2021 ARCHIVES: Workshops
The following workshops were offered at the 2021 IALE-North America Meeting.
Expanding the scope of connectivity modeling with Markov chains: perspectives and applications in R
Presenter: Robert Fletcher, University of Florida
Co-Organizer: Andrew Marx, University of Florida
Overview: Quantifying landscape connectivity is fundamental to better understand and predict how populations respond to environmental change. Currently, popular methods to quantify landscape connectivity emphasize how landscape features provide resistance to movement. While many tools are available to quantify landscape resistance, these do not discern between two fundamentally different sources of resistance: movement behavior and the failure of movement (e.g., mortality). To address these issues, we developed the samc package in R that quantifies landscape connectivity using absorbing Markov chain theory. Not only does this framework explicitly account for these different issues, it provides a probabilistic approach that can incorporate short-term dynamics, time-explicit predictions, long-term dynamics, variation in species distribution and abundance, and directionality in movement and gene flow.
In this workshop, we will provide an overview on potential applications of this framework, along with guidance on implementing the framework with the samc package. This workshop will include illustrating how the package can be used for different types of data, such as GPS telemetry and genetic data, and different problems in connectivity modeling.
Intended Audience: Students, professionals with intermediate knowledge on connectivity
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
Presenter: Robert Fletcher, University of Florida
Co-Organizer: Andrew Marx, University of Florida
Overview: Quantifying landscape connectivity is fundamental to better understand and predict how populations respond to environmental change. Currently, popular methods to quantify landscape connectivity emphasize how landscape features provide resistance to movement. While many tools are available to quantify landscape resistance, these do not discern between two fundamentally different sources of resistance: movement behavior and the failure of movement (e.g., mortality). To address these issues, we developed the samc package in R that quantifies landscape connectivity using absorbing Markov chain theory. Not only does this framework explicitly account for these different issues, it provides a probabilistic approach that can incorporate short-term dynamics, time-explicit predictions, long-term dynamics, variation in species distribution and abundance, and directionality in movement and gene flow.
In this workshop, we will provide an overview on potential applications of this framework, along with guidance on implementing the framework with the samc package. This workshop will include illustrating how the package can be used for different types of data, such as GPS telemetry and genetic data, and different problems in connectivity modeling.
Intended Audience: Students, professionals with intermediate knowledge on connectivity
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
High-Accuracy Data Collection w/Arrow GNSS & ArcGIS Collector
Presenters: Tyler Gakstatter, Discovery Management Group; Sarah Alban, Eos Positioning Systems
Overview: Join Eos Positioning Systems for a high accuracy data collection workshop to learn how to configure, deploy, and use Esri-based applications with the Eos Arrow Gold RTK/GNSS receiver and iPad for data collection. This workshop will demonstrate Esri applications including ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Collector, and show an outdoor data-collection component. You will learn best practices for mobile device and Collector configuration with follow-along exercises and see a live demonstration of field data collection exercises. GNSS consultant Tyler Gakstatter will be available after the demonstration to answer questions about the hardware and software shown.
Intended Audience: Professionals, anyone using GIS for mobile field data collection who requires or may like high accuracy
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
Presenters: Tyler Gakstatter, Discovery Management Group; Sarah Alban, Eos Positioning Systems
Overview: Join Eos Positioning Systems for a high accuracy data collection workshop to learn how to configure, deploy, and use Esri-based applications with the Eos Arrow Gold RTK/GNSS receiver and iPad for data collection. This workshop will demonstrate Esri applications including ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Collector, and show an outdoor data-collection component. You will learn best practices for mobile device and Collector configuration with follow-along exercises and see a live demonstration of field data collection exercises. GNSS consultant Tyler Gakstatter will be available after the demonstration to answer questions about the hardware and software shown.
Intended Audience: Professionals, anyone using GIS for mobile field data collection who requires or may like high accuracy
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
Metrics that Make a Difference: How to analyze change and error with applications to Land Change Science and GIS
Presenter: Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr., Clark University Graduate School of Geography
Overview: This workshop concerns how to measure temporal change and predictive error for a variety of applications, in particular for Land Change Science and Geographic Information Science. We discuss how to avoid common blunders and to use enlightening techniques such as the Total Operating Characteristic and Difference Components. Participants range from students to senior scientists. The workshop focuses on concepts, not on how to use specific software, but software is freely available. Participants are entitled to a 50% discount on a general or academic license of the GIS software TerrSet (clarklabs.org). Participants do not need to use computers in the workshop. This is the newest version of the workshops that Professor Pontius has presented dozens of times in 17 countries (www.clarku.edu/~rpontius/).
