In just a few short years, the I

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In just a few short years, the IM networks have
become known as a key source and supplier of
reliable, organized, and retrievable information
about parks that was formerly unavailable,
misplaced, or lost to managers and others who
needed the information for sound decisions or
sound science.
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Condition-based Management
The Service will also strive to ensure that park
resources and values are passed on to future
generations in a condition that is as good as, or
better than, the conditions that exist today.
Decision makers and planners will use the
best available scientific and technical
information and scholarly analysis to identify
appropriate management actions for protection and
use of park resources. NPS
Management Policies
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IM Program Goals

• Establish natural resource inventory and
  monitoring as a standard practice throughout the
  National Park system that transcends traditional
  program, activity, and funding boundaries.
• Inventory the natural resources ...
• Monitor park ecosystems ...
• Integrate natural resource inventory and
  monitoring information into NPS planning,
  management, and decision making.
• Share NPS accomplishments and information with
  other natural resource organizations and form
  partnerships for attaining common goals and
  objectives.

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IRMA

• Integration of Resource Management Applications
• Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) build once,
  use many times services that can be re-used by
  many applications
• Using industry standards to allow data exchange
  among IT systems

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NRInfo Portal initial release in May 2009
http//nrinfo
Key Point Not necessary to use the web portal to
access information. Data exchange can occur among
systems via queries e.g., virtual learning
centers
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1999 Vision of an Integrated NR Database
One or more databases in MS Access that
conceivably could be linked together through
front-end switchboard/interface
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3-Year Start-up Reviews

• Reviews held 3 years after monitoring plan
  accepted and boots on the ground monitoring has
  been implemented.
• Brings park managers and scientists together to
  discuss their initial progress. Is the network
  set up to succeed?
• 3 years long enough to appreciate realities, but
  short enough to make adjustments before too much
  is invested.
• 15 Networks ( n 140 parks) reviewed so far
• 2-3 day review meeting typically 20-40 people
  park superintendents, NR chiefs, network staff,
  collaborators, interpreters, regional staff

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Is the network off to a good start? Are you
confident that the network will deliver relevant,
useful data and information that will help us
understand and manage the natural resources of
parks in our network"?
90 Avg.
Percent of Responses
Network
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Do you agree with the statement Good data
management, analysis, and reporting procedures
seem to be in place, and I am confident that the
network will deliver relevant, useful information
to key audiences in a format they can use?
83 Avg.
Percent of Responses
Network
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How Are We Doing?To date, has the network met or
exceeded your expectations with respect to
improved access to data and information?
N 334
Responses
Results from first 15 networks
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IM Data Management next decade

• Turning data into information integration,
  synthesis, modeling
• NRInfo portal ability to share data and
  information products among systems and with
  scientific community and constituents brings
  mind-boggling opportunities
• Climate change, energy issues, and NPS 100th
  anniversary will bring additional funding and
  staffing and opportunities.

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Policy makers, Non-Scientists
Effective communication
Resource Briefs Condition Summary Tables
Public Environment
Models, Synthesis Reports, Assessment
Reports, Integrated GIS Analyses
Partnerships with others to help communicate
scientific findings to the public and for policy
and decision-making
Data Summaries, Technical Reports, Maps, Trend
Analyses, Processed Data
Science Environment
Sound Science
Scientists, Field-level Practitioners
Databases, GIS Products, Spreadsheets Metadata,
Catalogs, NPS Data Store
IM Network Staff need to develop and deliver
products to parks at all levels of the pyramid
set aside adequate time and funding to make sure
we provide park managers and planners with
information, not just data.
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If we don't change direction we are apt to end up
where we are headed -- Old Chinese Proverb
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Vision StatementInventory and Monitoring Program
The Inventory and Monitoring Program will chart
the course and provide the leadership and
information resources needed by the National Park
Service to preserve and protect the natural
resources placed under its trust by the American
people. Through its accomplishments, the Program
will enhance the National Park Services stature
as an international leader in natural resource
management and stewardship.