Project Summary Sheet

Project: South Florida GEO-Data Explorer

Web Site: http://geode.er.usgs.gov/sflorida.htm (site no longer active)

Location: Total System; Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Miami-Dade, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, and St. Lucie Counties

Principal Investigator: Roy Sonenshein, sunshine@usgs.gov, 305.717.5824

Project Personnel: Marc Levine, mlevine@usgs.gov,703.648.6465; Woody Wallace, wwallac@usgs.gov, 703.648.6402; R. Bruce Irvin, rbirvin@usgs.gov, 305.717.5835; Joann Dixon, jdixon@usgs.gov, 305.717.5809

Other Supporting Organizations: None

Associated Projects: South Florida Information Access (SOFIA) Environmental database development and maintenance (Roy Sonenshein), SOFIA Website (Heather Henkel, hhenkel@usgs.gov, 727.803.8747x3028), SOFIA Metadata (Jo Anne Stapleton, jastapleton@usgs.gov, 703.648.4592), Development of a Digital Library of Biological Information for the South Florida Ecosystem (Gail Clement, clementg@fiu.edu, 305.348.6745)

Overview & Status: The South Florida restoration effort requires multidisciplinary information relating to present and historical conditions for use in responsible decision-making. The GEO-Data Explorer (GEODE), a geographical interface developed by the USGS, allows the user to access, view, query, and download spatial and temporal data about the ecosystems from different sources on the internet. The primary source of information is the South Florida Information Access (SOFIA) website and database. However, GEODE will also provide links to other agency web sites containing additional information not stored in SOFIA.

Needs & Products: Searchable data provide a valuable tool for scientists, managers, and the public. Responsible resource management requires a firm scientific basis for decision-making. SOFIA is the cornerstone of information management for the South Florida place-based science program. Geode provides a central location for accessing USGS project information collected as part of the USGS South Florida Everglades program. Geode provides a geographical access to the data, metadata, and products for all projects associated with the SOFIA program. Additional information from other agencies will be included. Initial contact has been made with ENP, USACE, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, SFWMD, Broward County DPEP, Dade County DERM, NOAA, and the Seminole Tribe regarding data access and metadata on the Geode. The Geode site will provide information on synthesis projects currently underway as part of the USGS south Florida program. The Geode site will also provide access to information from other agencies.

Application to Everglades Restoration: This project will facilitate access to and use of the voluminous scientific data and information on Everglades restoration by scientists, resource managers, and the public and thus provide a firm basis for scientific decision-making.