Programs
Cartography and Geospatial Technologies Department
Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Data Management
At times, individual geospatial technologies are used in isolation for focused analyses. On most projects, however, various types of spatial data are linked together within Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Although GIS is an excellent CRM tool, sophisticated use of GIS (e.g., for predictive modeling and analytical resource management) is not widespread within the CRM community. SRI understands both the advantages and limitations of GIS and uses it, like any other analytical tool, when it is justified by scientific requirements and client needs. There are, for example, better and more economical tools than GIS available for creating simple maps, especially for use in small-scale projects where only a site map is needed. When GIS is appropriate, SRI has the capability to manage, analyze, and visualize spatial data. We have built a GIS spatial database for cultural resources at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) to use in managing the extensive archaeological resources associated with the Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR)—an area encompassing almost all of southwestern Arizona. We routinely use Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers as the primary data-collection and attribution tool for cultural resources located during inventory surveys. On other projects, survey-grade GPS receivers are used to place control points that, in turn, are used to orient other, more-accurate spatial-measuring devices such as reflectorless total stations and laser scanning or photogrammetric cameras for intrasite recording. Regardless of the method SRI uses in the field to record spatial information, these data are coded and linked back to the aspatial component so that all data are ready for project staff in their analysis, compliance, stewardship, and interpretive tasks. SRI recently acquired the ability to serve GIS data via the Internet so that our researchers, teaming partners, and clients have up-to-the-minute access to their project’s spatial data.
