Our Science:  Science For Decisionmakers

There are intense development pressures in the lands outside of the Urban Development Boundary in Miami-Dade County, Florida, impacting both the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. The Ecosystem Portfolio Model is a web tool that uses integrated ecological, economic, and social information to allow stakeholders to evaluate future land use/cover scenarios in terms of relevant indicators. more...

We are living in a period of unprecedented environmental change. Determining the impacts of human actions on natural processes and predicting their effects is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for all, both economically and ecologically. Monitoring change at the landscape level provides a window to view ecosystem responses that could not be detected at the small site scale. The USGS ILM project harnesses the talents of scientists of from all the USGS disciplines to better understand and respond to ecosystem change. more...

The United States lacks a standardized coast-to-coast ecosystem map at an appropriate scale for local on-the-ground management The classification and delineation of ecosystems is fundamental to managing ecosystems. To address this need, USGS ecosystem mapping program is synthesizing abiotic and biotic features, landforms, surficial geology, bioclimatic zones and vegetation to delineate ecosystem units with 30-meter resolution. In addition to the final map product and a better understanding of the evolution of ecosystems, the individual abiotic map products will become available for the first time, e.g. Digital Landform, Surficial Geology, and Bioclimatic Zone Maps of the Conterminous U.S. more...

This study looks at the impacts of a critical surface water shortage on southern Los Angeles County and the role groundwater can play in meeting the needs of water users in the region. more...

This project focused on identifying the efforts of organizations external to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that focus on improving the use of science to support societal decisionmaking. This information was collected to provide the USGS with additional program ideas and potential avenues for collaboration to improve the use of science by society. more...

Western Region Geography has developed the Land Use Portfolio Model (LUPM), a tool for modeling, mapping, and communicating risk. It is designed to help public agencies and communities understand and reduce their vulnerability to, and risk of, natural hazards. The LUPM is adapted from financial-portfolio theory, a method for evaluating alternative, regional-scale investment possibilities on the basis of their estimated distributions of risk and return. more...

The primary objective of the project is to develop a GIS-based ecosystem portfolio model (EPM) for Park Service/Fish and Wildlife Service scientists and managers to use to develop and evaluate strategies to protect the interests of South Florida parks and refuges in the face of development pressures. more...

The Colonias Monitoring Program provides a publicly accessible, binational, GIS database to enable civic leaders and citizens to inventory, analyze, and monitor growth, housing, and infrastructure in border communities. High-technology tools are provided to support planning efforts and development along the border, using a sustainable and comprehensive approach. The collective information can be used by nongovernmental organizations in preparing grant and loan applications for community-improvement projects. more...