Summary

Abstract: The GIS Weasel is a map and Graphical User Interface (GUI) driven tool that has been developed as an aid to modelers in the delineation, characterization, and parameterization of Modeling Response Units (MRUs) for use in distributed or lumped parameter physical process models. The term MRU is intended to be a generic reference to the spatial feature type or types that a model needs to have descriptions of. There is no fixed methodology for the delineation of MRUs in the GIS Weasel. In surface water modeling applications, MRUs are commonly defined as land surfaces that sub-divide an Area Of Interest (AOI), such as a watershed, to reflect a model's treatment of spatially distributed characteristics. MRUs can be homogeneous or heterogeneous with respect to some or all of these characteristics. MRUs generic spatial features The interface does not require user expertise in geographic information systems (GIS). The user does need knowledge of how the model will use the output from the GIS Weasel. The GIS Weasel uses Workstation ArcInfo 8.0.2, the Grid extension, and the Arc Macro Language (AML), as well as scripts, and C subroutines. The GIS Weasel will run on all platforms that Workstation ArcInfo runs (i.e. numerous flavors of Unix and Microsoft Windows). The GIS Weasel requires as input an ArcInfo grid of some topographical description of the AOI. This is normally a digital elevation model, but can be the surface of a ground water table or any other data that flow direction can be resolved from. The user may select the AOI from a set of watersheds that can be automatically delineated from the topographical input, based on ridges, define their own drainage area based on an interactively specified watershed outlet point, or use a previously created GRID or coverage. This last option is most useful for AOIs that are not based on topography. The AOI map serves as the first version of an MRU map. The user is then able to use any combination of the GIS Weasel's tool set to create one or more maps that parameters will be derived from. These tools easily integrate other similarly formatted data sets. Once the spatial feature maps have been prepared, then the GIS Weasel's many parameterization routines can be used to create descriptions of each element in each of the user's created maps. Over 100 parameterization routines currently exist, generating information about shape, area, and topological association with other features of the same or different maps, as well many types of information based on ancillary data layers such as soil and vegetation properties. [Summary provided by the USGS.]

Related URL

Link: GET SERVICE > GET SOFTWARE PACKAGE Description: The GIS Weasel software. Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION Description: An Overview of the GIS Weasel.

Service Citation

Originators: R. J. Viger, S. M. Markstrom, and G.H. Leavesley Title: The GIS Weasel - An Interface for the Development of Spatial Parameters for Physical Process Modeling Provider: U.S. Geological Survey

Service Keywords

DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION >GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS >DESKTOP GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS   [Definition]

MODELS >DIGITAL ELEVATION/DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS   [Definition]

MODELS >LAND SURFACE MODELS   [Definition]

Science Keywords

AGRICULTURE >FOREST SCIENCE >FOREST MANAGEMENT   [Definition]

AGRICULTURE >SOILS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >AGRICULTURAL LANDS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >ALPINE/TUNDRA   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >BEACHES   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >DESERTS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >DUNES   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >FORESTS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >GRASSLANDS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >ISLANDS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >KARST LANDSCAPE   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >MONTANE HABITATS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >SAVANNAS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >SHRUBLAND/SCRUB   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >URBAN LANDS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION >VEGETATION COVER   [Definition]

HUMAN DIMENSIONS >BOUNDARIES >ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS   [Definition]

HUMAN DIMENSIONS >BOUNDARIES >POLITICAL DIVISIONS   [Definition]

HUMAN DIMENSIONS >ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT >LAND MANAGEMENT >LAND USE/LAND COVER CLASSIFICATION   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >DRAINAGE   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >HYDROPATTERN   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >LAKES   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >RIVERS/STREAMS   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >RUNOFF   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >WATER CHANNELS   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS   [Definition]

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE >SURFACE WATER >WETLANDS   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >LAND USE/LAND COVER   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >SOILS   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >TOPOGRAPHY >LANDFORMS   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >TOPOGRAPHY >TOPOGRAPHICAL RELIEF   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >TOPOGRAPHY >TERRAIN ELEVATION   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >TOPOGRAPHY >TOPOGRAPHIC EFFECTS   [Definition]

ISO Topic Category

FARMING BIOTA BOUNDARIES ECONOMY ELEVATION ENVIRONMENT GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IMAGERY/BASE MAPS/EARTH COVER INLAND WATERS PLANNING CADASTRE

Keywords

GIS

Geographic Information Systems

ESRI

Environmental Systems Research Institute

ArcInfo

ArcGIS

MRU

Modeling Response Units

Topographical

Topography

Service Provider

Branch of Regional Research, Central Region, Geology Division, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior Service Provider Personnel Name: SCOTT MCFARLANE Email: simcfarl at usgs.gov Contact Address: U.S. Geological Survey Box 25046 Denver Fed. Ctr. City: Denver Province or State: CO Postal Code: 80225 Country: USA

Distribution Media

Distribution_Media: Online Distribution_Size: 9.87 Fees: No fees

Personnel

TYLER B. STEVENS Role: SERF AUTHOR Phone: (301) 614-6898 Fax: 301-614-5268 Email: Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov Contact Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Global Change Master Directory City: Greenbelt Province or State: MD Postal Code: 20771 Country: USA

Creation and Review Dates

SERF Creation Date: 2005-05-06 SERF Last Revision Date: 2012-09-14