Environmental management, impact assessment, research and monitoring are multidisciplinary activities which are ideally suited to incorporate a multi-media approach to environmental problem solving. Geographic information systems (GIS), simulation models, neural networks and expert-system software are some of the advancing technologies being used for data management, query, analysis and display. At the 140,000 acre John F. Kennedy Space Center, the Advanced Software Technology group has been supporting development and implementation of a program that integrates these and other rapidly evolving hardware and software capabilities into a comprehensive Mapping, Analysis and Planning System (MAPS) based in a workstation/local are network environment. An expert-system shell is being developed to link the various databases to guide users through the numerous stages of a facility siting and environmental assessment. The expert-system shell approach is appealing for its ease of data access by management-level decision makers while maintaining the involvement of the data specialists. This, as well as increased efficiency and accuracy in data analysis and report preparation, can benefit any organization involved in natural resources management

Barkaszi, M. J.

Engel, B. A.

Hall, C. R.

Hinkle, C. R.

Provancha, M. J.

Reddick, N. A.

Summerfield, B. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

N94. 32463
MAPPING ANALYSIS AND PLANNING SYSTEM
FOR THE
JOHN F. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
C.IL Hall, MJ. Barkaszl, MJ. Provancha, N.A. Reddick, and C.IL Hinkle
The Blonetics Corporations
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
B.A. Engel
Agricultural Engineering Department
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47906
B.R. Summerfleld
Biomedical Operations and Research Office
Kennedy Space Center, FT, 32899
ABSTRACT
Environmental management, impact assessment, research and monitoring are multidisciplinary activities
which are ideally suited to incorporate a multi-media approach to environmental problem solving.
Geographic information systems (GIS), simulation models, neural networks and expert-system software are
some of the advancing technologies being used for data management, query, analysis and display. At the
140,000 acre John F. Kennedy Space Center, the Advanced Software Technology group has been supporting
development and implementation of a program that integrates these and other rapidly evolving hardware and
software capabilities into a comprehensive Mapping, Analysis and Planning System (MAPS) based in a
workstation/local are network environment.
An expert-system shell is being developed to link the various databases to guide users through the numerous
stages of a facility siting and environmental assessment. The expert-system shell approach is appealing for its
ease of data access by management-level decision makers while maintaining the involvement of the data
specialists. This, as well as increased efficiency and accuracy in data analysis and report preparation, can
benefit any organization involved in natural resource management.
INTRODUCTION
This paper presents an overview of a decision support system being developed at the John F. Kennedy Space
Center (KSC) for use in environmental compliance, management and research. Solutions to environmental
problems often involve complex, interdisciplinary subjects. Decision making must meet the requirements of
such fields as engineering, hydrology, geology, ecology, geography, political science, public health, planning,
demography and sociology [1]. Also, environmental management issues are by nature complex spatial and
temporal phenomena. Their distribution across the landscape, in terms of quantity and quality, vary through
time in response to both natural and anthropogenic factors. The pattern of landscape development (rural,
agricultural, urban, industrial) historically evolved independently from environmental concerns and did not
address the need to manage conflicts with natural resource protection, pollution abatement, or the quality of
the human environment [2], [3].
Management of both landscape development and natural resources now requires a more diverse approach to
conflict abatement. Such a pro-active approach is enhanced by using advanced computer-based technologies
for information analysis, decision support, and visual display. Examples of these computer applications
include but are not limited to multi-media (video, hypertext, sound, etc.), geographic information systems
(maps, overlays, spatially distributed data, etc.), simulation modeling (surface and ground water, air quality,)
remote sensing, expert-systems, and user friendly machine interfaces [4], [5].
375
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At the KSC, the Advanced Software Technology branch is working in conjunction with the Biomedical
Operations and Research Office Pollution Control Officer to develop and implement a comprehensive,
computer-based decision support system called the Mapping Analysis and Planning System (MAPS) which
