Geodatabase Design for Resource and Land Management GIS: Missoula Field Office BLM Case Study

Author

Mark English, The University of Montana

Year of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Geography (Cartography and GIS Option)

Department or School/College

Department of Geography

Committee Chair

Paul Wilson

Keywords

BLM, Design, Geodatabase, Geography, Geospatial, GIS, Land Management, Natural Resource

Abstract

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is in the process of improving their geographic information system (GIS). The main intention is to upgrade their data and present their employees with the geospatial means necessary to accomplish their resource and land management responsibilities. Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI„µ) designed the geodatabase model, which provides multiple advantages in organization, management, and maintenance of geographic data. The geodatabase model implements advanced relationships between geospatial features and database tables, creates platforms available in organization and editing, and instills GIS functionality to ensure data integrity. The main goal of this work is to investigate the daily, annual, and future geospatial objectives of the Missoula Field Office BLM from the ground up, and design a geodatabase model based on the individual resource specialist¡¦s needs. It is intended that this model can be used to as the basis to allow an all encompassing geodatabase model to be build that would serve BLM field offices throughout the United States. Six resource disciplines are investigated according to their GIS needs. In order to accomplish this work, the current GIS condition is assessed, regulations and policies are examined, and GIS aspirations are considered. Within the six resource disciplines examined, thirty-three feature classes, eleven object classes, ten relationship classes, fifty-one domains and three subtypes were created to establish this geodatabase design. This geodatabase design will prove successful for the Missoula Field Office to document, organize, edit, manage, and analyze their many geospatial requirements. The model developed will aid the Missoula Field Office BLM to adequately fulfill their land management data responsibilities, and assist their GIS demands as a federal agency.

Recommended Citation

English, Mark, "Geodatabase Design for Resource and Land Management GIS: Missoula Field Office BLM Case Study" (2008). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 487.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/487