The Open Parks Grid at Clemson University Cyberinfrastructure for Achieving Excellence in Management of Parks and Protected Areas

Overarching Goal of the OPG To integrate parks and people who use, manage and study them through a far-reaching computing network called the Open Parks Grid

Clemson University and Parks Clemson University has been a leader in park management and education for over 40 years

Parks in-situ conservation of biological diversity in-situ conservation of biological diversity protection of ecosystem services protection of ecosystem services protection of threatened cultural and historic sites protection of threatened cultural and historic sites centers for education centers for education opportunities for recreation opportunities for recreation economic engines economic engines places for enhancing community cohesion and building social capital places for enhancing community cohesion and building social capital

Parks National

Parks Parks State

Parks Parks Marine

Parks Parks Cultural and Historical

Parks Parks NGO

Parks Parks Urban

Problem Parks are highly dispersed geographically Parks are highly dispersed geographically Parks tend to function as isolated management units Parks tend to function as isolated management units Parks are integral to a healthy environment and society and yet their resources are being degraded Parks are integral to a healthy environment and society and yet their resources are being degraded Small scale parks, and parks in the developing world do not have necessary training in park management Small scale parks, and parks in the developing world do not have necessary training in park management

Problem (contd.) Opportunities for collaboration and solving management problems are not always clear Opportunities for collaboration and solving management problems are not always clear Current research documentation is not coordinated, and leads to inefficient use of resources Current research documentation is not coordinated, and leads to inefficient use of resources Research funding for parks is limited Research funding for parks is limited

Opportunity Park Mangers (National, state, local) Biological and ecological science Behavioral science Park administration and policy Education and interpretation Public Cultural and historical science Arts and humanities

Opportunity Park Mangers (National, state, local) Biological and ecological science Behavioral science Park administration and policy Education and interpretation Public Cultural and historical science Arts and humanities OPG

Hartzog Institute and the OPG The Open Parks Grid will serve as the communication backbone of the George B. Jr. and Helen C. Hartzog Institute for Parks The Open Parks Grid will serve as the communication backbone of the George B. Jr. and Helen C. Hartzog Institute for Parks The Institute is a collaborative venture between PRTM, FNR and other partners The Institute is a collaborative venture between PRTM, FNR and other partners One of goals being grounded research One of goals being grounded research

Bridging the Gaps

Gaps Between: researchers and practitioners; researchers and practitioners; funding entities and protected areas; funding entities and protected areas; local parks, national parks, and NGO managed lands; local parks, national parks, and NGO managed lands; researchers at different institutions and in different departments; researchers at different institutions and in different departments; cultural and natural resources; and, cultural and natural resources; and, parks and protected areas and citizens, particularly children. parks and protected areas and citizens, particularly children.

Purpose The purpose of the OPG is to unite the highly distributed parks community of practitioners, academics (natural and social scientists, arts and humanities researchers), policy-makers, and citizens to

Use Scenarios Integrated research gaps Integrated research gaps Park Managers and University Researchers Park Managers and University Researchers Private protected land owner/manager and larger state or national park manager Private protected land owner/manager and larger state or national park manager University Researcher with Research Site University Researcher with Research Site Training gaps Training gaps The Parks and People The Parks and People

CI and the OPG Unlike the Open Science Grid, the OPG consortium members represent far more constituencies than academia and private research; with this diversity of users comes challenging complexity that will advance grid computing generally. Unlike the Open Science Grid, the OPG consortium members represent far more constituencies than academia and private research; with this diversity of users comes challenging complexity that will advance grid computing generally.

Contributors Dr. Brett Wright, Chair, PRTM Dr. Brett Wright, Chair, PRTM Dr. Elizabeth Dennis Baldwin, PRTM Dr. Elizabeth Dennis Baldwin, PRTM Dr. Sebastien Goasguen, School of Computing Dr. Sebastien Goasguen, School of Computing Dr. Rob Baldwin, FNR Dr. Rob Baldwin, FNR Dr. Christopher Post FNR Dr. Christopher Post FNR Dr. Pat Layton, Chair FNR Dr. Pat Layton, Chair FNR Fran Mainella, PRTM, Past director of the National Park Service Fran Mainella, PRTM, Past director of the National Park Service

Questions