Analysis of Metadata Compliance of Local, State, and Federal Spatial Data Sources Denise Garcia Barron Orr, PhD Stuart Marsh, PhD Office of Arid Lands Studies NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Research Internship Program University of Arizona 2009-2010 Office of Arid Lands Studies

San Simon Watershed Watershed area: about 5,828 km2 (2,250 mi2) For our summer research project, we analyzed the San Simon watershed, which is in southeastern Arizona. This map shows the urban centers in Arizona, Safford being the closest urban center to the NW of the watershed. Watershed area: about 5,828 km2 (2,250 mi2)

San Simon Watershed 1880’s Begin arroyo cutting Causes: Alluvium Changing weather overgrazing roads geomorphic process 1930’s-1980’s construction of erosion control structures Bureau of Land Management BLM also built 19 major detention dams, dikes, and Earth structures beginning in the 1930s 1970’s, however, in1978, Bahre explained that 10% of the Upper Gila-San Simon area was classified as a critical area of high erosion, while 32% of the area was experiencing moderate erosion Europeans begin settling in the area and practicing heavy cattle grazing in the 1950’s after the Mexican-American War. However, they were not the first people to inhabit the area, Native Americans and Mexicans had been living in the area and traveling through it before the Europeans. Arroyo cutting began in the 1880’s. However, it was not until the 19020’s that people began to notice that this process was going on. Plans were then made to control the soil erosion. It was with such plans that the Civilian Consevation Corps began building hundreds of structures along the San Simon channel and its tributaries. The Bureau of Land Management built 19 major structures and other smaller structures until the 1980’s.

Significance Farmer dependence on the rich alluvial soils near the main channel San Simon area case study for desertified areas Effects of concrete structures on the behavior of the channel This problem is quite significant because there is heavy farming community dependence on the Upper Gila River Valley. These farming communities can be severely affected if the major structures were to break down and the Gila River, into which the San Simon deposits its waters, were to be flooded with soil. The San Simon is also a case study for other areas around the world that are beginning to experience the process of arroyo cutting and desertification because the San Simon has been dealing with this process of desertification for a longer time and there has been a significant effort to control this process. By studying the effects, it can be determined if other areas should follow in the steps of the San Simon watershed. Courtesy of http://maps.google.com, 7/11/09

Methodology Assess Terrain Collect Historical Data from experiments performed in the San Simon Watershed Collect Spatial Data pertaining to the San Simon watershed Analyze the metadata from all the sources For our methodology, did data collection, change in elevation analysis, and did an assessment of vegetation cover difference.

Assess Terrain Day trip Observe: - aggradation - degradation - vegetation - structures Courtesy of OALS Bill Brandau from the Safford Cooperative Extension Office and Lance Brady from the Safford Office of BLM showed us the major landmarks, structures, vegetation, and signs of soil accumulation and erosion along the San Simon Channel Courtesy of OALS Courtesy of OALS

Collect Spatial Data Collection of Spatial Data in preparation for a more in-depth analysis of the watershed The pixels were then color coded and classified by the level of change using Standard Deviation in order to quantify the areas that experienced different levels of change. Standard deviation is useful because we can see the degree of soil deposition (in brown) and the levels of soil erosion (in green) Courtesy of NAIP Gateway Courtesy of GLOVIS Courtesy of Earth Explorer Courtesy of AZDOT Orthomosaic Landsat 5 Imagery Digital Elev. Model Shapefiles: AZ RR System

Uses for Spatial Data Analyze change in vegetation density and change in elevation. Provides ability to analyze aggradation and degradation Metadata makes spatial information usable A metadata record: is a file of information, usually presented as an XML document, which captures the basic characteristics of a data or information resource. It represents the who, what, when, where, why and how of the resource. Geospatial metadata are used to document geographic digital resources such as Geographic Information System (GIS) files, geospatial databases, and earth imagery.

Definition of Metadata Data about Data Components ID information Data Quality Spatial Reference Entity and Attribute Distribution Information

National Metadata Standards Federal Geographic Data Committee Standards (FGDC) “Standards facilitate the development, sharing, and use of geospatial data” Courtesy of www.fgdc.gov

Lack of Metadata Issues

Analysis Process and the Role of Metadata Metadata Analysis Reliability and Quality of Data Spatial Analysis of Watershed A metadata record: is a file of information, usually presented as an XML document, which captures the basic characteristics of a data or information resource. It represents the who, what, when, where, why and how of the resource. Geospatial metadata are used to document geographic digital resources such as Geographic Information System (GIS) files, geospatial databases, and earth imagery. Bureau of Land Management Decision about Control Structure Management

Results Total % complete Federal State Count (N) 23 15 8 Min 8% 57% Max 92% 91% Total Average 77% 80% 71% Standard Deviation 17% 27%

Results: % Report Completed 77% 92% 8% Total Min Avg Max 80% 92% 57% Federal Min Avg Max 71% 91% 8% State Min Avg Max Standard Deviation

Discussion Most state and federal data sources comply with the FGDC standards In general, federal sources are more consistent with their metadata There are metadata sections that are superfluous Sources differ in means of delivering metadata Spatial Analysis of the San Simon watershed may begin with federal spatial data State files had a greater standard deviation, or a wider variety in 5 compliance with FDGC standards

Thank you

Acknowledgements Barron Orr, PhD Stuart Marsh, PhD Taryn Kong Bill Brandau Office of Arid Lands Studies Susan Brew UA NASA Space Grant Staff

Denise Garcia dtgarcia@email.arizona.edu

Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Coversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Arroyo cutting Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Figure 2. Arroyo cutting in San Simon Watershed Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion. Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion.

Arroyo cutting Conversion of fertile, broad valley floors to continuously entrenched stream channels with abrupt, nearly vertical, canyon-like banks Soil erosion reduces vegetation cover. In turn, lack of vegetation promotes soil erosion.