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: Geospatial Science and Technology

Project Elements 

• G eospatial Data Analysis

• Data Management / Data Science

• Access to Data Resources

Support O ther Projects 

• Support science projects with specific tasks

• Align this support with the goal of modernizing

and improving data management, analysis, and

data access strategies

• O ften leveraging newer technologies to achieve

these goals

• C enter-wide support through the development of

systems and resources
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G eospatial Data Analysis – Support to Science Projects 

G eospatial Data Analysis 

• Provide geospatial expertise to science projects on:

• Field mapping methods

• Development of customized field maps

• Sample site unit definition and selection

• G IS layer development

• G IS tool development and support.

• O versight and support for various G IS-related tasks including:

• Spatial analysis, including use of Python programming

• Training for staff and cooperators in G IS data entry

• Database management and G eospatial data set

concepts

• Data processing techniques

• Production of printed maps and online map products
 

 

 

Geospatial Data Management – Support to GC MRC 

Enterprise G IS Administration 

• Storing and serving geospatial data in an

enterprise environment

• Involves maintaining on-premise servers, system

configurations

• Testing and migration of systems to newer

versions of software

• Database administrative tasks

• C ode development for automating the upload of

data and publishing geospatial services online

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 – Support to Science Projects 

• Fish Monitoring Database

• Migration from O racle to PostgreSQ L (2021)

• Updated Workflow for Data Staging and

Q AQ C (2022-23)

• Leveraging tools such as 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)

• O n-premise Data Resources

• C oordination with SBSC IT and G C MRC

science projects to improve data

management practices (on-going)
 

 

 

 

Access to Enterprise Data Resources 

C ase Study: Fish Monitoring Data 

• Benefits of open-source data

• Live link to data resources

• C an use intuitive tools to look for

trends in data

• Tableau software shown here

• Review recent and historical data

• Search for anomalies / errors

• Q uery and download data via the live

database connection
Access to O nline Data R esources

Access to G eospatial D ata 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

• E SRI’s ArcG IS O nline platform

• Map layers, Web Maps, Web Apps

• C ustom web-based applications

• Sandbar Monitoring App

• Long-term Monitoring C ameras Site

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 Data Telemetry / Internet of Things (IoT)

G len C anyon D am, near Page, AZ 

G len C anyon Dam IoT Field Site 

• Sensor-to-C loud data transmission

• Field computer on-site communicates with sensor

• Data are extracted at scheduled times

• Data packets are sent via MQ TT encrypted messages

using a cellular connection to a data brokering client

in Amazon Web Services.

• Data stored in cloud-based Postgres

database

• Partnering with USG S C loud Hosting Solutions

• Acceptable values defined for parameters

• Redesigned the real-time data visualization

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 Data Telemetry / Internet of Things (IoT)

G len C anyon Dam IoT Field Site 

• https://tableau.usgs.gov/views/colorado-river-water-quality-gcd/G lenC anyonDamSiteDailyAverages

A

p

G

P

o

G len C anyon Dam, near Page, AZ 

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

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

overnment. 

reliminary Information-Subject to Revision. Not for Citation 

r Distribution. 
 

 

 

Access to Data Telemetry / Internet of Things (IoT)

Little C olorado River IoT Site 

• Sensor-to-C loud data transmission

• Fish pit-tag antenna located in Little C olorado River now connected via

cellular data service

• Radio signal between River IoT site and Rim site with cellular

• Access to provisional pit-tag readings for scientists and stakeholders in Little C olorado River 

near real-time

• Data download capabilities are now possible

Array 

D ata 

Visualization 

Software 

Little C olorado River 

SBSC IoT 

Account 

ThingLogix 

Foundry 

Database 

Field PC 

Radio 

Amazon Web Services 

Fish 

Antenna 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Project Support 

• Integrating C ontent: Lake Powell Water Q uality

• Published W Q Database; O nline Web App

• Programming C ode Services

• USG S G itLab maintenance and support

• Python scripts & G UIs for automatic data downloads, field

computer status, remote reboot for field systems

• Developing code-base for accessing data

• Field Engineering Support

• Designing, installing and maintaining solar power systems to

support sensor deployments.

• N ew water quality buoy to be deployed at Lees Ferry

• Low Earth O rbit (LEO ) Satellite antennas

• First deployment of its kind within the U.S. G eological Survey

• Improved reliability of data and reduced costs
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Added Benefits of Project - C ollaborations and Affiliations 

• PI serves as liaison to SBSC IT group

• C oordination with SBSC IT Lead on all topics relevant to

information technology, data management, data access and

cloud strategies

• USG S Ecosystems Mission Area, IT Advisory C ouncil

• Representation & active involvement in IT initiatives, trends,

and advances that shape science in USG S and across the DO I

• USG S C enter for Data Integration C ommunity of Practice

• Project successfully been funded to support data-centric work

that has complimented our mission for G C DAMP

• USG S C loud Hosting Solutions (C HS)

• G C MRC (and SBSC ) use of Amazon Web Services (AW S)

• Expanded Use of C HS: data backups to AW S, hosting online

web applications for science projects.

• G len C anyon Dam Water Q uality Data LIVE
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Added Benefits of Project – Integration and Innovation 

• Debris Flow / Flash Flood Risk Assessment

• Project staff developed / funded by USG S Hazards

Mission Area

• Leveraging existing G C MRC data sets, many

funded by G C DAMP, to develop preliminary risk

assessment related to debris flows and flash

floods in G rand C anyon.

• Funding has led to collaboration with N O AA N W S,

C oconino C ounty Emergency Services, N ational

Park Service, Tribal Representation and Recreation

use groups

• O utcome: N W S / C ounty Alerts sent to satellite

texting devices across the region. Has

implications far beyond just weather alerts.

The suggestions and illustrations included in this slide are intended to improve debris flow and flash flood awareness and 

preparedness; however, they do not guarantee the safety of an individual or structure. The contributors and sponsors of 

this product do not assume liability for any injury, death, property damage, or other effects of debris flows or flash floods. 
Future Direction and Ideas... 

• G eospatial

• Moving more data to enterprise databases,

and available through online services

• Integrating data sources into online content

• Advanced data visualizations that bring

together maps, data, and tools

• Data and Databases

• Moving D atabases to online access

• Apply more data analytics to these resources

• IoT Real-time D ata Access

• Actively tracking advances in data

communication

• Rapid growth in emerging technologies

 

 

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

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 
G rand C anyon Monitoring and R esearch C enter 

Thank you!

Q uestions?