will be distributed across a network with the ultimate goal of making current information available to
managers and planners at all levels. The MAPS will integrate the knowledge base from environmental
research with policy, regulatory requirements, analytical tools and advanced display techniques (Figure 1).
Development of this concept and approach is currently a popular topic with many researchers and agencies
exploring options in resource management. Results generally indicate that successful implementation of a
comprehensive set of decision support tools requires that the users have available a large amount of high
quality site specific data. Broad-spectrum data are needed regarding the site or landscape on which the
system is directed as well as an understanding of the types of applications to which the system will be
appfied.
The primary database for the KSC MAPS consists of more than ten years of research involving field-
collected and remotely sensed data covering a variety of subjects such as vegetation communities, wetlands,
endangered species, habitats, soils, water quality, and cultural features [6] (Figure 2). Other site and project
specific databases available within the MAPS include state and federal permits, permit monitoring data,
identification of hazardous material storage areas, solid waste management units, landfdls, space shuttle
exhaust impacts, and facility siting constraints. Analytical capabilities include development of wildlife habitat
association models, storm water and groundwater models and atmospheric diffusion models. Multi-media
application include the ability to display digital imagery, captured video, audio, and hypertext to enhance the
users understanding of environmental considerations, permit requirements, or regulatory constraints.
Both the environmental monitoring research database for KSC are in a continual state of collection and
development. The KSC region is recognized as being biologically unique with more federally listed
threatened and endangered species than any other protected area in the continental United States. The
ongoing compilation of ecological data from such a diverse region make it some of the most current and
reliable information available. In addition, the 140,000 acre facility is jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the National Park Service as the
Canaveral National Seashore.
In addition to the variety of sources providing an extensive monitoring and research database, environmental
management responsibilities at KSC are also distributed across several NASA Offices and Contract
organizations. Each has different responsibilities and information needs to meet requirements of state, and
federal laws and regulations. Examples of laws and regulations that affect environmental management
activities and generate various levels of information requirements include:
Solid Waste Disposal Act
Clear Air Act
National Environmental Policy Act
Resource Recovery Act
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Endangered Species Act
Water Pollution Control Act
National Energy Conservation Policy Act
Pollution Prevention Act
Provisions of these laws are administered by a variety of Federal and State Agencies in Florida, including:
Florida Department of Community Affairs
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Management Districts
Local Governments
378
United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Army Corp of Engineers
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Each of these organizations may require information or decision activities to design construction or operation
of a facility for the purpose of minimizing economic or environmental risks and protecting human health.
Stout and Streeter [7] state that the ultimate objective of laws and regulations is the minimization of
potential risks associated with the activity of concern.' Risk minimization is in turn best achieved by making
informed decisions based on the best available data and information. The goal of the MAPS program is to
coordinate the elements form all resources so that thoroughly informed decisions are more easily achieved.
APPROACH AND EXAMPLE
To combine regulatory requirements with other environmental information and data, the MAPS will link a
variety of databases, digital imagery, GIS thematic layers, master planning fdes, video and legal information
into a menu-driven decision support tool for KSC. A knowledge-based system shell is being developed to
add expert site specific knowledge to the data fusion and query process. This will allow the users access to
all available information, enhancing decision support and quality regarding environmental management. At
present the system is being developed in a network environment utilizing UNIX-based work stations and
DOS based personal computers. Software being incorporated into the system is a combination of
commercially available packages. Basics of the system include:
GIS software
Image Processing software
Video Capture and Editing
Statistical Data Analysis
3-D Graphics
Numerical Modeling
Hypertext software
Expert-systems/Neural Net Development packages
