Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment
Level 1 Users are users with little GIS and remote sensing experience or access to specialized GIS or remote sensing software or hardware. Level 1 users will mostly interact with Toolbox-generated products and web applications and may work with level-2 or level-3 users to use other Toolbox tools for their management information needs.
Level 2 Users have an understanding of GIS and rangeland monitoring data and have experience with GIS software. Level 2 users can do some minor data creation (e.g., creating layers to define new management scenarios) or edit existing layers (e.g., correcting and updating polygons in the vegetation maps). They will use Toolbox tools and products to aid analyses for their management questions and may also run new scenarios based on existing state and transition models and vegetation maps. These users may provide outputs to level 1 users but may also require assistance from level 3 users to set up datasets for some tools.
Level 3 Users have a highly-developed skill set for manipulating and analyzing GIS, remote sensing, and assessment/monitoring data. They will have access to specialized software and hardware for creating new data layers (e.g., creating image objects from new imagery) and would set up the data layers that level 1 and 2 users would have access to. These users could also lead the process of creating new state and transition models or vegetation maps for new areas. Use of Landscape Toolbox tools in major planning efforts (e.g. RMP) would rely heavily on level 3 users.The Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment (DIMA) was developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range to increase the speed and precision of data entry in both the field and office and organize and store field data. Developed in Microsoft Access to be easy to use, fast, and flexible, DIMA supports data entry and storage for 16 different quantitative and qualitative assessment and monitoring methods.
DIMA Features
- Microsoft Access platform - fast and flexible, and no need to install additional software
- Data-entry forms for 16 field methods
- Supports touch-screen data entry with Tablet PCs
- Drop-down species lists speed data entry
- Import and export data to Excel
- Automated import of species lists from the USDA-NRCS PLANTS database
Download DIMA
DIMA is distributed free of charge by the Jornada Experimental Range. Visit the Jornada's Monitoring & Assessment page to learn more and download the Rangeland Database.
More information on the assessment and monitoring techniques included in DIMA can be found at the Jornada Experimental Range's Monitoring and Assessment Page or in the Rangeland Assessment and Monitoring Methods Guide Wiki.