Objective 1 Develop and Validate Modeling Tools for Calculating Rangeland Fire Severity. This objective utilizes science-based information from Earth observation data (i.e., satellite imagery) and ground-based data (i.e., field sampling) to develop a tool to predict and assess the impact of fire on the landscape. The goal of Objective 1 is to provide reliable information to project wildfire severity and debris flow initiation following wildfires. This emphasis includes both improved and informed knowledge about uncertainties and estimates of error.

Objective 2 Determine the effect of management decisions on components of rangeland health. The health of any rangeland is an expression of how effectively four natural processes are functioning at any point in time (Savory pers. comm.). These four processes are – water or hydrological cycle, mineral cycle, biological community dynamics, and solar energy flow. Researchers have noted the importance of soil cover (Pyke et. al. 2002, Pellant et al. 2003) as a variable that directly influences the four natural processes listed above. For instance, effective rainfall is the amount of total precipitation that goes toward plant growth, underground water storage or stream flow as opposed to surface water runoff and soil surface evaporation and is in direct relation to soil cover. Using remote sensing and GIS offers a means to evaluate responses of rangelands to a spectrum of spatial and temporal variations affecting rangeland health.

Objective 3 Planned Public Outreach Activities: Public outreach workshops focusing on the use and applications of geotechnical tools (e.g., predictive models developed using satellite imagery and GIS) for rangeland management and decision making in the Intermountain West will be held semi-annually at Idaho State University. Some workshops will focus on knowledge and research dissemination while others will be geared toward teaching, for example, how to collect field data for use with remote sensing applications. Other workshops will be developed based upon expressed end-user needs. Based on extensive past interaction with end users, we anticipate the need and development of a "Remote Sensing for Range Professionals" workshop as well as "Getting Started with GIS" workshop. The format of these workshops will build upon the success of the GIS Training and Research Center's workshop model and the Geospatial Training and Analysis Cooperative (GeoSTAC) concept pioneered by Dr. Scott Hughes (ISU) and others. GeoSTAC is a developing program integrating state-of-the-art Geotechnologies into a usable format for educators as well as land and resource managers. Participants may include government and tribal agencies, private individuals, and personnel from not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions. GeoSTAC specializes in providing multimedia venues for training based on the needs of the participants. These include web-based training materials, in-field lab training, computer-based courses, etc.

Objective 4 Implement gigabit Ethernet. A gigabit Ethernet will be implemented by purchasing, installing, and configuring 1) a gigabit Ethernet interface card in the Eli M. Oboler Library's main switch system (the switch for the GIS Center's segment of the network) and 2) a gigabit Ethernet LAN switch within the GIS TReC (note: the GIS TReC has already invested resources to ensure its servers, workstations, and network cabling is gigabit compliant). Gigabit Ethernet capability will allow researchers at ISU to transfer large geospatial data and imagery more efficiently between servers and workstations. The existing transfer rates frequently result in researchers transferring data using CD-ROM or other media source. Gigabit Ethernet will build an efficient geo-spatial research infrastructure and subsequently support more productive research. Further, gigabit Ethernet will enhance data assurance capabilities. Currently, researchers archive their data using a variety of formats, styles, and temporal intervals. Because data archiving of large geo-spatial datasets and imagery requires a substantial time investment by the researcher, many individuals routinely postpone and otherwise neglect data archiving tasks. Gigabit Ethernet will allow researchers to access the GIS Center's file server and network attached storage device where data is stored for immediate retrieval and archived daily by an automated tape library system. This process is currently enabled but is not practical because of slow network connections between desktop workstations and the file server.