U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Update on the Cultural Monitoring 

Research & Development Project

Helen Fairley

TWG Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

November 16, 2010
Monitoring Protocol R&D Objectives 

 objectively document where and how much 

has eroded/deposited/changed

 provide accurate measurements & direct 

comparisons of change over time

 find methods that are cost effective, efficient, 

culturally sensitive, relatively low impact 
Evaluation of

Monitoring Tools 

Weather stations

Terrestrial 

lidar

Total station

RTK GPS
Change Measured between 2006-2007:

4 sites w/ significant change, 2 sites with very minor 

change (< .1 cubic m), 3 with no measurable change

Site Number

Area w/ 

measured 

erosion

(m2)

Area w/ 

measured 

deposition 

(m2)

Total % 

site area 

modeled 

w/ topo 

change

Average, 

maximum 

height of 

erosion 

(cm)

Average, 

maximum 

height of 

deposition 

(cm)

Volume of 

erosion (-) 

and 

deposition 

(+)

(m3)

AZ:C:13:006 12.0 260 21.3 15, 30 15, 35 -0.7/+26.9

AZ:C:13:336 0 0.9 0.1 0, 0 12, 15 0/+0.1

AZ:C:13:099 11.0 19 3.9 12, 20 12, 15 -0.8/+2.3

AZ:C:13:099 

playa area 0.4 0 <0.1 12, 12 0, 0 -0.1/0

AZ:C:13:348 0 0 0 0, 0 0, 0 0/0

AZ:G:03:041 0 38 4.8 0, 0 12, 15 0/+3.5

AZ:G:03:002 0 0 0 0, 0 0, 0 0/0

AZ:G:03:072 US 32.0 0 2.7 17, 50 0, 0 -8.1/0

AZ:G:03:072 DS 0 0 0 0, 0 0, 0 0/0
FY2010 Objective: Complete Phase I

 Complete instrument evaluations (Lidar, RTK GPS)

 Evaluate capability of new lidar instrument (Riegl Z420I)

 Can we improve change detection measurement accuracy 

from 8cm to less than ~5cm?

 Can newest lidar technology quantify other key indicators 

of site stability – e.g., artifact movement, biocrust cover, 

architectural stability?

 Develop random sample for future pilot program

 Conduct workshops

 Tribal monitoring protocol integration workshop

 Geomorphic workshop
Riegl Z420I
FY2010 Accomplishments

 NPS permitted GCMRC to complete 

Phase I field work in 2010 – conducted 

April and September 2010

 GCMRC hired independent consultant 

(NAU) to analyze existing data & select 

random sample for future pilot program 

– in progress now

 Geomorphic workshop planned for 

summer 2010 to review geomorphic 

data & discuss conceptual model to 

guide future monitoring - deferred 

 Workshop to explore integration of 

tribal monitoring protocols deferred 

due to EA & SDM workshops

 2 Reports published, 3 in progress 
Weather Stations in FY2010

 11 weather stations 

operating consistently 

at 9 sites in 2010

 2007-2009 Data Reports 

completed & published; 

2010 report in progress

 Data review/reformatting 

completed in FY2010

 Draft Technical Manual 
FY2011 Plan

 Propose CRAHG meeting – winter 2011 

 Review FY2010 accomplishments

 Review Preliminary Phase I results

 Discuss tribal monitoring integration

 Analyze FY2010 data, prepare reportwinter/spring 2010-2011

 Prepare pilot monitoring plan –

spring/summer 2011

 Geomorphic Workshop – winter 2011?

 Implement pilot monitoring program –

spring 2011
FY2012-2013 Plan

 Continue pilot monitoring 2012-2013

 PEP review of pilot results – fall/winter 2013

 Refine monitoring program; prepare core 

monitoring report for TWG review – winter 

2013-2014

 Implement core monitoring - spring 2014
Questions?