How to Create a Living Analysis

Conventional watershed analyses or assessments conducted by federal, state or local governments and by the private (resource management) sector typically take the form of a one time study that produces a report (paper copy and PDF) that resides in an office or on a website. There is little opportunity to update watershed analyses since funding is often a singular opportunity. Watershed assessments become quickly outdated because of 1) changing watershed conditions such as floods, fires or landslides, 2) changing land uses, 3) improvements in databases including digital topographic data (e.g., 10 m DEMs replaced by sub meter LIDAR) and 4) availability of new scientific understanding and predictive tools.

NetMap offers a new analysis paradigm and methods framework:

- Continuing analysis. Because analysis tools (software) are made available at the time of assessment, analyses can be constantly updated (by stakeholders) including those pertaining to habitat distribution and quality, erosion, large wood, wildfires, road networks etc.

- Continuous validation. A “Field Link” tool facilitates field validation of predicted watershed attributes (such as channel gradient, hillslope gradient etc.) or model predictions (such as habitat potential or erosion potential). Comparisons between predicted and observed values are used to adjust watershed attributes when necessary. NetMap watershed databases become more accurate over time.

- Continuously updated tools and development of new tools. With almost every new project, NetMap gains new tools and/or improves existing ones. Thus, the science and technology underpinning NetMap evolves over time, contributing to the concept of a "living analysis", one that does not go out of date.

NetMap’s Field Link Tool allow predicted watershed attributes at any location in a watershed to be compared to field measured values. Correction of NetMap’s parameters creates a more accurate database over time.