NEWS
GSS & KWF: Advancing Non-Point Source Pollution Research
In February, GSS’s Jeff Knopf presented an innovative project focused on identifying non-point source pollution in the City of Kenai. This pilot project, conducted in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum (KWF), aims to develop a GIS-based methodology for detecting non-point source pollution hotspots.
Understanding Non-Point Source Pollution
As the population grows, urban development increases, leading to the replacement of natural landscapes with impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and buildings. These surfaces prevent the natural absorption and filtration of rainfall, causing runoff to flow directly into nearby waterbodies through storm drains and culverts. This shift in hydrology can have significant effects on aquatic habitats, particularly in urban areas surrounding the Kenai and Soldotna regions.
GSS SMUMN’s Role and Approach
The primary objective of this study was to test a proof of concept: Could GIS modeling be used to pinpoint areas with significant non-point source pollution contributions? By identifying these pollution hotspots, stakeholders can make informed decisions about green infrastructure solutions to mitigate their impact on water quality.
Developing a Green Infrastructure Strategy
To support better stormwater management, GSS SMUMN developed a systematic process for selecting locations suitable for nature-based stormwater solutions. The workflow for this analysis included the following key steps:
Acquiring Datasets – Gathering relevant geographic and environmental data for analysis.
Hydro-Conditioning the LiDAR DEM – Processing elevation data to enhance hydrological accuracy.
Generating Impervious Surfaces – Identifying and mapping impervious areas contributing to runoff.
Deriving Flowlines and Creating a Network – Establishing how water moves through the urban landscape.
Quantifying Impervious Surface Contributions – Assessing runoff impact at key pour points to guide green infrastructure planning.
This project is part of GSS SMUMN’s broader effort to apply geospatial analysis to environmental challenges. By integrating GIS modeling into conservation planning, our team is helping communities better understand the effects of urbanization on aquatic habitats and identify opportunities for sustainable stormwater management.
The findings from this pilot project will help inform future conservation and development efforts, ensuring that the unique and valuable water resources of the Kenai Peninsula remain healthy for generations to come.
GSS Partners with Mayo Clinic and SMU Alumnus to Transform Floor Plan Management Using GIS
In January 2025, GeoSpatial Services at SMUMN (Saint Mary's University of Minnesota) kicked off an exciting pilot project with the Mayo Clinic, aimed at exploring the integration of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for updating and managing floor plans. This project represents an important step forward in modernizing how physical space data is handled and is focused on evaluating the use of ArcGIS Indoors for improving the accuracy and efficiency of floor plan management.
This collaboration between GSS SMUMN and Mayo Clinic highlights the impact of Saint Mary’s graduates in the field of GIS and facilities management. Notably, Tom Walker, a Saint Mary’s alumnus now serving as the Facilities Management Systems Coordinator at Mayo Clinic. He, along with his colleague, Anne Morris and others at Mayo, are contributing to this initiative. Their expertise in spatial data integration and digital mapping is enhancing facility operations, underscoring the strong connection between Saint Mary’s academic programs and industry leaders like Mayo Clinic.
Key Objectives of the Project The pilot project has several key goals, all designed to test and refine the process of integrating GIS technology into floor plan management:
1. Evaluating Data Transfer: One of the main objectives is to assess how existing floor plans in CAD format can be effectively transferred into the ArcGIS Indoors system, allowing for better spatial data management and visualization.
2. Learning and Adaptation: GeoSpatial Services will work closely with Mayo Clinic to understand their current workflows, ensuring the solution is tailored to meet their unique needs and standards for managing indoor spaces.
3. Updating and Improving Floor Plans: The project will also involve updating existing floor plans to ensure they are accurate and up to date, ultimately enabling better space management and utilization.
4. Quality Assurance and Control: To ensure the highest standards, GeoSpatial Services will carry out quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) on the data being transferred. This process will verify that the new system adheres to established data standards, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
Why ArcGIS Indoors? ArcGIS Indoors is an innovative GIS platform designed to improve how indoor spaces are managed, providing tools to visualize, analyze, and update floor plans with ease. For this pilot, the goal is to explore the potential benefits of ArcGIS Indoors, which include enhanced data accessibility, real-time updates, and greater collaboration in managing complex spaces.
Looking Toward the Future: This project is just the beginning. As GeoSpatial Services continues to work alongside Mayo Clinic, both teams will assess the success of the pilot, refine workflows, and explore ways to expand the use of GIS technology in indoor space management. The outcome of this project could open the door to broader applications across various industries, setting the stage for a more efficient and data-driven approach to managing physical spaces.
Stay tuned as GeoSpatial Services at SMUMN and Mayo Clinic work together to test the future of floor plan management through GIS.
A New GSS Endeavor Featured in the Saint Mary’s Magazine
GSS Launches New Project: Mapping Church Properties – Read All About It in the Fall 2024/Winter 2025 SMU Magazine!
Or, you can copy this path to your browser window:
https://issuu.com/smumn/docs/4802_smm-f24w25_final_web_1_?ff
GSS Supports Alaska Tribal Salmon Management/Subsistence with Partners BBNC & NAFWS
Click the link below to read the full story from The Native American Fish & Wildlife Society (NAFWS) about their recent award from the America the Beautiful Challenge competitive grant program. This grant supports ecological restoration and cultural preservation efforts.
