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NPS Interactive Map Center

The NPS developed a Geographic Information Systems program to help parks build GIS databases and to provide the expertise needed to use GISs for making park management decisions. The GIS Program provides a technical support network and coordinates GIS use throughout the parks. The Program is organized into three levels: a national program office, regional technical support centers, and park-based GISs.

Every resource is affected by many environmental variables. For example, bighorn sheep prefer habitat on slopes between 27 and 85 degrees that are 3.2 kilometers from water in areas of open vegetation. Using GIS a park manager can consider all these variables to determine if there is enough suitable habitat to support a viable population of bighorn sheep in the area. This information is important when managing bighorn sheep populations and natural environments.

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