| Prepared by Charles R. Smith |
| Gap Analysis Project Coordinator for New York State |
| New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit |
| Department of Natural Resources |
| Cornell University |
| April 1998 |
The process of gap analysis depends substantially upon the technology of geographic information systems. A geographic information system (GIS) is a combination of computer hardware and software used to store, manipulate, analyze, compare, summarize, and display spatially referenced information. Spatially referenced information is any kind of information that can be related to points, lines, or polygons on a map, so that a coordinate system (e.g. latitude-longitude, Universal Transverse Mercator) can be used to define those points, lines, or polygons. For example, specific information on soil types, watershed boundaries, aquifers, vegetation types, land use, and climatic zones all can be used (separately or in combination) in GIS applications. The hardware components of a typical GIS include a computer or workstation and associated input and output devices. Input devices include scanners or digitizers. Output devices can include black-and-white or color printers and plotters. Information can be displayed as images on the computer screen or printed as maps on paper.
The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is a nationwide effort under the direction of the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior. It is the first time in the history of the United States that a comprehensive effort has been made to inventory and computerize the kinds and geographic distributions of species of plants and animals that contribute to our national biodiversity. GAP is being done on a state-by-state basis and currently is underway in all 50 states. Seven states, all west of the Mississippi River, have completed gap analysis projects. The procedures of gap analysis depend extensively upon the technology of geographic information systems (GIS). Using the methods of GIS, maps of distributions of butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals; and threatened, endangered, or sensitive species; and their habitats typically are overlaid upon maps of public lands (e.g. state forests, state wildlife management areas, federal refuges, national parks, national forests, and other land holdings considered to have a potential to provide for long-term conservation of biodiversity). Those geographic areas where there are high varieties of species not occurring on such lands are considered "gaps" in a total system of land ownership that can be assumed to be in place to provide for long-term conservation of biological diversity, among other purposes.
Gap analysis is, of necessity, a broadly-based, multi-disciplinary, multi-agency effort. The New York Gap Analysis Project (NYGAP) includes the following agency and organizational cooperators: Adirondack Park Agency, Environmental Protection Agency (Corvallis and Las Vegas research labs and EMAP, MRLC, and NALC programs), Federal Geographic Data Committee, Federation of NYS Bird Clubs, NY Natural Heritage Program, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), NY State Museum, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, The Nature Conservancy (Natural Heritage Program), U.S. Army (Ft. Drum), U.S. Forest Service (Finger Lakes NF and NE Forest Experiment Station), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region 5), and U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, cooperation and collaboration is occurring among a variety of Cornell departments and units, each providing different expertise to contribute to NYGAP's success. Among those Cornell departments and units are the following: Center for the Environment, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Institute for Resource Information Systems (CIRIS), Cornell Theory Center (National Supercomputer Facility), Department of Natural Resources, Department of Soil, Crop, and Atmospheric Sciences, NY Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The lead organization for the NYGAP effort is the NY Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (USGS, Biological Resources Division), located in Cornell's Department of Natural Resources, and the lead agency cooperator at the state level is NYSDEC.
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This page designed by Chris Butler
Last updated April 23, 1998