ORA staff utilize state of the art Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that enables spatial relationships in data to be visualized through various layers of geographic variables. ORA staff have proven research and analytical expertise in examining both quantitative and qualitative aspects of geographic data. Experience in software development allows staff to expand geospatial visualizations and analyses into custom analytical and web-based mapping tools to meet the evolving needs of research and extension.
Current/Past Projects:
New Jersey Land Use + Transit Data Application (NJLUTRANS)
Project Investigators: Jon Carnegie (EJB/VTC) and Lucas Marxen (NJAES/ORA)
In addition to developing the NJLUTRANS application, ORA also lead the development of custom GIS datasets to be incorporated into the tool. One such dataset that was developed was a set of High-Frequency Bus Corridor layers that analyzed NJTRANSIT bus routes to determine corridors of high-frequency service that provided access to major metropolitan areas, multi-modal transfer opportunities, and intra-county travel. This analysis incorporated NJTRANSIT GIS resources, GTFS data, and custom python programming.
Coast Guard Vessel Traffic System (VTS) Mapping Project
Project Investigators: Hugh Roarty (SEBS/DMCS)
ORA provided GIS technical skills and expertise to this project to develop GIS layers of the radar and camera coverage areas of the major ports and their associated waterways throughout the U.S. The developed spatial layers will be made accessible through online mapping resources.
GIS Based Tool for Spatial Planning and Management of Shellfish Aquaculture in New Jersey
Project Investigators: Michael DeLuca (NJAES/JCNEER), Lisa Calvo (NJAES/HSRL), Jeanne Herb (EJB/EAC), Lucas Marxen (NJAES/ORA)
Funded by a grant from the national Sea Grant office, the goal of this project is to develop a science-based GIS spatial planning tool that can be used by resource management agencies with regard to long-term planning for shellfish aquaculture in New Jersey. Additional funding has been received from the Pew Charitable Trusts to assist in the expansion of the Sea Grant Project by including areas for potential shellfish and SAV restoration and to allow the Rutgers and NJDEP teams to perform limited surveys to map areas of shellfish and submerged aquatic vegetation where data are lacking;
OceanAdapt
Project Investigators: Malin Pinsky (SEBS/DEENR)
The OceanAdapt portal was developed in partnership with the Pinksy Lab and provides data visualization of 50 years of marine species data both spatially and graphically to explore the effects of climate change on these populations. ORA developed an automated backend that generates the interpolated raster datasets and mapping layouts utilized in the public interface, providing animated visualizations of historical species change over time and projected species change based on different climate scenarios.
Rutgers Hazelnut Research & Breeding Program
Project Investigators: Thomas Molnar (SEBS/DPB&P)
ORA provides support to the Hazelnut Research & Breeding Program by providing custom GIS analysis and mapping to examine the potential growing opportunities and challenges for Rutgers bred hazelnut varieties in the Northeast.
Irrigation Water Recycling Application (ALPHA)
Project Investigators: Paul Gottlieb (SEBS/DAFRE)
The Irrigation Water Recycling Application will provide agricultural producers to evaluate their location and farming operation to determine whether it would be cost-effective to implement irrigation water recycling technology on their farm. ORA developed custom GIS datasets of drought and agricultural runoff risk by zipcode at the national level in order to determine individual operators potential risk and need for an irrigation recycling system.
Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Councils Deep-Sea Corals Amendment Project
Project Investigators: Lucas Marxen (NJAES/ORA)
Provided real-time GIS analysis and mapping support to a 2-day workshop organized by the MAFMC to bring industry, environmentalists, and governement together to establish rules for protecting deep-sea corals while supporting commercial fisheries that work around these areas. Developed protection areas that were incorporated into the final amendment.
NJ Highlands Region Land Use Change Project
Project Investigators: Paul Gottlieb (SEBS/DAFRE)
ORA developed custom GIS layers and analyses that incorporated digitized historical zoning maps, historical land use/cover datasets, and parcel boundary datasets to support research into the potential changes in zoning and land use that occurred due to the passage of the NJ Highlands Act.