Use of Technology in the Land & Water Conservation Department
We strive to utilize technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness in our work. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Computer Aided Design (CAD) are three components of the suite of tools our technicians utilize on a daily basis to design conservation practices (or Best Management Practices) that will improve environmental quality in Winnebago County.
In 2018, we added a drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-UAV) to the tools our department utilizes. The UAV is used to capture aerial photos and video of the installation of conservation practices including pre-existing conditions, construction progress, and final installation. This powerful tool provides high resolution imagery that improves project monitoring and promotion. The department has 2 FAA Certified Part 107 Pilots and maintains strict operating procedures.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
GIS is computer software that allows us to graphically represent various data layers. Our department has had GIS capabilities since 1995. We have recently improved web mapping capabilities to include creating mobile based apps for data collection in the field. GIS Maps for public use are available on the Planning & Zoning Department's site.
What is a GIS?
A Geographic Information System, or GIS, is an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information. Or, in simple terms:
A computer system capable of holding and using data describing places on the earth's surface.
Many computer programs, such as spreadsheets, statistics packages or drafting packages can handle simple geographic or spatial data, but this does not necessarily make them a GIS. A true GIS links spatial data with geographic information about a particular feature on the map. For example, the outline that represents an agricultural field on a map doesn't tell you much about the field except its location. To find out the field's acreage or crop type, you must query the database. Using the information stored in the database, you could create a display symbolizing the agricultural fields according to the type of information that needs to be shown.
In short, a GIS doesn't hold maps or pictures - it holds a database. The database concept is central to a GIS and is the main difference between a GIS and drafting or computer mapping systems, which can only produce a good graphic output. All contemporary geographic information systems incorporate a database management system.
GIS is not......
.....simply a computer system for making maps, although it can create maps at different scales, in different projections, and with different colors. A GIS is an analytical tool. The major advantage of a GIS is that it allows you to identify the spatial relationship between map features. A GIS does not store a map in any conventional sense; nor does it store a particular image or view of a geographic area. Instead, a GIS stores the data from which you can draw a desired view to suit a particular purpose.
For more information and free GIS software follow the links below:
- http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer
- http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisonline/features/free-personal-account
- http://www.qgis.org/en/site/
Global Positioning System (GPS)
In 2001, our department purchased a Trimble unit that is capable of sub-centimeter accuracy. It utilizes satellites that determine latitude and longitude as well as the elevation of any site within the county. In 2018, the department acquired 2 new GPS units that will allow our department to double our survey capability, reducing time and improving service!
GPS or Global Positioning System refers to technology that utilizes satellites to determine the location of points on the earth's surface. In 2001, our department purchased a Trimble GPS unit that not only measures latitude and longitude, but also calculates the elevation with sub-centimeter accuracy. This is an extremely accurate and useful tool for many applications within our department. Large topographic surveys can now be completed in a single day. Completing such surveys with conventional surveying equipment may have taken a week.
Use of GPS Unit
Since purchasing the Trimble GPS unit in 2001, our department uses GPS on nearly every construction project. Having access to the WISCORS network provides real time corrected GPS signal acquisition ensuring sub-centimeter accuracy. A few examples of work completed with GPS are:
- Survey of Terrell's Island Vegetation.
- Bathymetric Survey on Rush Lake.
- Survey of Lone Willow Island Marsh breakwall.
- Shoreline and Streambank Erosion Survey in Pool Lakes.
- Culvert Surveys in Neenah, Clayton, and Black Wolf Townships.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
LiDAR is remote sensing technology that captures extremely high resolution elevation data. LiDAR can be captured for many different applications from 3D building models to more common topographic land survey. Winnebago County acquired its first LiDAR data in 2018 and has been using the high resolution elevation data to create more accurate engineering designs. The ability to create highly accurate designs from the office helps to speed up design time. While LiDAR data will never replace doing field surveys, it has allowed us to be more efficient in the time spent collecting data in the field.
This photo shows what the LiDAR elevation data looks like from ground level (brown/grey) to a waterway (blue), a rooftop (yellow) and the tree tops (green). Every dot is an individual elevation measurement taken and compiled by LiDAR.
Computer Aided Design (CAD)
CAD or Computer Aided Design refers to software that allows our technicians to design Best Management Practices in a digital format. In the past, design work was done by hand with paper and pencil. One of the biggest advantages of CAD is that changes can be made quickly and easily with the click of a mouse, by editing points or hitting undo. Another advantage is that CAD allows us to integrate data from our GPS and GIS.
Latitude, longitude, and elevation data from the GPS unit can be downloaded and integrated into CAD for designing any Best Management Practice. GIS data layers can be added to create a map that shows the location and elevations of such features as farm buildings, drainage ditches, culverts, or rock breakwalls.
Drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - UAV)
The LWCD utilizes our UAV affectionately known as "Starry" to capture a variety of images and video. Our two FAA Certified pilots can capture simple oblique photographs or map entire field project sites. The UAV can capture important construction photos simply not possible with a standard camera.
Examples of videos created with our drone:
These are a few samples of video taken with our UAV. We also use the drone to capture aerial photos that are then processed to create orthophotos that can be viewed in a GIS. This improves change detection analysis by not having to wait several years for an entire county aerial flyover.