Events and Announcements

Second Round of Decision Support Tool Evaluation Completed

Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) learned that the most useful decision support tools are those available online, free-of-charge, and that do not require additional data inputs or training/technical expertise, from results collected during a second round of decision support tool evaluations. Changing Landscapes 2: Anticipating the Effects of Local Land Use Decisions was held in Madison, WI on January 22 and 23, 2004. Approximately 100 participants from around the state attended to learn more about various tools and information sources that can help inform planning and decision-making processes.

Attendees were introduced to a number of decision support tools that ranged from data access and provision tools, to predictive modeling tools; they then evaluated three of the predictive modeling tools to assess their usefulness and accessibility based on a number of criteria. The results of those evaluations, as well as the entire proceedings of the workshop can be found on WDNR’s website at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/science/landuse/Changing_Landscapes/index.htm

WDNR encourages the use of decision support tools as a way of improving local planning and decision-making processes. The agency, with the support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is presently engaged in a program to provide education and technical assistance to citizens and local government officials regarding the strengths, weaknesses, and appropriate application of these tools. A first round of evaluations was conducted in a similar workshop in the spring of 2003. Results and proceedings from that workshop are also accessible at the website above. For more information about this effort, contact Dana Lucero (dana.lucero@dnr.state.wi.us; 608-266-5227) or Matthew Murrell (matthew.murrell@dnr.state.wi.us; 608-267-0579).

GIS Tools and Community Watershed Planning, May 25 - 26, 2004, Hammond, Indiana

This workshop, sponsored by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission in partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Purdue University Calumet School of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, is aimed at local officials - elected, staff and GIS/technical, watershed groups, community planners and planning consultants. The objective is to introduce and provide hands-on, problem based training, on web-based spatial data and tools that can help local officials, resource managers and others in their decision making about watershed projects and land use changes.

Members of the Midwest Spatial Decision Support System Partnership will be conducting the workshop. The program for the workshop and registration information are available at: http://www.nirpc.org/RegWatershed.html