GIS-Related Activities
Many federal agencies use geographic information system (GIS) technology to store, organize, and map huge volumes of geospatial data on the production, transport, and distribution of biofuels. Collectively, these diverse data sets have the potential to help decision-makers in the public and private sectors plan distribution networks that will support the development of an economically viable and environmentally sustainable biofuels industry.
What follows is an inventory of government-wide and federal agency-specific GIS activities related to biomass development. This inventory is not comprehensive, yet aims to serve as a useful resource for those working to identify and integrate the GIS tools available to government agencies.
Agency-Specific GIS Activities Relevant to Transportation Infrastructure and Biomass Development
| Agency/Office | Link(s) | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | |||
| Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) |
A GIS-based model of field-to-refinery feedstock movement and inter-regional, multimodal, ethanol distribution network. Assesses ways in which regional distribution of biomass feedstocks, refineries, transportation infrastructure, and demand centers affect transport distances and costs for feedstocks and biofuels. Identifies potentially vulnerable areas. Partners: EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Office of Research and Development's Market Allocation (MARKAL) |
Able to obtain more precise transport cost data for the EPA Office of R&D's Market Allocation energy system model and likely locations of future point sources of criteria pollutants. | |
| National Aeuronautics and Space Agency (NASA) | |||
| NASA | The Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence (GISCE) |
Used to examine potential environmental changes from large-scale cultivation of biomass feedstocks, including weather patterns, moisture availability, and wildfire risk. Partners: South Dakota State University, South Dakota School of Mines, U.S. Geological Survey (Earth Resources Observation System) |
Better data on potential impacts of large-scale biomass production. |
| U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | |||
| Agricultural Research Service | Models daily crop growth on a hectare scale with the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC). Integrate EPIC with further satellite imagery and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Crop Land Data Layer to produce county and state-level biomass yields. | Accurate and timely digital mapping of crop biomass and yields. | |
| Economic Research Service | AREI Agricultural Resources Map | A mapping of farm output and track information about farm workers, inventory, and sales for crops and livestock using the Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators (AREI) Database and Mapping Tool. | Up-to-date data on agricultural output in the United States. |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | FSA Status Maps | Develops and archives aerial imagery for the National Agriculture Imagery Program, the National Resources Inventory (NRI), and the Resource flying programs. More than 10 million images are archived. | Provides current year aerial data maps. |
| Geospatial Data Gateway | Global Change Data Directory | Provides convenient access to natural resource data. Users can search by geographic area (e.g., county or state), coordinates, or theme, and download the selected data. | Provides natural resource data that is easy to access and use. |
| National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) | NASS GIS Vision Paper |
Applies integrated Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) and Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) technology to identify/locate crops. Partner: NASA |
Reliable national crop maps. |
| National Agricultural Statistics Service | Agricultural Statistics | Develops digital, geo-referenced, crop-specific data through the Cropland Data Layer (CDL) using imagery from the AWiFS Sensor on the Indian Resourcesat-1 satellite and provide to public. | Produces digitally categorized, geo-referenced products on crop output. |
| Service Center Agencies | Service Center Agencies |
A shared GIS for desktop use in over 2,500 counties, states, and center offices of the FSA, NRCS, and Rural Development. Partners: Other government agencies and departments, private industry |
Enhance data and training, and strengthen the products delivered to customers. |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Data Resources | NRCS Data, Maps, and Analysis | Utilizes data resources that include a national resources inventory of plants, soils, water, and climate, as well as watershed boundaries, and develop maps with the Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) Explorer tool. | Create customized maps of narrative descriptions and photos. |
| U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | |||
| Bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework (KDF) |
Provides comprehensive integration of data and modeling resources. Support the national labs in their individual GIS activities and leverage collaboration through the KDF. Enable analysis, synthesis, and visualization of data to enhance understanding of biofuel industry interactions with other critical infrastructures and evaluation of impacts. Partner: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) |
Provides analytical capabilities for planning, developing, and managing the bioenergy production and distribution infrastructure. | |
| Sun Grant Initiative/Regional Feedstock Partnership Program | Sun Grant Initiative Feedstock Partnership | Develops regional databases on bioenergy feedstock yields, management, and environmental features. Partners: KDF, South Dakota State University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), five Sun Grant Center universities. | Accessible data relevant to bioenergy feedstock production, sustainability, and economics. |
| Center for Bioenergy Sustainability (CBES) at ORNL | CBES Overview |
Analyzes geospatial data to document trends and transition processes and improve understanding of the drivers of land-use change in selected countries, beginning with the United States and Brazil. Partners: China, Brazil |
Uses soils/productivity, land cover, and available suitable land to estimate world supply of cellulosic ethanol. |
| Conservation International | Biodiversity Hotspots Resources | Analyze the potential overlap of biofuels crops with areas of high importance for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services at a global scale, especially in Biodiversity Hotspots and High-Biodiversity Wilderness Areas. | Maps opportunities for biofuel crop cultivation with low environmental impacts and areas to be protected. |
| Western Governors' Association | WGA Initiative for Regional Biomass Energy |
Combines a GIS resource and infrastructure database and network analysis with a mixed integer linear optimization program to select optimal locations for biomass and biorefinery locations in the western United States). Partners: DOE, USDA, University of California, Davis (UCD), Kansas State University, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Antares Group Inc., and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) |
Supports sustainable development of biomass resources and bioenergy systems. |
| Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center | AFDC Overview |
