ArcGIS Online Map

http://bit.ly/1eiq124

My map is showing the moose habitat and major roads in Utah*. Although the moose native to Utah are not endangered or threatened, it is an environmental issue. The environmental issue lies within the area the moose inhabits - next to many major roads. This map shows just how many of those roads cross into the moose crucial habitat.

Although collisions with moose are fairly infrequent, increasing moose populations as well as traffic combine to make Utah's roads less safe. GIS can play a critical part in helping determine where moose populations are, as well as where collisions have occurred. A map showing the buffer zones of moose populations could play an integral part in putting up proper signage for drivers.

Another way to analyze the moose/car relationship would be determining how roads effect the moose habitat. As you can see in the map, there are many roads that run through the crucial habitat areas of moose. It would be beneficial to conduct a study to see if the roads deter moose or if they do not pose a threat. One way to do this would be to measure the frequency that moose cross the road, as well as monitoring herd movements.

Getting a concrete answer on whether or not roads deter moose may give us clear example of human impact on moose characteristics. A more obvious example or human impact would be the number of moose killed by motor vehicle collisions.

A huge part of the job as an environmentalist is to study the impact humans have on the environment. Studying the endangered species is top priority, but studying the non-threatened species such as moose is also very important.

*changing transparency on map will make it easier to see the roads that pass through moose habitat