HR: 0800h
AN: ED31A-0737    [Abstracts]
TI: Populating a Control Point Database: A cooperative effort between the USGS, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center and the Grand Canyon Youth Organization
AU: * Brown, K M
EM: kmbrown@usgs.gov
AF: USGS, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, 2255 Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 United States
AU: Fritzinger, C
EM: cfritz@usgs.gov
AF: USGS, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, 2255 Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 United States
AU: Wharton, E
EM: emma@infomagic.net
AF: Grand Canyon Youth, P.O. Box 23376, Flagstaff, AZ 86002 United States
AB: The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center measures the effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on the resources along the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead in support of the Grand Canyon Adaptive Management Program. Control points are integral for geo-referencing the myriad of data collected in the Grand Canyon including aerial photography, topographic and bathymetric data used for classification and change-detection analysis of physical, biologic and cultural resources. The survey department has compiled a list of 870 control points installed by various organizations needing to establish a consistent reference for data collected at field sites along the 240 mile stretch of Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. This list is the foundation for the Control Point Database established primarily for researchers, to locate control points and independently geo-reference collected field data. The database has the potential to be a valuable mapping tool for assisting researchers to easily locate a control point and reduce the occurrance of unknowingly installing new control points within close proximity of an existing control point. The database is missing photographs and accurate site description information. Current site descriptions do not accurately define the location of the point but refer to the project that used the point, or some other interesting fact associated with the point. The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) resolved this problem by turning the data collection effort into an educational exercise for the participants of the Grand Canyon Youth organization. Grand Canyon Youth is a non-profit organization providing experiential education for middle and high school aged youth. GCMRC and the Grand Canyon Youth formed a partnership where GCMRC provided the logistical support, equipment, and training to conduct the field work, and the Grand Canyon Youth provided the time and personnel to complete the field work. Two data collection efforts were conducted during the 2004 summer allowing 40 youth the opportunity to contribute valuable information to the Control Point Database. This information included: verification of point existence, photographs, accurate site descriptions concisely describing the location of the point, how to reach the point, the specific point location and detailed bearings to visible and obvious land marks. The youth learned to locate themselves and find the points using 1:1000 airphotos, write detailed site descriptions, take bearings with a compass, measure vertical and horizontal distances, and use a digital camera. The youth found information for 252 control points (29% of the total points).
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
DE: 0933 Remote sensing
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting