Crash Course in Georeferencing Michelle Koo, Carol Spencer, Andrew Reagan, Lauren Scheinberg

Good and Bad Locality Descriptions Elements and Examples

Overview Elements of a Locality Elements of a Locality Verbatim Locality DescriptionVerbatim Locality Description ElevationElevation CoordinatesCoordinates DatumDatum GPS AccuracyGPS Accuracy ExtentExtent ReferenceReference Examples Examples

What A Locality Should Be Specific Specific Succinct Succinct Unambiguous Unambiguous Complete Complete Accurate Accurate Precise Precise More Precise Less Precise More Accurate Less Accurate x

Locality Tips Avoid uncertainty due to imprecise headings Avoid uncertainty due to imprecise headings distance along a pathdistance along a path two orthogonal distances from a placetwo orthogonal distances from a place Use only one reference point Use only one reference point small in size (extent)small in size (extent) stable in position and size over timestable in position and size over time easy to find on maps or in gazetteerseasy to find on maps or in gazetteers Avoid vague terms such as “near”, “vicinity of”, “about”, etc Avoid vague terms such as “near”, “vicinity of”, “about”, etc

Elevation Provide an elevation value Provide an elevation value Beware elevation from GPS - it is less accurate than a barometric altimeter (when calibrated) Beware elevation from GPS - it is less accurate than a barometric altimeter (when calibrated) Report the source of elevation (map, altimeter, seat of pants, etc.) Report the source of elevation (map, altimeter, seat of pants, etc.)

Coordinates It is not enough to have coordinates alone, a locality description is essential. It is not enough to have coordinates alone, a locality description is essential. Decimal degrees are recommended. If a different system is used, record your resources. Decimal degrees are recommended. If a different system is used, record your resources. More decimal places are better. More decimal places are better. Original coordinates from GPS should be preserved. Original coordinates from GPS should be preserved. Know your GPS Make/Model and DATUM Know your GPS Make/Model and DATUM

Datum Datum has a corresponding coordinate system Datum has a corresponding coordinate system Default datum WGS84 Default datum WGS84 Coordinate your resources, especially if you’re using a different datumCoordinate your resources, especially if you’re using a different datum Coordinates without datum are ambiguous Coordinates without datum are ambiguous Be consistent Be consistent

GPS Accuracy GPS accuracy can be affected by many issues GPS accuracy can be affected by many issues number of satellitesnumber of satellites interferenceinterference presence of reflective surfacespresence of reflective surfaces Provide the GPS overall accuracy, or error, while reading the GPS coordinates Provide the GPS overall accuracy, or error, while reading the GPS coordinates It will not be available later, and are not stored with the waypointsIt will not be available later, and are not stored with the waypoints

Extent Indicates the size of the area within which an event (collection, observation) occurred Indicates the size of the area within which an event (collection, observation) occurred Can be a city, park, intersection, transect, grid, river, road, etc. Can be a city, park, intersection, transect, grid, river, road, etc.

References Document the sources and tools Topographic map in field Topographic map in field Map title, publisher, scale, year, sheet number Map title, publisher, scale, year, sheet number Gazetteer or Road Atlas Gazetteer or Road Atlas Altimeter Altimeter GPS GPS ModelModel DatumDatum AccuracyAccuracy

Examples of Good and Bad Localities Vague localities Vague localities BAD: “Sacramento River Delta” - an extremely large geographic area BETTER: “Locke, Sacramento River Delta, Sacramento Co., California” - names a town within the DeltaBAD: “Sacramento River Delta” - an extremely large geographic area BETTER: “Locke, Sacramento River Delta, Sacramento Co., California” - names a town within the Delta BAD: “3 mi W of San Jose/Cartago border” - without additional details, this would mean anywhere 3 mi W of the border GOOD: “3 mi W of San Jose/Cartago border on Highway 2, San Jose Province, Costa Rica”BAD: “3 mi W of San Jose/Cartago border” - without additional details, this would mean anywhere 3 mi W of the border GOOD: “3 mi W of San Jose/Cartago border on Highway 2, San Jose Province, Costa Rica”

Examples of Good and Bad Localities Names of Roads without additional reference Names of Roads without additional reference BAD: “Highway 9, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica” GOOD: “Intersection of Hwy 9 and Rio Cariblanco, Cariblanco (town), Alajuela Province, Costa Rica”BAD: “Highway 9, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica” GOOD: “Intersection of Hwy 9 and Rio Cariblanco, Cariblanco (town), Alajuela Province, Costa Rica” BAD: “S Berkeley, Alameda County, California” GOOD: “Oakland,1 mi S of intersection of 66th St and Telegraph Ave on Telegraph Ave., Alameda Co., California”BAD: “S Berkeley, Alameda County, California” GOOD: “Oakland,1 mi S of intersection of 66th St and Telegraph Ave on Telegraph Ave., Alameda Co., California”

Examples of Good and Bad Localities Localities that are difficult to Georeference Localities that are difficult to Georeference BAD: “Battle Mountain, Lander Co., Nevada” BETTER: “Battle Mountain (city), Lander Co., Nevada”BAD: “Battle Mountain, Lander Co., Nevada” BETTER: “Battle Mountain (city), Lander Co., Nevada” BAD: “Km 58 Pan American Highway” GOOD: “Km 58 Pan American Highway, 6 km S of Cartago on Pan American Highway, Cartago Province, Costa Rica”BAD: “Km 58 Pan American Highway” GOOD: “Km 58 Pan American Highway, 6 km S of Cartago on Pan American Highway, Cartago Province, Costa Rica”

Vague Requires specific knowledge Non-sensical Biologically unlikely REAL LOCALITIES FROM MaNIS

Online Resources

Locality Guidelines

Online resources for georeferencing

Online resources for georeferencing

Google Maps Search & directions Search & directions Free text search, zoom -dependentFree text search, zoom -dependent Directions for travelling by car, bike, public transport and footDirections for travelling by car, bike, public transport and foot Data compiled from different sourcesData compiled from different sources Maps Maps Datum: WGS84Datum: WGS84 Views: map, satellite (= aerial photography), terrain, Google Street View + various layers of informationViews: map, satellite (= aerial photography), terrain, Google Street View + various layers of information Data compiled from different sources (indicated at the bottom of each map)Data compiled from different sources (indicated at the bottom of each map) Third Party Plug-ins extend functionality Third Party Plug-ins extend functionality

Search now with suggestions Google Maps - Searching

Maps Satellite Terrain (under ‘More’) Earth (plug-in required) Google Maps - Viewing

Google Maps – Street View Street View

Google Maps – Street View I collected here

Google Maps – Getting coordinates Requires additional widgets or plug-ins LatLng MarkerActivate LatLng Marker in Google Maps Labs GPS LocationPosition FinderInstall a mapplet like GPS Location or Position Finder in ‘My Maps > Browse the directory’. Now deprecated! LatLong CrosshairsUse Canadensys LatLong Crosshairs bookmarklet: Distance Measurement Tool Use Distance Measurement Tool to measure extent My Maps Use My Maps to save markers, create maps, share with others (including kml import)

Google Maps – Getting coordinates Google Maps Labs LatLng Marker Right-click and‘Drop LatLng Marker’ (activate in ‘Labs’ first) LatLng Marker Right-click and‘Drop LatLng Marker’ (activate in ‘Labs’ first)

Canadensys bookmarklet Click to toggle Canadensys bookmarklet Click to toggle Crosshairs Pan map to change position Click to get coordinates Crosshairs Pan map to change position Click to get coordinates Google Maps – Getting coordinates

Distance Measurement Tool (activate in ‘Labs’ first) Distance Measurement Tool (activate in ‘Labs’ first) Google Maps – Measuring extent

D globe desktop application 3D globe desktop application Same data as Google Maps Same data as Google Maps Datum: WGS84Datum: WGS84 No Map or Terrain viewNo Map or Terrain view Similar functionalities as Google Maps Similar functionalities as Google Maps Search more limited than Google Maps (no suggestions)Search more limited than Google Maps (no suggestions) Right-click and choose ‘Get Info’ for coordinatesRight-click and choose ‘Get Info’ for coordinates Use ruler to measure extentUse ruler to measure extent Several coordinate formatsSeveral coordinate formats Numerous information layers (format: kml)Numerous information layers (format: kml) Google Earth

Google Maps interface Google Maps interface Datum: WGS84 (& NAD27)Datum: WGS84 (& NAD27) Map, satellite, hybrid and terrainMap, satellite, hybrid and terrain Topo, DOQ, NEXRAD and MapnikTopo, DOQ, NEXRAD and Mapnik Free text search not Zoom level-dependentFree text search not Zoom level-dependent Markers cannot be moved, but new markers can be placed at crosshairs (click ‘Mark’)Markers cannot be moved, but new markers can be placed at crosshairs (click ‘Mark’) Several coordinate formats for each marker + heading and distance from crosshairsSeveral coordinate formats for each marker + heading and distance from crosshairs Saves all markers automaticallySaves all markers automatically AcmeMapper

GEOnet Names Server (GNS) Worldwide data from NGA and US BGN Worldwide data from NGA and US BGN NIMA = National Imagery and Mapping AgencyNIMA = National Imagery and Mapping Agency Datum: WGS84Datum: WGS84 Degrees minutes seconds, precision to nearest minuteDegrees minutes seconds, precision to nearest minute Feature typeFeature type Used as a source for many gazetteersUsed as a source for many gazetteers For US data, use Geographic Names Information System (GNIS): For US data, use Geographic Names Information System (GNIS):

Geographical Name Search Service (GNSS) Canadian data by the Canadian Geographical Names Service (CGNS) Canadian data by the Canadian Geographical Names Service (CGNS) Datum: NAD83Datum: NAD83 Degrees minutes seconds and decimal degreesDegrees minutes seconds and decimal degrees Feature typeFeature type Full Canadian Geographical Names datasets can be downloaded from GeoBase: Full Canadian Geographical Names datasets can be downloaded from GeoBase:

Falling Rain Worldwide gazetteer for cities and towns Worldwide gazetteer for cities and towns Great for hard to find localities, especially outside US Great for hard to find localities, especially outside US Datum: WGS84Datum: WGS84 Degrees minutes (seconds), based on NIMADegrees minutes (seconds), based on NIMA Browse to find locality (no search)Browse to find locality (no search) Provides hierarchy, alternative names, topo maps, altitude, weather information and location of nearby towns in nautical miles (nm). Tip: Use Google/Chromey to translate nm into km.Provides hierarchy, alternative names, topo maps, altitude, weather information and location of nearby towns in nautical miles (nm). Tip: Use Google/Chromey to translate nm into km. Example: Qaryeh-ye Gol`alam, Velayat-e Lowgar, AF Example: Qaryeh-ye Gol`alam, Velayat-e Lowgar, AF You can also check against Statoids: You can also check against Statoids:

Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (TGN) ies/tgn/ ies/tgn/ ies/tgn/ ies/tgn/ Worldwide gazetteer by The Getty Worldwide gazetteer by The Getty Useful for finding alternative and old names Useful for finding alternative and old names Feature typesFeature types Geographical hierarchyGeographical hierarchy Coordinates only to minutes (or not at all)! Use recent name and search in Google MapsCoordinates only to minutes (or not at all)! Use recent name and search in Google Maps Example: Big Apple, inhabited place, United States Example: Big Apple, inhabited place, United States

FuzzyG – JRC Fuzzy Gazetteer Worldwide gazetteer designed for bad spelling! Worldwide gazetteer designed for bad spelling! Useful for finding alternative, doubtful spelling, old names Useful for finding alternative, doubtful spelling, old names Feature typesFeature types By continentBy continent Coordinates only to minutes (or not at all)! Use recent name and search in Google MapsCoordinates only to minutes (or not at all)! Use recent name and search in Google Maps Example: Narobi, Africa Example: Narobi, Africa

GPS Visualizer: GPS Visualizer: Use to translate a file with coordinates into kml or a pictureUse to translate a file with coordinates into kml or a picture Similar: for publicationsSimilar: for publicationshttp:// GeoLocate: GeoLocate: Georeferencing desktop and web applicationGeoreferencing desktop and web application Useful for roads and rivers (US only)Useful for roads and rivers (US only) Statoids: Statoids: Information about administrative divisions (provinces, counties) and their history, area, population, codes, etc.Information about administrative divisions (provinces, counties) and their history, area, population, codes, etc. No coordinates!No coordinates! Similar: CIA World Factbook CIA World Factbook See for more… See for more… Other Resources

BioGeomancer: Semi-automated Georeferencing Engine Currently works on Firefox, Explorer, not Chrome, Safari. Developed by: John Wieczorek, Aaron Steele, Dave Neufeld, P. Bryan Heidorn, Robert Guralnick, Reed Beaman, Chris Frazier, Paul Flemons, Nelson Rios, Greg Hill, Youjun Guo

37 Locality Types F – feature F – feature P – path P – path FO – offset from a feature, sans heading FO – offset from a feature, sans heading FOH – offset from feature at a heading FOH – offset from feature at a heading FO+ – orthogonal offsets from a feature FO+ – orthogonal offsets from a feature FPOH – offset at a heading from a feature along a path FPOH – offset at a heading from a feature along a path 31 other locality types known so far 31 other locality types known so far

Five Most Common Locality Types* 51.0% - feature 51.0% - feature 21.4% - locality not recorded 21.4% - locality not recorded 17.6% - offset from feature at a heading 17.6% - offset from feature at a heading 8.6% - path 8.6% - path 5.8% - undefined 5.8% - undefined types of localities BG recognizes types of localities BG recognizes types of localities BG recognizes types of localities BG recognizes *based on 500 records randomly selected from the 296k records georeferenced manually in the MaNIS Project.

Types of Data BG Uses and Georeferences BG has >11 million entries in the gazetteer BG has >11 million entries in the gazetteer User created places = 112,000 User created places = 112, million localities were georeferenced, 1.5 million localities were georeferenced, for 6.2 million georeferences (so on average 4 georeferences per locality) for 6.2 million georeferences (so on average 4 georeferences per locality) Over 500 login users, 6,000 projects done Over 500 login users, 6,000 projects done ORNIS did 189k localities in BG batch processing ORNIS did 189k localities in BG batch processing

How BG works:

Additional BG Commands: Add: lets you add another georeference to the current view Hg: searches on higher geography only Create: lets you create a new locality (this only works if you are not logged in) Also you can display lat and longs by typing coordinates into the georeference box, with a space between them (no comma)

Batch Processing: ancerworkbench/support/batch- formatting

Georeferencing tool originally designed for aquatic natural history data Georeferencing tool originally designed for aquatic natural history data Calculates Uncertainty in same standards Calculates Uncertainty in same standards Several Versions: standalone desktop, web app, java client app (in development), web services Several Versions: standalone desktop, web app, java client app (in development), web services

Online Exercises Download exercise and all handouts here: Download exercise and all handouts here: /shortgeorefws/