Western Region Geography has developed the Land Use Portfolio Model (LUPM), a tool for modeling, mapping, and communicating risk. It is designed to help public agencies and communities understand and reduce their vulnerability to, and risk of, natural hazards. The LUPM is adapted from financial-portfolio theory, a method for evaluating alternative, regional-scale investment possibilities on the basis of their estimated distributions of risk and return. more...

The United States lacks a standardized coast-to-coast ecosystem map at an appropriate scale for local on-the-ground management The classification and delineation of ecosystems is fundamental to managing ecosystems. To address this need, USGS ecosystem mapping program is synthesizing abiotic and biotic features, landforms, surficial geology, bioclimatic zones and vegetation to delineate ecosystem units with 30-meter resolution. In addition to the final map product and a better understanding of the evolution of ecosystems, the individual abiotic map products will become available for the first time, e.g. Digital Landform, Surficial Geology, and Bioclimatic Zone Maps of the Conterminous U.S. more...

We are living in a period of unprecedented environmental change. Determining the impacts of human actions on natural processes and predicting their effects is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for all, both economically and ecologically. Monitoring change at the landscape level provides a window to view ecosystem responses that could not be detected at the small site scale. The USGS ILM project harnesses the talents of scientists of from all the USGS disciplines to better understand and respond to ecosystem change. more...

We are developing a multidisciplinary Santa Cruz Watershed Ecosystem Portfolio Model
• to create a support tool for management of urban development and respond to climate change,
• to assess and value the ecosystem services of the watershed and landscape,
• to visualize impacts of a range of scenarios on people’s quality of life,
• to operationalize the decision-making process,
• to define transparent indicators of intangible issues, like environmental justice and sustainability,
• that recognizes the complexity and unpredictability of the systems,
• and that considers tradeoffs relating to competing perspectives of stakeholders.      more...

Ecological restoration planners, decision-makers, and stakeholders are preparing long-term plans for restoring Puget Sound. In an effort to promote the consideration of integrated ecological, economic, and human well-being metrics in this context, we are developing the Puget Sound Ecosystem Portfolio Model (EPM) in 2009. more...

Land use decision-makers and natural resource managers in South Florida must reconcile intense land development pressures with the goal of sustaining the natural environment, including Federal, State, and County protected lands. In an effort to promote the consideration of integrated ecological, economic, and quality-of-life information in this context, we have developed the South Florida Ecosystem Portfolio Model (EPM), using Miami-Dade County as a pilot site. more...

The Colonias Monitoring Program provides a publicly accessible, binational, GIS database to enable civic leaders and citizens to inventory, analyze, and monitor growth, housing, and infrastructure in border communities. High-technology tools are provided to support planning efforts and development along the border, using a sustainable and comprehensive approach. The collective information can be used by nongovernmental organizations in preparing grant and loan applications for community-improvement projects. more...