System and Method for Ecosystem Habitat Optimization
OwnerWayne S. Wright, John T. Monahaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for ecosystem habitat optimization modeling, particularly in aquatic systems. Hydraulic modeling output is combined with biological suitability criteria within a geospatial framework to produce geospatial and numeric output. Hybridizing output from a physical habitat simulation model is overlaid onto a visual platform with biologic criteria supporting morphological design and analysis.
Claims20
A system for computer modeling an aquatic habitat wherein a hydraulic modeling data input is combined with a biological criteria input within a geospatial modeling environment to produce a modeling output, the system comprising:
- a data processing system executing a geospatial modeling application program on a central processing unit to create a data structure modeling output, at least a first computer readable memory residing on machine readable storage media containing input for the application and operatively connected to the central processing unit, and at least a second computer readable memory operatively connected to the central processing unit for holding the data structure modeling output;
- the first computer readable memory containing hydraulic modeling data related to the habitat and biological criteria related to a selected aquatic species;
- the system executing instructions in the application to combine the hydraulic modeling data with the biological criteria to produce the modeling output.
A method for ecosystem habitat optimization modeling, the method comprising the steps of:
- hybridizing output from a physical habitat simulation system to overlay onto a visual platform with morphological data related to a selected waterbody;
- wherein the waterbody morphological data comes from one or more of the group of waterbody morphological data sources consisting of survey transects and LiDAR measurements.
A process for habitat modeling, the process having at least three habitat elements, the three elements comprising depth, velocity, and substrate/cover, each element associated with respective element data;
- wherein depth and velocity data are obtained from hydraulic models generated using a hydraulic modeling program, and
- wherein substrate or cover data is obtained from field observations;
- the process having the following steps:
- depth and velocity data are both converted into a raster GIS file ‘grid’ format to produce two resulting elemental grids,
- substrate/cover data are digitally mapped using polygons and converted to grid format using a polygon to raster tool to produce a third elemental grid,
- each of at least three resulting elemental grids is reclassified based on biological suitability criteria for a specific species and life stage of that species to produce at least three suitability grids, and
- the resulting at least three suitability grids are then multiplied together within a conventional raster calculator.
A method for ecosystem habitat optimization modeling, the method comprising the steps of:
- setting up a HEC-RAS model including the following steps:
- partition each HEC-RAS transect into stream tubes representative of significant breaks in selected hydraulic conditions, where the selected hydraulic conditions are taken from the group of hydraulic conditions consisting of cross sectional profile, channel geometry and substrate type,
- collect field-based data for cover and derive habitat quality values,
- calibrate HEC-RAS to a base flow condition adjusting roughness coefficients to fit at least one measured value, the measured value taken from the set of measured values consisting of velocity, depth and water surface elevation,
- obtain desired species and life stage habitat suitability criteria,
- generate a wetted perimeter relationship for each stream segment of interest, and
- identify breakpoints where the hydraulic conditions change and then generate HEC-RAS results for each flow where a break occurs;
- calibrating the HEC-RAS model at flows where the breaks occur;
- building a topographic map of the stream reach of interest within a suitable GIS platform;
- using GeoRAS processing steps to convert HEC-RAS output into GeoRAS output within a GIS database to yield a grid platform;
- and
- overlaying on the grid platform selected species and life stage habitat suitability criteria data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.