The system is currently being used for facility sitings where concerns must be addressed following
requirements of the KSC environmental checklist [8]. The following paragraphs give a description of how
the MAPS is used in the decision making processes for the sighting of a new fuel storage facility.
The environmental checklist is the precursor to decision making for the siting of any facilities on KSC
(Figure 3). Responses to questions on the checklist will either flag ancillary requirements, offer more
detailed information on a topic, or prompt the user to input additional data. For example, a fuel storage
facility will require a "yes" to the hazardous material storage question. The user is then prompted to supply
the type of hazardous material as well as the amount. This system will then alert the user of any permits or
official actions such as requirements for public meetings which need to be taken for that substance.
Depending on the question, there are currently different levels of maps, hypertext information, video and
graphics to further the query by the user. At this time only some of these topics offer additional exploration;
however, as the database size increases so will the extent of each checklist topic. Any topic in the checklist
for which the user cannot provide a definitive answer must be checked "yes"; thus prompting the user to
gather more information through the query process that will enable them to correctly respond. For the fuel
storage facility example, the user may be unsure if the facility will be build in threatened or endangered
species habitat; therefore, the user must check yes. The system then prompts the user to identify which
habitats are present or, based on the location and surrounding area, defines the habitats for the user. Using
GIS vegetation maps, the user finds that the proposed site is located in "scrub & slash pine" and
"broadleaved woodlands". For each of these habitat types, the user may query hypertext or graphics for the
following information:
379
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VEGETATION AND STRUCTURES
Figure 4. Example of the KSC vegetation map, with
existing structures overlay, that can be accessed from
the MAPS
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PRIMARY Et SECONDARY SCRUB JAY HABITAT ON KSC
Class_Names
BACKGROUND
PRIMARY ttABITAT
SECONDARY HABITAT
LAGOONAL WATERS
glllgg LAND OUTSIDE KSC BOUNDARY
ATLANTIC OCEAN
OTHER KSC PROPERTY
Figure 7. Example of speciaL-specific information that
can be accessed from the MAPS. This map shows the
locations of primary and secondary habitat for the
Florida Scrub Jay on KSC.
384
Yes
I Which Habilat L
Types Are Present?ll v Answer
Query
i SpectesPresent
What Further Information Is
Requested On That Hablla! Type?
Descriptlon I Location
i Map
Continue
Click on species You Want More
Information About
I Pholo I
Figure 8.
What Information Do You Need?
Location
Map J
I DescriptiveAccount ! I LIstIngS,atus I I P°pulatlonSize I
i i !
I AulecoiogicaiCharacteristics 1
Flowchart of query process for endangered species habitat
385
1) A written description of the habitat. This description will include physical parameters, historical
view points, plant and animal species typical for that habitat and NASA's influence on the habitat
type within KSC.
2) A map showing the locations of that habitat on KSC (Figure 4). Further links with ARC/INFO
and ArcView will provide access to finer scale maps of the site or LANDSAT and SPOT images. It
will also enable the user to manipulate the map in order to query more information such as getting
geographic coordinates or producing a measured radius from a site to look for possible
contamination impacts.
3) Photographs and video segments of the habitat type.
4) A list of species found in that habitat. Each species can then be further explored to provide the
user with detailed information on the ecology of each species.
5) The protected status of each species for five main listing agencies: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), Florida
Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC), Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered
Plants and Animals (FCREPA), and the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) (Figure 5).
6) The species population size, breeding season, and seasonal abundance on KSC (Figure 6).
7) A map showing the locations on KSC where appropriate habitat for supporting that species is
located (Figure 7).
8) A detailed, written account of each species which includes a description of the species and its
typical habitat, listing status, reasons for endangerment, discussion of the species status on KSC,
research results, behavioral notes, and general ecological attributes.
9) Photographs of the species.
10) A video segment of the species.
The flowchart in Figure 8 show a summary, example of how a topic can be explored. One of the main
advantages of this program is its ability to adapt to different user's requirements. A user can go through the
query only as far as they need. For instance, not all users will need to know what certain species or habitats
