NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS MAPPING

Geospatial Technologies and Data Analysis

Erik C. Franklin

Habitat survey of a lagoon at Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

The purpose of this project is to evaluate Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) habitat maps through field surveys and data collection, to improve the classification of habitat maps. A total of 96 shallow-water (<50 ft) locations were surveyed examining geo-morphological (configuration of landforms) benthic (bottom) habitat and carrying out biological assessments of habitat-associated organisms (corals, algae, other benthic invertebrates, reef fish, and urchins). Data collected will be used to compare the quantitative results derived from transects with the qualitative methods used for visual assessment of habitat categories.

Example map visualization and text-based record display.

In addition, HIMB will develop a Biological Samples Database (BSD) to serve as an information portal for the discovery of data collected from research in the Monument. The BSD provides a ‘meta-database’ that describes the details of specimen samples including: where and when they were collected, who they were obtained by and how they will be utilized. Data, such as DNA sequences, can be exposed through the links to the individual lab databases. This endeavor will ensure long-term data integrity and promote use within the global research community, local and regional resource managers and the public.

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