Provide a comprehensive collection of more than 3,000 documents containing data, publications, tools, and information about ethanol production, distribution, Clean Cities, and more. Partner: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) |
Educates the public on alternative fuels and advanced vehicles. |
| Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | Microalgae Biofuel Potential | Develop a systematic national assessment to evaluate the U.S. potential for microalgae biofuel production. | Evaluate the sustainability of microalgae production over the next few decades. |
| Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Assessment | INL |
A UC-Davis GIS-based resource model in conjunction with an INL feedstock model to provide a comprehensive analysis tool for feedstock harvesting costs and performance data. Partner: University of California-Davis |
Assesses feedstock resources available by region and better estimate the costs (per dry ton) of feedstocks. |
| National Renewable Energy Laboratory | NREL GIS Tools |
Develop a series of GIS maps showing estimates of the biomass resources available nationwide by county and per square kilometer. Partners: National Agricultural Statistics Service; Forest Service's Timber Product Output database; U.S. Census Bureau; EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program; USDA's Farm Service Agency; and ORNL. |
Supports analysis in various feedstock areas. |
| Oak Ridge National Laboratory | TRAGIS |
A multimodal transportation GIS tool, for biomass transportation analysis and to overcome the deficiencies of the HIGHWAY and INTERLINE models. Partners: EPA, DOE, DOT, and local institutions |
A user-friendly, GIS-based transportation and analysis model. |
| U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) | |||
| National Geospatial Intelligence Agency | Geospatial Intelligence Agency | Produce imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial (e.g., mapping, charting, and geodesy) information to support national security objectives and humanitarian needs. | Creates point targeting, route analysis, and site selection products based on partner needs. |
| Intelligent Road/Rail Information Systems (IRRIS) |
Develop and maintain IRRIS, a Web-based GIS tool for providing transportation-related situational awareness and routing and tracking sensitive DOD road and rail shipments. Partners: Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Transportation Engineering Agency (SDDCC TEA), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) |
Gives the user a high level of transportation-related situational awareness. | |
| U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) | |||
| Bureau of Transportation Statistics |
Maintain the National Transportation Atlas Databases (NTAD), a set of nationwide geographic databases of transportation facilities, transportation networks, and associated infrastructure. These datasets include spatial information for transportation modal networks and intermodal terminals, as well as the related attribute information for these features. Partners: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), TeleAtlas, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of Airline Information, and Official Airline Guide |
Provides a framework of transportation geospatial data for transportation network analysis. | |
| Bureau of Transportation Statistics |
Maintain GeoMiler, a system that integrates core GIS technology and a modeling approach that can be used to compute mileage along routes for any multimodal freight movements at all geographic levels. Partner: U.S. Census Bureau |
Provides a framework of transportation geospatial data for transportation network analysis. | |
| Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration |
Maintain the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS), which contains data on hazardous liquids, natural gas transmission pipelines, and high-consequence areas. | Provides data on national pipelines and hazardous liquids. | |
Extensive GIS resources reside across the federal sector. The following table provides a sample of resources for GIS tools and data as well as information that may be used in biomass-related analysis.
Additional Relevant Activities and Resources (Information current as of: July 2010
| Agency/Office | Link(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Interior (DOI) | |||
| U.S. Geological Survey | The United States Geological Survey (USGS) investigations cover groundwater trends. USGS' National Water Information System (NWIS) data provide real-time information for surface water, ground water, and water quality layers on a national scale. The USGS investigates the occurrence, quantity, quality, distribution, and movement of surface and underground waters. | ||
| U.S. Geological Survey | USGS water and biologic GIS products are also available through the USGS Rolla Office, which offers contracting opportunities for local, state, federal, and private entities. | ||
| U.S. Geological Survey | USGS has an Earth Resources Observation Satellite Data Center, which provides GIS data on elevation and land cover. | ||
| Department of Commerce (DOC) | |||
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | NOAA, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) National Data Centers provide geospatial data for climate, geophysics, oceans, and coasts. Flood Hazard mapping is also available inexpensively in a variety of formats. | ||
| U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | |||
| Natural Resources Conservation Service | This nationwide Partnership of federal, regional, state, and local agencies and institutions cooperatively investigates, inventories, documents, classifies, and interprets soils. | ||
| OTHER | |||
| University of California Institute of Transportation Studies | This University of California Institute of Transportation Studies project is developing system analysis tools for estimating site-specific biomass supply curves. The project will improve upon forest biomass data, add optimization over a range of technology options to an existing model for forest biomass transport, and develop models for agricultural biomass supply chains and site-specific biomass supply curves. | ||
| Illinois Value Added Sustainable Development Center | The Illinois Value Added Sustainable Development Center developed an interactive GIS mapping program to help users select the best locations for new ethanol and biodiesel plants, as well as locate existing facilities and other resources. | ||
| Ecology and Environment Incorporated |
Liquified Natural Gas. Import Terminal Siting and Feasibility Studies, Northeast United States |
These feasibility studies may be of use to biomass transport in that they identify environmental issues, permits, and fatal flaws; analyze alternative locations/technologies using GIS; and evaluate pipeline routes. | |
| North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) | The North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) maintains a list of custom cartography companies with commercial ventures that specialize in producing maps for clients. They welcome contacts from people who would like to contract with them to make maps. They also have a listing of University Geographic Services, Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, and Remote Sensing. | ||
| DOT, HAZMAT, and DOE | New surveillance efforts support the revised International Health Regulations and are capable of triggering international outbreak alerts. New efforts employ data-mining algorithms. Some are open to the public, while others are restricted to health or government officials. | ||