1. Interest in GIS applications in Marine Science
Elizabeth Michelle Brant
Arizona State University
Graduate Student

2. About me
Currently in the GIS Masters program at Arizona State University
Undergraduate work at University of Washington
Bachelors in Environmental Science with a Marine Focus – Minor in Business Administration.
Certified Associate in Project Management
Quarter at Friday Harbor Laboratories (marine research center)
Current ASU MAS GIS student
UW graduate
E sci and marine sci focus
Quarter at FHL with research
Open door for marine research,
Several years at MAST – interacted with citizen Science

3. Why use GIS in Marine Science?
Physical world studies have inherent spatial components
Observation of hidden patterns
Innovative platform for sharing data and ideas
Several reasons
inherent spatial component in physical world studies – interactions in environment, between biotic and abiotic factors
Allows us to observe patterns we may not be able to physically see
Gives a platform for sharing data and discoveries in a very visual way
great for educating and motivating the public
great for educating and providing the tools to policy makers

4. Why use GIS in Marine Science?
“For the very first time, we can balance the term ‘ocean crisis’ with the term ‘ocean solution’. For the first time, we can share data and information with a global audience in a manner that allows them to participate.”
--David G. Gallo
Allows us to reach the public in a way we never have before. Allowing open access to understand the data
Wright, Dawn J.. (2016). Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions. Esri Press. Cover, Pg viii

5. Current applications of GIS in Marine Research
Case Studies
A tool for policy makers
A platform to collect citizen science data

6. A tool for policy makers
GIS is a key tool for showing relationships between human land impact to marine ecosystems.
Pittman and colleagues (2013)
Used GIS to create a land-sea characterization of Saint Croix East End Marine Park
Schaffner and colleagues (2013)
Used GIS to demonstrate pollutant plume long term impacts to calculate a ‘pollutant exposure index’ throughout Southern California ecosystems.
Small set of examples- so many out there, just using small group that caught my attention
These demo providing tools for policy making.
Looking at Watershed impact zones and landscape development intensity
Anthropogenic pollutants – urban run off and waster water – looking at their long term effects
Important for conservation
Wright, Dawn J.. (2016). Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions. Esri Pg108.

7. A platform to collect citizen science data
GIS can be used to create tools for the public to become part of the science.
Whale maPP
Stelle and colleagues created a citizen science tool to track and document whale sighting using a GIS platform to create an Android app called Whale maPP for marine mammal sightings.
TURT (Turtles Uniting Researchers and Tourists)
App produced by proTECTOR let tourist and sea turtle enthusiasts take photos and log locations of turtle sightings.
Whale maPP. (2016). Retrieved September 16, 2016, from
Citizen science is the answer to an age old struggle of marine biologist. In order to create change data is critical and it takes vast amounts of data to draw conclusions
limited by time and funding, can turn to enthusiastic citizens to participate in collection
used to monitor species that are hard to track – if remote sensing is unavailable
Whale maPP is a well known example of using GIS to engage in citizen science. They used GIS tools to create an android compatible map that allows the public to record and document marine mammal sighting
It allows unprecedented control over the data by the user, letting the general public interact with the GIS platform.
contributes into a large database that has potential use for scientific studies.
TURT is simpler, using photo ID programs to document and track the sighting of sea turtles, allowing a larger data collection into a monitored database
proTECTOR Data collectors. (2015, April). 09, 2016, from Dive Sightings Data Collection Sheets.html

8. My goals for GIS in Marine Research
Citizen science applications
For small, indicator species in intertidal and popular beaches
GIS applications in wildlife tracking using remote sensing
Tracking migration and movement patterns of elusive species - such as Giant Pacific Octopus, Six Gill and Great White Sharks
Interested in several aspects of GIS in marine science,
beach combers who can produce massive data on intertidal indicator species
all of which can be leveraged to be a platform for conservation efforts and policy changes for valuable ecosystems.
I look forward to learning more about GIS and how I can use GIS to advance marine research

9. Citations
Marine Biology. (2016). Retrieved September 16, 2016, from marinebiology.uw.edu/
Menzel, C. (2016, June 23). Citizen Science Resources. Retrieved September 14, 2016, from
proTECTOR Data collectors. (2015, April). Retrieved September 14, 2016, from Dive Sightings Data Collection Sheets.html
Whale maPP. (2016). Retrieved September 16, 2016, from map/
Wright, Dawn J.. (2016). Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions. Esri Press. Retrieved 20 September 2016, from <