Intended Audience: Audience ranges from university students to senior scientists.
Presenter: Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr., Clark University Graduate School of Geography
Overview: This workshop concerns how to measure temporal change and predictive error for a variety of applications, in particular for Land Change Science and Geographic Information Science. We discuss how to avoid common blunders and to use enlightening techniques such as the Total Operating Characteristic and Difference Components. Participants range from students to senior scientists. The workshop focuses on concepts, not on how to use specific software, but software is freely available. Participants are entitled to a 50% discount on a general or academic license of the GIS software TerrSet (clarklabs.org). Participants do not need to use computers in the workshop. This is the newest version of the workshops that Professor Pontius has presented dozens of times in 17 countries (www.clarku.edu/~rpontius/).
Intended Audience: Audience ranges from university students to senior scientists.
Introduction to Google Earth Engine
Presenters: Prof. Jeffrey A. Cardille, and lab graduate students and postdocs
Overview: In this workshop, we will introduce participants to Google Earth Engine with a focus on giving attendees the skills to begin using it in their own studies. Google Earth Engine provides users with two things that have been impediments to the wider use of remote-sensing data within landscape ecology. First, it provides a repository of the world’s free satellite data, beginning in the 1970s and continuing up through today, carefully curated across a very wide array of sensors. Second, it provides a computing platform that allows registered users to run resource-demanding analyses right on Google’s servers. This has greatly expanded the range of possible studies, particularly when long time frames are of interest. One of Earth Engine’s marquee applications, for example, created a multi-decade record of forest loss and gain, within each 30m pixel across the entire Earth. While great advances have been made in image analysis to provide groundbreaking products, much less has been done with Earth Engine within landscape ecology. In this workshop, we will introduce participants to Google Earth Engine with a focus on giving attendees the skills to begin using it in their own studies. Google Earth Engine provides users with two things that have been impediments to the wider use of remote-sensing data within landscape ecology. First, it provides a repository of the world’s free satellite data, beginning in the 1970s and continuing up through today, carefully curated across a very wide array of sensors. Second, it provides a computing platform that allows registered users to run resource-demanding analyses right on Google’s servers. This has greatly expanded the range of possible studies, particularly when long time frames are of interest. One of Earth Engine’s marquee applications, for example, created a multi-decade record of forest loss and gain, within each 30m pixel across the entire Earth. While great advances have been made in image analysis to provide groundbreaking products, much less has been done with Earth Engine within landscape ecology. This workshop is targeted at beginning users of Google Earth Engine. We’ve recently taught several one-day sessions using the Google-developed curriculum, so we have experience with the curriculum and addressing a wide range of incoming experience. Additionally, we are co-editing a lab manual introducing students to EE, so we may unveil drafts of those chapters in the workshop as well. We’ve regularly attended the annual Google Geo For Good symposium that presents a wide range of existing and upcoming features within this powerful tool. This hands-on workshop will teach the basics of operating EE, leaving participants with a curated list of next steps depending on experience level. In addition to teaching individuals how to use EE, we hope to establish an Earth Engine / landscape ecology working group that will share challenges and successes in working with EE tools for landscape ecology. We intend for this workshop to be an efficient use of your time and set you on the path to success with Google Earth Engine.
Intended Audience: Beginning users of Earth Engine. If there is interest in an intermediate level of instruction, we can accommodate that too. A survey will be issued ahead of time to find out what the registered audience wants.
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
Presenters: Prof. Jeffrey A. Cardille, and lab graduate students and postdocs
Overview: In this workshop, we will introduce participants to Google Earth Engine with a focus on giving attendees the skills to begin using it in their own studies. Google Earth Engine provides users with two things that have been impediments to the wider use of remote-sensing data within landscape ecology. First, it provides a repository of the world’s free satellite data, beginning in the 1970s and continuing up through today, carefully curated across a very wide array of sensors. Second, it provides a computing platform that allows registered users to run resource-demanding analyses right on Google’s servers. This has greatly expanded the range of possible studies, particularly when long time frames are of interest. One of Earth Engine’s marquee applications, for example, created a multi-decade record of forest loss and gain, within each 30m pixel across the entire Earth. While great advances have been made in image analysis to provide groundbreaking products, much less has been done with Earth Engine within landscape ecology. In this workshop, we will introduce participants to Google Earth Engine with a focus on giving attendees the skills to begin using it in their own studies. Google Earth Engine provides users with two things that have been impediments to the wider use of remote-sensing data within landscape ecology. First, it provides a repository of the world’s free satellite data, beginning in the 1970s and continuing up through today, carefully curated across a very wide array of sensors. Second, it provides a computing platform that allows registered users to run resource-demanding analyses right on Google’s servers. This has greatly expanded the range of possible studies, particularly when long time frames are of interest. One of Earth Engine’s marquee applications, for example, created a multi-decade record of forest loss and gain, within each 30m pixel across the entire Earth. While great advances have been made in image analysis to provide groundbreaking products, much less has been done with Earth Engine within landscape ecology. This workshop is targeted at beginning users of Google Earth Engine. We’ve recently taught several one-day sessions using the Google-developed curriculum, so we have experience with the curriculum and addressing a wide range of incoming experience. Additionally, we are co-editing a lab manual introducing students to EE, so we may unveil drafts of those chapters in the workshop as well. We’ve regularly attended the annual Google Geo For Good symposium that presents a wide range of existing and upcoming features within this powerful tool. This hands-on workshop will teach the basics of operating EE, leaving participants with a curated list of next steps depending on experience level. In addition to teaching individuals how to use EE, we hope to establish an Earth Engine / landscape ecology working group that will share challenges and successes in working with EE tools for landscape ecology. We intend for this workshop to be an efficient use of your time and set you on the path to success with Google Earth Engine.
