersDetermine the starting and end point (distance)Various stream flow regimes such as flow, puddle, pool, dry, and non-continuous flow.

Stream Condition Monitoring

FLOWING DRY

POOL PUDDLE NON-CONTINUOUS FLOW

Flow Monitoring - development of a discharge value at an Flow Monitoring - development of a discharge value at an established point for use as a hydrological baseline. established point for use as a hydrological baseline.

Types of Monitoring

Direct Flow Measurements are taken at specific locations along each streamLocation based on access, proximity to mining operations, and stream characteristics.Flow measurements are currently being gathered at over 800 locations.

EquipmentEquipment

NOMAND GPS units installed with ESRI ArcPad with GPS Correct and Custom Data Forms

HONEY DIPPERS for Well and Pizometer

HACH/Marsh McBirney FlowMates

Base MappingBase Mapping

• Networked hydrological layer (National Hydrography Dataset)Networked hydrological layer (National Hydrography Dataset)

• 2,000 individual stream segments (over 500 miles of stream) 2,000 individual stream segments (over 500 miles of stream)

• Individually labeled in ArcMap using an established five digit codingIndividually labeled in ArcMap using an established five digit coding by PADEP and modified by WPI for smaller unnamed segmentsby PADEP and modified by WPI for smaller unnamed segments

• Planimetric layers: Contours, structures, roads, tree lines Planimetric layers: Contours, structures, roads, tree lines

• CADD Stationing every twenty feet and annotationCADD Stationing every twenty feet and annotation

• All layers exported to shapefile format for upload to GPS unitsAll layers exported to shapefile format for upload to GPS units


19 Miles


Document the relative location of various stream conditions as streams are traversed

Custom Forms Custom Forms

• Developed in ArcPad Studio (7.1.1) as .apl filesDeveloped in ArcPad Studio (7.1.1) as .apl files

• Calculations for the 4 flow measurements methodsCalculations for the 4 flow measurements methods• Small Stream Velocity-AreaSmall Stream Velocity-Area• Large Stream Velocity-AreaLarge Stream Velocity-Area• VolumetricVolumetric• FloatFloat

• CFS and GPM derived in the fieldCFS and GPM derived in the field

• Build From/To tables for dynamic segmetation for SCM data Build From/To tables for dynamic segmetation for SCM data

• Table relationship links table to stream dataTable relationship links table to stream data

• Also tracks date, time, crew, comments, and domain dropdown menusAlso tracks date, time, crew, comments, and domain dropdown menus


Flow Monitoring


SCM Monitoring

Mobile Workforce Implementation Mobile Workforce Implementation

• Tight schedule allowed for only one month of field testingTight schedule allowed for only one month of field testing

• Staff for field data collection and GIS analysisStaff for field data collection and GIS analysis

• Location of field office in close proximity to field workLocation of field office in close proximity to field work

• Rigorous training in use of field equipmentRigorous training in use of field equipment • Data strategy to deliver collected information within 48 hoursData strategy to deliver collected information within 48 hours

(everything works well on paper)(everything works well on paper)

Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery

• Distributed SDE Geodatabase in SQLExpressDistributed SDE Geodatabase in SQLExpress

• ArcPad Data Manager (in ArcMap) used to “Check out” data to .axf fileArcPad Data Manager (in ArcMap) used to “Check out” data to .axf file for upload to Nomad GPS unitsfor upload to Nomad GPS units

• Custom forms linked as .apl files during “Check out”Custom forms linked as .apl files during “Check out”

• After flow and SCM data collected, .axf files from each GPS unit After flow and SCM data collected, .axf files from each GPS unit are “Checked in” (Transactional Database)are “Checked in” (Transactional Database)


Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery • GIS staff conducts QAQC using hardcopy field reconnaissance formsGIS staff conducts QAQC using hardcopy field reconnaissance forms

• Flow data used for updating geodatabase, then replica databaseFlow data used for updating geodatabase, then replica database (Production Database) synchronized(Production Database) synchronized

• Replica tied to Geodata and Map Services in ArcServerReplica tied to Geodata and Map Services in ArcServer

• Client has replicate databaseClient has replicate database

• Nightly synchronization using python scripting, model builder, and Nightly synchronization using python scripting, model builder, and windows task managerwindows task manager

• SCM data used for creating route event tables (From – To)SCM data used for creating route event tables (From – To)

• From – To tables used for dynamic segmentation to visualize From – To tables used for dynamic segmentation to visualize stream conditionsstream conditions

Data Storage, Processing, and DeliveryData Storage, Processing, and Delivery


Stream Conditioning MonitoringStream Conditioning MonitoringLimitations of Map PresentationLimitations of Map Presentation

• Exaggerated lengths of various stream conditionsExaggerated lengths of various stream conditions

• Overlapping linesOverlapping lines

• Unreadable textUnreadable text


Stream Conditioning MonitoringStream Conditioning MonitoringMap Presentation SolutionMap Presentation Solution

(Especially for daily and weekly mapping)(Especially for daily and weekly mapping)

Using straight line representations of stream this eliminates overlapping lines and increases scalabilityUsing straight line representations of stream this eliminates overlapping lines and increases scalability

Client Usage and Advantages Client Usage and Advantages

• Client utilizes an internal ArcGIS ServiceClient utilizes an internal ArcGIS Service

• Replicate database of Flow Monitoring Points displays field collectedReplicate database of Flow Monitoring Points displays field collected data within 24 hours of collectiondata within 24 hours of collection

• Previously, data was not available often for 3 or 4 weeks Previously, data was not available often for 3 or 4 weeks was hand entered into databasewas hand entered into database

• Almost instantaneous access to data allows client ability to foreseeAlmost instantaneous access to data allows client ability to foresee issues before they arise (Change Detection)issues before they arise (Change Detection)

• Have current geo-spatial data inhand to answer complex questionsHave current geo-spatial data inhand to answer complex questions

• Assess environmental concerns in almost real timeAssess environmental concerns in almost real time

Supporting Projects Supporting Projects

• Web Site for Historical Data Retrieval (Flow, Well, Gauge Stations)Web Site for Historical Data Retrieval (Flow, Well, Gauge Stations)

• Intranet ArcGIS Services for Staff useIntranet ArcGIS Services for Staff use

Supporting Projects Supporting Projects • Web Site for Historical Data Retrieval (Flow, Well, Gauge Stations)

Supporting Projects Supporting Projects • Well Data

Model Builder- Pushes Collected Data into Historical

Feature Data Set in SDE

QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION

Documents

“HEADWATERS OF TECHNOLOGY” Integrating a GPS mobile workforce with GIS data collection and management By Jeffrey Mihalik GIS Department Manager Wallace