An application for recording and managing a variety of ecosystem related data. 

• Easily collect data in the field on a tablet with less fatigue
• Utilize integrated maps and geospatial tools
• Generate reports for presentation in the field or office
• Manage a repository of data, photos and documents

VGS is a cooperative solution in partnership with The University of Arizona,  USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Mangement, and National Park Service.

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Summary

The software has been or is being adopted for use by multiple government and university entities as well as private interests.  It is widely used for vegetation inventories and monitoring, but is equally suited to a variety of ecosystem or environmental data requirements.

Widespread interest has been generated because VGS generally meets the needs of both field managers and administrative level personnel.  One reason for the success of VGS is that both office and field data entry forms are designed to fit specific combinations of sampling methods, rather than requiring the user to switch between forms for each method used by a sampling protocol.  Also, forms are designed to minimize the amount of writing, clicking and scrolling involved in entering data and navigating a form.  We can develop and add field and/or office forms to VGS to support your specific protocols and specifications.

For vegetation data, VGS implements the entire USDA NRCS Plants Database, but allows the user to create their own more limited template species lists as well as use their own common names and functional categories for species as desired.

Features

• Database for use both in the office and in the field.
• Ability to organize and filter study areas based on as many hierarchical classification systems as desired using a folder paradigm similar to organizing files on a computer.
• Data entry modules for a variety of vegetation sampling methods.
• Data forms designed for your specific protocols and needs.
• Data forms for entering existing historical data.
• Integrated GPS capabilities.
• Ability to synchronize data among field tablets and with central office database.
• Integrates with USFS NRIS system.
• Reports for summarizing and presenting data in the field and office – designed to your specifications.
• Species names and symbols are those provided by the national level USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.
• Species can be qualified by age, size class, or other criteria.
• Category lists are configurable.
• Study sites may be organized according to multiple classifications. Classifications currently must be hierarchical, but may be of any type (including management responsibility or oversight) and are configurable.
   

Specifications

The application has the following requirements.

1. Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 or later, or Windows 7.* 
2. All prerequisites required for the operation of VGS are licensed for distribution with VGS and are automatically installed with VGS if they do not already exist on the workstation or field computer.  Prerequisites include:
1. Microsoft .NET Framework (currently version 4.0)
2. Windows Installer 3.1
3. Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8
4. Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition 3.5 SP2 (Installations using other editions of Microsoft SQL Server can be supported)
3. GPS unit support currently requires testing until a verified list of supported devices has been established.
4. Installations on workstations with multiuser access to a central server database require Microsoft SQL Server Express edition or higher (licensing requirements may apply).
   
   *Although VGS operates on any Windows Computer, tablets are recommended for field use.
   
   

   VGS Main Screen

   
   

 

Who is using VGS

Rollover the links below the map to see the areas and description where VGS is being implemented.

The following agencies and institutes are using or preparing to deploy VGS.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Arizona - Utah

USDA Forest Service (USFS) - Southwestern Region - Rocky Mountain Region - Pacific Southwest Region

National Park Service (NPS) - Mojave Inventory & Monitoring Network

University of Arizona - Arizona Cooperative Extension - Arizona Agricultural Experimanet Station

 

 

Contact

Dr. Del W. Despain                       
University of Arizona
345 E. Riverside Dr.
St. George, UT  84790
435-688-3357
despain@email.arizona.edu