International Geospatial Digest for July 22, 2024
- iNaturalist Data Now Available in ArcGIS Living Atlas
- Felt 3.0 Enhances Enterprise Geospatial Technology
- NASA Maps Scorching Pavement in Phoenix Using ECOSTRESS
- New Datasets Enhance Ocean Management
- Discover Your Canadian City’s Future Climate
iNaturalist Data Now Available in ArcGIS Living Atlas
The iNaturalist network, widely used by scientists and naturalists, now offers its extensive biodiversity data within ArcGIS Living Atlas. This integration, available in Beta, enhances GIS workflows with crowdsourced observations.
iNaturalist’s mission is to promote understanding and sustainability of biodiversity through the observation and sharing of wild organism data. As of June 2024, over 800,000 naturalists have contributed millions of observations across 479,000 species.
This data layer, updated monthly, includes research-grade observations validated by the iNaturalist community. It categorizes observations into 12 groups, aiding in species distribution analysis. Pop-ups provide detailed summaries, including images, observer details, and ecosystem information.
The iNaturalist layer can be incorporated into ArcGIS workflows, allowing for spatial analysis and visualization. Users can explore species within project areas, intersect data with other environmental layers, and create detailed analyses.
For more information, visit the iNaturalist website and ArcGIS Living Atlas.
Felt 3.0 Enhances Enterprise Geospatial Technology
Felt has launched Felt 3.0, a collaborative mapping tool with new apps and dashboards powered by Postgres and Snowflake integrations. This update brings advanced GIS capabilities to organizations, allowing teams to visualize, analyze, and present geospatial data effortlessly.
Felt 3.0 supports real-time data updates from various databases, helping teams build custom dashboards without needing complex GIS tools. Companies like Sharetown, Santa Barbara’s Public Works, and Terrabotics are using Felt 3.0 to optimize logistics, communicate public information, and monitor environmental data.
Felt’s new API streamlines the development of custom geospatial applications, making GIS more accessible across industries. This user-friendly platform empowers organizations to manage and utilize geospatial data effectively, enhancing collaboration and decision-making.
For more information, visit Felt.
NASA Maps Scorching Pavement in Phoenix Using ECOSTRESS
Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have mapped pavement temperatures in Phoenix, revealing areas where skin contact can cause severe burns. Using the ECOSTRESS instrument aboard the International Space Station, they measured land surface temperatures on June 19, 2024. Asphalt and concrete surfaces reached temperatures of at least 120°F (49°C), with some areas like Sky Harbor International Airport hitting 140°F (60°C). These temperatures are hot enough to cause burns in minutes or seconds.
The map highlights cooler green spaces and hotter urban areas, emphasizing the need for heat mitigation strategies like tree planting. ECOSTRESS, which also studies plant water stress, uses data from multiple satellites to enhance resolution and provide detailed temperature readings. This information helps in planning effective heat interventions to protect public health.
For more information, visit ECOSTRESS.
New Datasets Enhance Ocean Management
Global Fishing Watch, co-founded by Google, has released new datasets mapping global ocean infrastructure and untracked vessels. Using Google Earth Engine, the data highlights industrial fishing, shipping, oil platforms, and wind turbines. The map reveals 28,000 offshore structures, aiding in resource management and renewable energy planning.
The datasets also identify “dark vessels” not broadcasting positions, showing that half of large vessels are untracked and highlighting significant greenhouse gas emissions from maritime activities. This data is essential for marine protection, supporting the creation of marine protected areas and better regulation of fishing to protect ecosystems and local economies.
For more information, visit Global Fishing Watch.
Discover Your Canadian City’s Future Climate
A new web app helps Canadians predict how climate change will transform their city’s climate by 2080. This tool compares future climate projections for cities across Canada with today’s climates elsewhere, revealing significant changes due to greenhouse gas emissions.
For instance, Toronto’s future climate might resemble that of present-day southern Illinois, with hotter summers and milder winters. Vancouver could experience a climate similar to northern California’s, with warmer, drier conditions.
The app uses advanced calculations to match future climate projections under high and reduced emissions scenarios (SSP5-8.5 and SSP1-2.6) and various climate models. It highlights that many Canadian cities may face unprecedented climates, emphasizing the urgency of emission reduction efforts.
This tool, developed by Matt Fitzpatrick at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, provides valuable insights into potential climate futures for Canadian cities, underscoring the importance of climate action.
Explore the app to understand your city’s future climate
