RUI: Expanding Forest Canopy Databases and Database Tools - Branching Out to Ecology

Evergreen State College, Olympia WA

Investigators

Abstract

Evergreen State College has been given a grant to create database tools for the emerging area of ecological forest canopy studies. The project will include further development of the Canopy Databank and significant additions of data and functionality to it. It will also create a new module for enhanced 3-D spatial models of forest ecology and operational definitions of structural diversity that can be used to test hypotheses about structure-function relationships. The project promotes best data practices among ecological data generators by providing an appropriate data structure and repository. It will also provide advanced visualization tools that will inform K-12 and public policy education as well as empowering ecologists to do analyses not before possible.