Grand C anyon Monitoring and Research C enter 

M anaging Data Resources and O nline

Content for GCM RC & GCDAM P 

Thomas G ushue, Principal Investigator / G IS C oordinator / IT Specialist 

U.S. G eological Survey (USG S), Southwest Biological Science C enter (SBSC ), 

G rand C anyon Monitoring and Research C enter (G C MRC ) 

Erica Byerley, G eographer, USG S, SBSC , G C MRC 

J oseph Thomas, Physical Scientist, USG S, SBSC , G C MRC 

C aitlin Andrews, Ecologist, USG S, G C MRC * 

* now with U. S.D.A. Forest Service 
 

 

 

Project K: G eospatial Science and Technology 

Project Elements 

• K.1. G eospatial Data & Analysis

• K.2. Data Management / Data Science

• K.3. Access to Data Resources

Science Projects and LTEMP G oals 

• Most G C MRC projects are supported by K.

• Support 8 of the 11 LTEMP G oals with a wide array of

activities across all Project K elements

• O ften leveraging newer technologies to achieve

science project objectives

• C enter-wide support through the development of

data systems and a range of data resources

D ata M anag ement / D ata Science 

G eospatial Data & A nalysis 

Preliminary Information-Subject to Revision. Not for Citation or Distribution. A ccess to D ata R esources 
 

 

 

D ata Integ ration / 3 D M od eling 

D ata Integ ration / O nline D ashboard 

Preliminary Information-Subject to Revision. Not for Citation or Distribution. 

G eospatial Data & Analysis 

Project E lements 

• G eospatial Data Analysis

• Data Management / Data Science

• Access to D ata Resources

Support O ther Projects 

• Many field support functions: Maps, G IS layers, Tools

• G uidance on A rcG IS Pro, other software

• Use of Python programming

• Training for staff and cooperators

• D ata Integration

Access to G eospatial C ontent 

• D ata Services

• O nline Maps

• Integrated online content
 

 

 

 

 

 

Data Management (Geospatial and Non-spatial ) 

Enterprise G IS and Relational Databases 

• Many project data sets now using enterprise 

environment 

• C entrally managed computing resources, but separately 

maintained, resource-specific databases 

• Spatial and Tabular use the same / similar platforms 

• Allows for easier integration of different data sets 

• Infrastructure as C ode (IaC) 

• Design / deploy relational database resources through code 

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by 

the U.S. Government. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data Management & R elational Database Administration 

• Support for relational databases 

• Fish Monitoring 

• Migration from O racle to PostgreSQ L (2021) 

• Updated Workflow for Data Staging and Q AQ C (2022-23) 

• Leveraging tools (Microsoft Teams / SharePoint) to 

collaborate with fish cooperators across the G C DAMP. 

• Lake Powell Water Q uality 

• Published release of W Q database (2022) 

• Development of online tools (2023-24) 

• Sandbar Monitoring 

• Riparian Vegetation 

• HR / Staffing C hallenges 

• Hire 1 or more Database Administrators / Data 

Scientists into vacant positions 

• Fulfill roles of web and software developers 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data Telemetry / Field Engineering / Internet of Things (IoT) 

Sensor-to-C loud data transmission 

• G len C anyon Dam IoT Field Site

• Little C olorado River IoT Site

• Sediment Monitoring / G auging Stations

• Low Earth O rbit (LEO ) Satellites (N ew in 2023)

• 1ST Deployment of its kind within the USG S

Expect G rowth Area for Research and Monitoring 

• C ollaborations with other USG S entities

• Partnering with USG S C loud Hosting Solutions

(Subsidized $)

• C oordinating with Ecosystems Mission Area

• C o-developing a C ommunity of Practice with USG S

AC IO

• Investigating Direct-to-C ell beta program

(SpaceX)

G len C anyon D am, near Page, AZ 

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive 

purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. 

Government. 
 

Access to O nline Data Resources 

Access to G eospatial & Tabular Data O nline 

• Direct Access to G IS Services

• https://grandcanyon.usgs.gov/server/rest/services

• G rand C anyon G eospatial Portal

• https://grandcanyon.usgs.gov/portal

• ESRI’s ArcG IS O nline platform (Search: “G C MRC ”)

• Map layers, Web Maps, Web Apps

• N ew C ustom web-based applications

• Sandbar Surveys as an Interactive App

• Fish Monitoring and Rapid Response Apps

• Tools for C ollaboration and Discovery

• Dashboards and Experiences

N onnative Fish C apture D ashboard, K atharine Tuck er (US B R ) Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.