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Internet Tools
Use this page to tap into the power of the Internet for your planning, conservation and environmental work.
Government agencies collect and manage lots of data, much of which have value for local environmental protection and management efforts. Fortunately, various clearinghouses, web portals, Internet mapping sites, and online analysis and modeling tools help organize, catalog, and make these data accessible and meaningful. On this page you will find brief descriptions and links to 32 frequently used Internet tools that can aid your work. We’ve grouped these public-domain tools in the following categories for convenience:
Air Monitoring Network
This Internet mapping site uses DNR data to provide a composite view of air quality in Wisconsin. Use it to view real-time and historic air monitoring data, as well as county Air Quality Index ratings.
AirData [Exit DNR]
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency clearinghouse provides access to air pollution data for the entire United States. Use it to generate reports and maps of air pollution data based on criteria that you specify.
Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM) [Exit DNR]
This web site provides comprehensive guidance for managing indoor air quality in commercial buildings. Use it as a reference for specific issues, to train management and building personnel, or to set up an indoor air quality management program.
Surface Water Data Viewer
This Internet mapping site provides information regarding water resources, monitoring stations, and quality assessments. Use it to display data such as dams, exceptional resource waters, or areas of special natural resources interest.
Drinking Water Quality Data
This web portal accesses four DNR drinking water quality databases: Drinking Water Systems, Groundwater Retrieval Network, Drinking Water and Groundwater Standards & Health Advisory Levels, and Source Water Assessments. Use it to find out about drinking water and groundwater quality, view source water maps and susceptibility determinations, and access recommendations for protection.
Digital Watershed [Exit DNR]
This centralized information repository and on-line computing center for U.S. watersheds allows you to delineate a watershed at any point, change land use in the watershed, and simulate hydrologic impact of land use based on area climate data.
EnviroMapper for Water [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site allows you to view U.S. Environmental Protection Agency geospatial data, including the National Hydrography Dataset. Locate an area of interest and display and obtain information on watershed needs, permitted facilities, impaired waters, and more.
Watershed Assessment, Tracking & Environmental Results (WATERS) [Exit DNR]
This integrated information system for the nation's surface waters data unites water quality information previously available only from several independent and unconnected databases. Use it to download data sets, such as 303(d) listed impaired waters, or to perform nation-wide analyses across states.
Better Assessment Science Integrating Point & Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) [Exit DNR]
This multi-purpose environmental analysis system integrates GIS, national watershed data, and environmental assessment and modeling tools. Use it to examine environmental information, support analysis of environmental systems, and examine management alternatives.
Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment [Exit DNR]
This modeling tool estimates changes in recharge, runoff, and nonpoint source pollution resulting from past or proposed development. Use it to evaluate potential effects of land use change and to identify the best location of a particular land use.
National Wetlands Inventory [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site hosts current digital data and metadata for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wetlands Master Geodatabase. Use it to view digital wetland data and create maps using a standardized projection.
Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) [Exit DNR]
This modeling tool predicts soil erosion at the field scale using climate, management, soil, and topography data. Choose from over 30 management techniques and add buffer strips or strip cropping to the simulation.
Wisconsin Water Science Center [Exit DNR]
This clearinghouse provides real-time and historic data on water quality, stream flow, and groundwater levels throughout Wisconsin. Use it to access data that investigates the occurrence, quantity, quality, distribution, and movement of surface and underground waters as well as link to water-related publications, projects, and case studies.
Natural Heritage Inventory On-line Database
This on-line database provides a statewide inventory of known locations and conditions of rare and endangered species and natural communities in Wisconsin. Use it to learn what rare and endangered species or natural communities are known to exist within a particular area of interest.
Wisconsin Biomapper [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site accesses several of the state’s herbaria specimen collections. Use it to determine plant species collected from a specific area and view specimen detail from the Wisconsin Botanical Information System.
Wisconsin EcoAtlas [Exit DNR]
This on-line database locates and accesses ecological data affecting Wisconsin’s landscape. At this site you will find information about past and current research and monitoring activities including reports, web pages, XML files, and maps.
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Map Viewer [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site provides known aquatic and terrestrial invasive species and biological controls occurring in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Use it to view the location of 15 aquatic and 22 terrestrial invasive species.
Wisconsin NatureMapping [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site allows citizens, school groups, and professionals to enter wildlife observations into a statewide database. Submit observations on-line and view data to become more aware of your surroundings, deepen your sense of place, and strengthen your connection to the environment.
Smart Forestry for Smart Growth Planner’s Toolbox
This web portal provides communities, planners, and resource professionals with tools and support needed to develop comprehensive plans that sustain the ecological, social, and economic benefits of Wisconsin's forests. Use it to find forest data and maps that will help to incorporate forests and address forest-related issues within all elements of a comprehensive plan.
Carbon On-Line Estimator [Exit DNR]
This web-based analysis tool enables you to examine forest carbon characteristics. Use it to generate a carbon report for a particular state or county.
Mitigation Impact Screening Tool [Exit DNR]
This modeling tool assesses the likely impacts of heat island mitigation strategies. Use it to increase or decrease a city’s albedo (reflectance) and/or vegetative cover and learn how these actions will affect temperature, ozone air quality, and energy consumption.
Comprehensive Planning Webmapping Site [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site provides natural resource data and guidance relating to nine planning elements. You can locate an area of interest, display natural resource data, and print maps you create.
Geospatial One-Stop [Exit DNR]
This web portal provides access to geospatial information from federal agencies and various state, local, tribal, and private agencies. Use it to find "live" data and maps, downloadable data, clearinghouses, and other resources related to geospatial information.
Mineralogy of Wisconsin [Exit DNR]
This web site provides access to a database of minerals found in Wisconsin. Use it to search for minerals found at the county level and obtain information about the minerals.
Web Soil Survey [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site provides soil survey data and related information. Map the soil types for an area of interest and view suitability and limitation ratings for a variety of land uses on the different soil types.
Green Communities [Exit DNR]
This web site provides tools and information to help a community help itself become more sustainable. Use it to help assess a community, analyze the direction the community is going, create a vision of where a community wants to be, and design and implement a plan to achieve that vision.
Green Infrastructure Cost-Benefit Calculator [Exit DNR]
This modeling tool provides information on green infrastructure and calculates the costs and benefits of applying it. Enter a scenario, choose the type of green infrastructure to incorporate, and calculate the financial and hydrologic costs/benefits associated with its use.
HUD Locator Services [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site provides access to HUD data along with U.S. EPA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Census Bureau data. Use it to support housing and community development programs at the state, county, city, and neighborhood levels.
Remediation & Redevelopment Sites Map
This Internet mapping site provides information on property in Wisconsin that is or was contaminated with hazardous substances. Use it to view sites with both ongoing and completed cleanups of soil and groundwater contamination.
Interactive Livestock Siting Map [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site provides information on local requirements for the siting or expansion of livestock facilities in Wisconsin municipalities. Use this application to learn the requirements in your municipality, including whether or not a conditional use permit is required.
UrbanSim [Exit DNR]
This downloadable modeling tool can be used for integrated planning and analysis of urban development. Use it to create different scenarios by inputting population and employment estimates, economic forecasts, transportation system and land use plans, and land development policies.
Wisconsin Coastal Image Server [Exit DNR]
This Internet mapping site makes geographic data about Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan and Lake Superior coasts available. Use it to zoom to a specific area of interest and download the geospatial data.
More Computer Tools Resources
Midwest Spatial Decision Support System Partnership
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