NAFWS is partnering with Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) and GeoSpatial Services of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (SMUMN GSS) to utilize these funds effectively. GSS has been contracted to map wetlands with a target resolution of one-acre map units, ensuring compatibility with national mapping and classification standards and the USFWS National Wetland Inventory Database.
Click HERE for the full story!
or copy and paste this path in your browser:
https://www.nafws.org/news/tribal-highlight-bristol-bay-native-corporation-awarded-funds-to-advance-wetlands-mapping-for-improved-regional-habitat-management-in-bristol-bay/
Jeff Knopf Receives Employee Recognition Award at Saint Mary’s University Christmas Celebration
On December 9th, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota held its Employee Christmas Celebration on the Winona campus. Jeff Knopf from GeoSpatial Services was among select other SMU Staff who were honored with the Employee Recognition Awards. The Very Reverend James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., President of the university presented the awards.
Jeff was recognized for his exceptional work at GSS with Staff and Students over the years.
Jeff was commended for his dedication and collaborative spirit, stating that his efforts reflect the very best of Saint Mary’s University. This award highlights Jeff’s ongoing commitment to excellence, and his impact on the university is deeply appreciated.
Congratulations to Jeff on this well-deserved recognition!
Jeff Knopf receives his Employee Recognition from Fr. Burns
GSS Hosts Minnesota Agricultural Conservation Professionals
In early November, GSS staff Kevin Stark, Jeff Knopf, Eric Lindquist, and Andy Robertson hosted a meeting with agricultural conservation professionals. The group was represented by staff from the MN Dept. of Agriculture (MDA), MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and two local soil and water conservation district (SWCD) staff from Fillmore County and Root River. The gathering took place at GSS’s Winona offices, where participants toured the facilities and attended presentations in the scenic third-floor conference room of SMU’s Aquinas Hall.
In cooperation with the Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District and the MN Dept. of Ag., GSS staff are piloting a GIS mapping and targeting technique that will involve identifying existing conservation practices on farm fields and an off-site assessment process that will help Dept. of Ag and SWCD staff target fields that will benefit from additional conservation practices installations. This information will help local SWCD staff with meaningful offsite data that will assist them in their field walk-overs when they approach farmers about the potential to expand upon their existing conservation efforts. The meeting introduced attendees to the concepts in this pilot project, talked about the benefits of such a project, and even explored what it would look like to potentially scale up the work to involve a large area such as southeast Minnesota. GSS spoke about the organization's capacity and competency to take on large projects like this, demonstrated by decades of expansive mapping project work and local partnerships and projects that support agricultural conservation planning.
GSS hosts Ag Professionals in one of the unique spaces of SMU’s Aquinas Hall.
GSS Work Featured on Local Colorado News
The wetland mapping work of GSS students for Amigos Bravos, a New Mexico non-profit, was recently featured on the local news in Grand Junction, Colorado. See the full story here!
GSS Heads Back to New Mexico
In October, a dedicated team of three from GSS embarked on a week-long fieldwork trip to New Mexico to verify wetland landscape changes across two key project areas. Spanning five days, the trip focused on restoration sites, streams, rivers, and the unique mountain wetland features that characterize the region. The primary goal was to collect data for an updated mapping project of the Canadian River basin and Jemez Mountain areas, which is set to be finalized by the winter of 2025.
The team—Andy Robertson, Zack Ansell, and Isabelle Ostrem—was joined by staff from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and other stakeholders, broadening the scope and expertise involved in the fieldwork. Based in Jemez Springs, the team traveled across the diverse New Mexican landscape, covering an impressive 1,400 miles as they journeyed north to Chama and east to Taos. Along the way, they observed a variety of landscapes, from pristine mountain wetlands to perennial riverine systems.
These collaborative field observations will play a crucial role in the mapping update, ensuring a comprehensive and accurate representation of the region's evolving wetland landscapes. The trip not only provided valuable data on the health of these vital ecosystems but also highlighted the incredible diversity and beauty of New Mexico’s natural environments. With the successful completion of this fieldwork, the team is now one step closer to finalizing the mapping project, which will serve as an important tool for future conservation and restoration efforts in the region.
GSS Visits Great Plains, Missouri River
In mid-October, GSS staff Kevin Stark, Nick Lemcke, and Avrey Simonson traveled from northeastern South Dakota, heading south to northern Nebraska, and following the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers to eastern Iowa. They visited eight different watersheds with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 and 6 NWI coordinators, Nina Hill and Meaghan Lamothe. The team was also joined by Sand Lake USFWS Biologist Jessica Dowler for a day. The field work was part of a wetland mapping update for these Great Plains watersheds associated with NRCS conservation easements. The week prior to this trip, GSS analyst Zack Ansell visited three watersheds between Watertown and Brookings, South Dakota for the same project. Memorable moments from the trip were the Sand Lake National Wild Refuge, which plays a major role for migratory birds associated with the Central Flyway, as well as the Niobrara River Delta. This delta, where the Niobrara flows into the impounded Missouri River, is constantly changing, and has been seeing new sediment islands forming due to the 2019 Niobrara flood.
Robertson & Tadie attend CPI at Notre Dame
GSS Executive Director, Andrew Robertson & SMU Professor, Joe Tadie attended and presented at the Church Properties Initiative Conference held on the University of Notre Dame Campus, September 16-17, 2024.
The event brought together church leaders, real estate practitioners, and academics from around the world, to address the most pressing property-related challenges facing religious landowners and managers.
**Date:** September 16-17, 2024
**Location:** University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
