1. EEMS Online
Tim Sheehan Mike Gough

2. EEMS Environmental Evaluation Modeling System
Your question, your model!
Site Sensitivity, PNW
Site Sensitivity, Utah and CO Plateau
Water Recharge, Santa Barbara, CA
Connectivity Value, Modoc, CA
Intactness, California

3. EEMS What is it? A modeling framework for
Arc  NetCDF  CSV  Data Basin  EEMS Online
Combines different types of data to answer a question or produce a metric over a landscape
Example: Where is soil suitable for my PNW vegetation species of concern?
Let’s look using EEMS Online

4. EEMS Online www.eemsonline.org
Click here

5. EEMS Online www.eemsonline.org
Select this model

6. The Example Model

7. The Example Model
Display map layer corresponds with selected model node

8. The Example Model
Let’s look at the
EEMS model

9. Simple Soil Value Model
Soil depth and available water capacity combine to make the soil suitable for our purposes.

10. Step 1: Start with your input data
We start with input data sets (a.k.a. raw data)…
Depth to Bedrock (cm)

11. Step 2: Normalize Input Values
We start with input data sets (a.k.a. raw data)…And normalize them for use in the model.

12. Step 2: Normalize input values
What do we mean by “Depth to bedrock is high”?

13. Soil Depth Conversion (Soil is Deep)1
If you are concerned with a relatively shallow-rooted plant, 10 cm or less might be considered not deep, and 30 cm or greater might considered deep
Soil is not deep -1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Soil Depth (cm)

14. Soil Depth Conversion (Soil is Deep)1
For a deep-rooted plant
20 cm or less might be considered not deep and 60 cm or greater might be considered deep.
Soil is not deep -1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Soil Depth (cm)

15. Step 3: Combine Values
What is the relationship among values feeding into the node that will produce the answer to our question?

16. Step 3: Combine Values
If one of the inputs is sufficient, take the highest input value (OR operation).
If all inputs are required, take the lowest input value (AND operation).
If all values contribute, take the average of the inputs (UNION operation).
More complex relationships can use more sophisticated operations.

17. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Click the node to see its map layer

18. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
The map is the same as the top level node’s because depth to bedrock yields the highest values

19. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Click on the gear icon to get information about the node

20. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Kind of Normalization
Distribution of values
Normalization values

21. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Change to 60 and 20, then click OK

22. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Yellow bar indicates change
Click to run model with change

23. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Changed values shown in map

24. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Toggle between original results and new results

25. Using EEMS Online Changing the normalization values
Toggle between original results and new results

26. Using EEMS Online Changing the operator
Back to the original model

27. Using EEMS Online Changing the operator
Click on the top node’s gear icon

28. Using EEMS Online Changing the operator
Take note of the distribution
Change “Fuzzy Or” to “Fuzzy And”, click
OK and run the model

29. Using EEMS Online Changing the operator
The map reflects the effect of using the AND operator

30. Using EEMS Online Changing the operator
Take note of the distribution
So does the distribution
Change “Fuzzy Or” to “Fuzzy And”, click
OK and run the model

31. Using EEMS Online Exploring model results
Click on a location

32. Using EEMS Online Exploring model results
Read the associated value for each node

33. Using EEMS Online Exploring model results
We can see for this location, Available Water Capacity is High is driving the results.

34. Using EEMS Online Other features
Zoom in or out
Select base map
Adjust map transparency

35. Using EEMS Online Other features
Select map layer quality for new run
Full screen view of model
Get a link (url) to share model

36. Using EEMS Online Other features
Download jpeg image of model
Slider to adjust size of model viewer pane
Download package of data, graphics, and EEMS model

37. Q & A
Q: Can you tell me more about the modeling methods EEMS uses? A: Most EEMS models use fuzzy logic. Other operators, such as sum, difference, weighted sum, mean, and weighted mean are available.

38. Q & A
Q: Is there a model size limit? A: No, the example I used had a total of 5 nodes and three levels. Models can have as many nodes and levels as needed.
Full model for California Site Sensitivity

39. Q & A
Q: How can I combine the results of models? A: Any EEMS model can be used as a branch of another model. Currently, models cannot be combined in EEMS online. That has to be done in the environment where the model is created.

40. Q & A
Q: Can I create a model from scratch in EEMS Online? A: Not yet. Our future plans include a version that allows a user to build a model from scratch, starting with data inputs and adding nodes. We are currently looking for funding opportunities that will allow us to do this.

41. Q & A
Q: Where can I get EEMS? A: The Arc version is available on CBI’s EEMS web page go to: And click on downloads. For the NetCDF of CSV version contact me: Tim Sheehan

42. Q & A
Q: Is there a publication? A: There sure is: Sheehan, T., & Gough, M. (2016). A platform-independent fuzzy logic modeling framework for environmental decision support. Ecological Informatics, 34,