Funding

The Alliance for Public Gardens GIS relies on grants and charitable donations to fund our work, which in return helps the work of all public gardens. A summary of each of our funded projects is included below. For more information, please download the included documents.


GIS Web Application for Living Plant Collections Research

  • Year: 2010
  • Source: Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
  • Program: Katherine H. Putnam Fellowship in Plant Science
  • Amount: $40,000
  • Abstract: Brian Morgan of the Alliance was awarded the fellowship to to develop a GIS Web Application for Living Plant Collections Research that created an interactive, online, map based research system for the living plant collections of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University that is linked to herbaria, library, genetic, and biodiversity informatics collections worldwide. The goal of this project was to provide staff, visitors, and researchers with easy access to integrated collection information and powerful tools for collection analysis and research that will increase the use and value of living plant collections.  The results of this project can be viewed at the Collection Researcher web application.
  • Downloads: Research Statement


GIS Training for Museum Professionals

  • Year: 2009
  • Source: Institute of Museum & Library Services
  • Program: 21st Century Museum Professionals
  • Amount: $302,000
  • AbstractThe UC Davis Arboretum received a grant to develop, test, implement, and evaluate a geographic information system (GIS) training program for professional staff at public gardens. Project activities, funded by the IMLS 21st Century Museum Professionals grant program, include an online guide to GIS for beginners, training workshops, training and case study videos, a training website, and a social networking site for participants. A community volunteer training program will also be piloted that can be replicated in botanical gardens and zoos across the nation. The majority of the results from this project can be found in the Training section of the site.
  • Downloads: Project Abstract | Final Report


Tree Conservation Assessment

  • Year: 2009
  • Source: Institute of Museum & Library Services
  • Program: Conservation Program Support
  • Amount: $110,000
  • AbstractThe UC Davis Arboretum received a grant to create a module of the ArcGIS Public Garden Data Model that will provide users with the capacity of performing a comprehensive tree conservation assessment using GIS. This module allows for the capture of tree conservation assessment and related data that may affect tree health such as soil chemistry, water chemistry, and disturbance and impacts. The module additionally provides for the detailed tracking of tree maintenance history and is designed to work with existing enterprise asset management systems. The module is accompanied by a suite of analysis models that will automate the calculation of key indices related to the health and value of the collection. Functionality is provided for running the existing USDA Forest Service i-Tree models for assessing the ecosystems services provided by collection trees. The results from this project can be downloaded as the Tree Assessment Module of the ArcGIS Public Garden Data Model.
  • Downloads: Project Abstract | Final Report


Alliance for Public Gardens GIS

  • Year: 2008
  • Source: Esri
  • Program: Seed Funding
  • Amount: $30,000
  • AbstractEsri has provided seed funding to establish the Alliance for Public Gardens GIS (APGG). A portion of this funding was used to develop the Map Gallery Special Display that showcased the important work of public gardens at the 2008 Esri International User Conference.


GIS Data Model for Plant Collections at Botanical Gardens and Zoos