Intended Audience: Beginning users of Earth Engine. If there is interest in an intermediate level of instruction, we can accommodate that too. A survey will be issued ahead of time to find out what the registered audience wants.
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
Introduction to SyncroSim and ST-Sim
Presenters: Colin Daniel, ApexRMS; Leonardo Frid, ApexRMS
Overview: SyncroSim (www.syncrosim.com) is a free software platform designed to chain together data and models – including existing off-the-shelf programs and scripts written in languages such as R, Python and C# – in order to facilitate the delivery of forecasts to decision makers. SyncroSim allows model developers to create pipelines of models and data, and to then bundle these pipelines into user-friendly packages suitable for “what-if” scenario analyses by decision makers. The flagship SyncroSim package is an open-source landscape change modeling framework called ST-Sim (www.stsim.net). ST-Sim uses a state-and-transition simulation model approach to forecast landscape dynamics, and has been applied to a wide range of landscapes and management questions, including forests, rangelands, grasslands, wetlands, aquatic communities, and land use/land cover.
This half day workshop will introduce you to both SyncroSim and ST-Sim. It will begin by demonstrating how to develop and run spatially-explicit, stochastic models of landscape change using the ST-Sim package within SyncroSim. The workshop will show you how to use ST-Sim to create and run models of landscape change, and how to extend the functionality of ST-Sim by pipelining it with other models. Examples will be shown of SyncroSim packages that integrate ST-Sim with existing models of habitat connectivity (using Circuitscape), carbon balance (using CBM-CFS3), fire behavior (using FARSITE), and agent-based simulations (using NetLogo). The workshop will also introduce you to developing your own custom SyncroSim packages from scratch using the rsyncrosim package for R. While no particular software knowledge or disciplinary expertise is required, the workshop will provide some examples using the R programming language.
Intended Audience: Professionals, researchers and students.
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
Presenters: Colin Daniel, ApexRMS; Leonardo Frid, ApexRMS
Overview: SyncroSim (www.syncrosim.com) is a free software platform designed to chain together data and models – including existing off-the-shelf programs and scripts written in languages such as R, Python and C# – in order to facilitate the delivery of forecasts to decision makers. SyncroSim allows model developers to create pipelines of models and data, and to then bundle these pipelines into user-friendly packages suitable for “what-if” scenario analyses by decision makers. The flagship SyncroSim package is an open-source landscape change modeling framework called ST-Sim (www.stsim.net). ST-Sim uses a state-and-transition simulation model approach to forecast landscape dynamics, and has been applied to a wide range of landscapes and management questions, including forests, rangelands, grasslands, wetlands, aquatic communities, and land use/land cover.
This half day workshop will introduce you to both SyncroSim and ST-Sim. It will begin by demonstrating how to develop and run spatially-explicit, stochastic models of landscape change using the ST-Sim package within SyncroSim. The workshop will show you how to use ST-Sim to create and run models of landscape change, and how to extend the functionality of ST-Sim by pipelining it with other models. Examples will be shown of SyncroSim packages that integrate ST-Sim with existing models of habitat connectivity (using Circuitscape), carbon balance (using CBM-CFS3), fire behavior (using FARSITE), and agent-based simulations (using NetLogo). The workshop will also introduce you to developing your own custom SyncroSim packages from scratch using the rsyncrosim package for R. While no particular software knowledge or disciplinary expertise is required, the workshop will provide some examples using the R programming language.
Intended Audience: Professionals, researchers and students.
This workshop is BYOD: bring your own device
