Progress Report

CICEET Progress Report for the period 9/02/07 Through 3/01/08

Project Title: Dissemination and Deployment of a Web-Based Tool to Support Natural Resource-Based Planning at the Local Level
Principal Investigator(s): David W. Dickson, Chester L. Arnold, Emily H. Wilson
Project Start Date: 11/01/07

Project Objectives for This Reporting Period

Progress on Tasks
Objective 1: Enhance the UConn Online Community Resource Inventory (CRI) tool with the addition of coastal habitat data, and then “franchise” it for Rhode Island.
In January 2008, the project investigators (representing the CT NEMO, National NEMO, and CT Geospatial Technology Program (GTP)) met with representatives from the Rhode Island NEMO and GTP programs to go over the project work plan. The work plan was fine-tuned, the CT team provided an overview of the CT CRI Tool and we discussed how to adapt it to Rhode Island.

Following the meeting, the CT team began to improve the CT site by adding coastal habitat data layers. The RI team has begun to assemble data layers for inclusion in their site.

Objective 2: Train the South Carolina and Minnesota NEMO programs to create and deploy this tool, along with the accompanying educational program.
A draft outline of the training “cookbook” has been drafted. The CT NEMO team will start to flesh this out based on their experience in setting up a site in CT. The RI NEMO project team will add to the outline as they build the RI CRI tool.

We have tentatively schedule a training workshop in CT or RI for January 2009.

Objective 3: Report on the use and impact of the tool in targeted coastal communities in the four states.
CT has begun compiling statistics on the usage of the CRI Tool. The other states will also build this into their sites.

Objective 4: Promote the tool and the project through the National NEMO and National Geospatial Technology Extension networks.
The National NEMO Network has been promoting this project though its website, newsletter, workshops, presentations, and consultations with other states. As a result, several other states have expressed an interest in joining the project. One of those states, North Carolina, is actively seeking funding to participate in the CRI training and develop a similar tool for their state.

Project Objectives for Next Reporting Period
Objective 1: Enhance the UConn Online Community Resource Inventory (CRI) tool with the addition of coastal habitat data, and then “franchise” it for Rhode Island.

  • Continue enhancements to CT CRI site
  • Basic RI CRI to be developed and share with representatives of target audience for feedback

Objective 2: Train the South Carolina and Minnesota NEMO programs to create and deploy this tool, along with the accompanying educational program.

  • Draft CRI “cookbook”
  • Finalize training date and location.

Objective 3: Report on the use and impact of the tool in targeted coastal communities in the four states.

  • Continue to track usage of CT CRI site
  • Begin to track usage of RI CRI site

Objective 4: Promote the tool and the project through the National NEMO and National Geospatial Technology Extension networks.

  • Continue to promote project through NEMO Network presentations and publications

Expenditures
Expenditures are in the range anticipated for the work accomplished to date.