Highlights for February 28, 1997
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• Web Surfing with Students at Earth Sciences Exposition: On February 22, Sharon Shin represented BRD–CBI at the Colorado School of Mines Engineering, Environmental, and Earth Sciences Exposition in Golden. Demonstrations, workshops, and exhibits presented engineering, environmental, and geoscience disciplines and career opportunities to middle school students, teachers, and parents from the Denver metropolitan area. Shin presented the "Fragile Legacy" page from Northern Prairie Science Center's Web site, which combines graphics and maps with descriptive text on the threatened and endangered species of South Dakota. Teachers talked with Shin about how to download a site to use off-line in the classroom. Joining USGS were BLM, the Universities of Wyoming and Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, several professional groups, the Denver Zoological Foundation, the Coca Cola (Denver) Company, ARA Services, King Soopers (Kroger-groceries) as exhibitors and donors. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303/202-4230)
  
• USGS–NPS Vegetation Mapping Program at Rock Creek Park: On February 25, Frank D'Erchia, BRD–CBI, conducted a coordination meeting at Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia to explain the Vegetation Mapping Program to local Park staff and to North–Central Region representatives. Park vegetation will be mapped using aerial photography and summer fieldwork. Project completion is scheduled for January 1998. The resulting database will be used by the Park for managing exotics; monitoring vegetation health (e.g., Dutch elm disease and gypsy moth infestation); surveying habitats to identify old-growth sites, habitats for species reintroduction, and habitats for rare and endangered species; to answer specific management questions; and to prepare the National Park Service's General Management Plan for Rock Creek Park. (Frank D'Erchia, Denver, 303/202-4259)
  
• New GPS Training Video: On February 25–26, Karl Brown, BRD–CBI, worked with Global Positioning System (GPS) Coordinators from the USFWS and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to write the script for an advanced training videotape for the Y-code GPS receiver known as PLGR+96. Several improved surveying functions are available to users of this receiver, and the video will describe how to access and use the Two Post Survey, polygon acreage calculations, and other advanced functions. This receiver is not suitable for Cadastral or Land Survey records, but is a powerful tool for relocating corners and other monument searches by DOI employees in both engineering and natural resource disciplines. (Karl Brown, Denver, 303/202-4240)
  

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives:

Butterflies on the Web: During February, another large "build" of butterfly and moth images is being made on the Northern Prairie Science Center Web site. When this project is complete, the site will host images and maps of most U.S. butterflies, hawkmoths, and wild silk moths—almost 1,000 species. Funding from the National Biological Information Infrastructure will allow the addition of text during this year, so that the site will become a virtual field guide to butterflies and larger moths. (Paul Opler, Fort Collins, CO, 970/226-9409)

III. Notable Congressional Activity: Nothing to report

IV. Press/Media Inquiries:

GPS Accuracy Discussed: On February 26, Karl Brown, BRD Global Positioning System Coordinator, responded to a media query by the Vacaville Reporter (Calif.) regarding accuracies and use of GPS. Brown confirmed the accuracy of so-called "cheap" handheld GPS receivers ($200 range) as being 100 meters, and gave an example of a camper taking a reading at his campsite and then going on a hike—upon his return, his handheld would navigate him to within 100 meters of his campsite. Brown also noted the widespread use of GPS by surveyors in California because of the movement of points in that region. (Karl Brown, Denver, 303/202-4240)