look like while others may need a photograph or video to confirmsightings. More users may need the listing
status or population size for a species and the location of certain habitats on KSC. The user drives which
information is presented. The available database can be readily updated as more information becomes
available or as changes occur in legal status such as species' listings or permitting requirements.
SUMMARY
This brief paper outlines several of the development strategies and the status of the MAPS decision support
process for environmental management issues at KSC. Environmental compliance and management is
recognized as a multidisciplinary activity that requires large volumes of data for management and engineering
decisions. Much of the data is by nature spatial or geographic. Storage, manipulation and analysis of this
type of information is performed most effectively in current GIS software environments. Problems that can
be addressed include facility design and siting, environmental monitoring, habitat mitigation, impact
assessment and documentation, and many others. The attractiveness of adding knowledge-based expert-
system software to the decision making process stems from the fact that such systems represent models of
"experts" in various fields. The combination of GIS and expert-systems represents a tool that supports and
enhances the reasoning and judgement process rather than only automating the procedure through
prescribed computation [9], [10]. This approach will allow managers and engineers to access "expert
386
knowledge', covering the highly diversified set of topics associated with a pro-active environmental
management strategy, easily and directly from their computer terminals.
Literature Cited
[1] Tchobanoglous, G.H. Theiaen, and R. Efiassen. 1977. Solid Wastes, Engineering Principles and
Management Issues. McGraw Hill. New York. 621 pp.
[2] Arnoff, s. 1989. Geographic Information Systems: a Management Approach. WDL Pubfications. Ottawa,
Ontario.
[3] Burrough, P.A. 1986. Principles of Geographic Information Systems for Land Resource Assessment.
Oxford, Clarendon.
[4] Fedra, K. 1991. A computer Based Approach to Environmental Impact Assessment. In: Colombo, A.G.
and G. Premazzi (eds). 1991. Proceedings of the Workshop on Indicators and Indices for Environmental
Impact Assessment and Risk Analysis. IIASA. Austria.
[5] Fedra, K., L. Winkelbaur, and V.R. Pantulu. 1991. Expert-systems for Environmental Screening, An
Application in the Lower Mekong Basin. RR-91-19. IIASA. Austria.
[6] Hall, C.R., C.R. Hinkle, W.M. Knott, and B.R. Summerfield. 1992. Environmental Monitoring and
Research at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. J. Florida M.A. Vol 79, No 8, pp 545-552.
[7] Stout, D.I. and R.A. Streeter. 1992. Ecological Risk Assessment: Its Role in Risk Management. The
Environmental Professional. 14:197-203.
[8] NASA. 1992. Environmental Resources Document for John F. Kennedy Space Center. KSC-DF-3080.
[9] Summic, Z. and E. Yeh. 1992. A GIS-Based Expert-system for Residential Distribution Design. In:
GIS/LIS Proceedings. San Jose, CA.
[10] Zhu, X. and R. Healy. 1992. Towards Intelligent Decision Support: Integrating Geographical Information
Systems and Expert-systems. In: GIS/LIS Proceedings. 1992. San Jose, CA.
387
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N94- 32464
REMOTE SENSING FOR HURRICANE ANDREW IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Bruce A. Davis
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
Nicholas Schmidt
Sverdrup Technology, Inc.
John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
ABSTRACT
Stennis Space Center personnel flew a Learjet equipped with instrumentation designed to acquire imagery in
many spectral bands into areas most damaged by Hurricane Andrew. The Calibrated Airborne Multispectral
Scanner (CAMS), a NASA-developed sensor, and a Zeiss camera acquired images of these areas. The
information derived from the imagery was used to assist Florida officials in assessing the devastation caused by
the hurricane. The imagery provided the relief teams with an assessment of the debris covering roads and
highways so cleanup plans could be prioritized. The imagery also mapped the level of damage in residential
and commercial areas of southern Florida and provided maps of beaches and land cover for determination of
beach loss and vegetation damage, particularly the mangrove population.
Stermis Space Center personnel demonstrated the ability to respond quickly and the value of such response
in an emergency situation. The digital imagery from the CAMS can be processed, analyzed, and developed into
products for field crews faster than conventional photography. The resulting information is versatile and allows
for rapid updating and editing. Stennis Space Center and state officials worked diligently to compile
information to complete analyses of the hurricane's impact.
388


Mapping analysis and planning system for the John F. Kennedy Space Center

Mapping analysis and planning system for the John F. Kennedy Space Center

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