Upper Paraguay River Basin Floodplain

The Pantanal Gets an Integrated Conservation GIS	A Solution Takes Hold	Pilot Project Begins
Story of Success	Upper Paraguay River Basin.

Comparing Data

"Verifying the spatial accuracy of the pilot project data sets is critical to the larger database," notes Kempka. "Many of the data layers (roads, contours, rivers, etc.) were digitized, with the disparate scales between the three countries posing another challenge."

The vector data layers were viewed over the most recent satellite imagery for updates and modifications. ERDAS IMAGINE was used to reproject the raster data sets and write batch-processing procedures for mosaicking a seamless coverage of the area. ArcView 3.2 was used to check the spatial accuracy between the master image layer, stream gauge and precipitation records, flood regime, geomorphology, vegetation cover, land use, and infrastructure data.

Because the positional accuracy of data is difficult to determine and much of the pilot area lacks permanent features to test against, verifying accuracy is a work in progress. "Classification and feature class accuracy is challenging," says Kempka, "because no accurate reference data that coincides with the same vintage (time) as the satellite imagery exists." GPS points for Brazil and Paraguay have been collected, and field data collection using ArcPad is being tested. Once the imagery is verified as spatially accurate, it will be used as the master base layer for verification of other data sets (e.g., roads, hydrology, and railroads).

The 12 organizations presently involved in the project are discussing how to serve the data. The goal is to make the product as widely available as possible with a user-friendly interface. The specifics have not yet been determined, but it is fairly certain that a Web-based network with ArcIMS serving up the data using Active Server Pages and Java programming will be used for the interface. However, the latest developments in technology will be considered when the final decision is made.

The Pantanal Gets an Integrated Conservation GIS	A Solution Takes Hold	Pilot Project Begins
Story of Success	Upper Paraguay River Basin.

---

Update: February 4, 2002