GIS/Databases

Organizing and accessing data in a GIS context is an essential element of hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and environmental analyses. Dynamic Solutions has extensive and diverse experience with developing and utilizing GIS data and software.

We use many types of GIS data: including hydraulic, hydrological, biological, habitat, physical, and topographical. GIS software is used to map and analyze flow, velocity, turbidity, temperature, dissolved solids, suspended solids, contaminant concentrations, biological activity demand, and production, conductivity, density, void ratio, porosity, sediment size distributions, organic and inorganic content. We are capable of bringing diverse data into, reorganizing, and extracting data from the GIS context using several commercial software products as well as custom software designed to meet special project requirements.  The staff at Dynamic Solutions is experienced and proficient applying the US Department of Defense’s Spatial Data Standard for Facilities, Infrastructure, and Environment (SDSFIE).

The DSLLC Team uses multiple GIS platforms including ESRI (ArcView, ArcGIS, ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcReader, ArcExplorer), Intergraph (MicroStation, GeoMedia, EarthView) and AutoDesk (AutoCAD, MapGuide, Lightscape, 3DsMax) products depending on client preference and project relevance. The benefit of this capability is that we can use the right tool to meet the specific technical needs of each project.

Our staff is proficient with ESRI products, especially ArcView, ArcGIS and ArcInfo, having used these tools on numerous projects for analysis, presentation, and archiving information. These projects have ranged from rainfall, runoff, flow, water quality, and vegetation classification mapping to sediment transport.

AutoDesk products, especially AutoCAD and 3DsMax, have been utilized routinely on many projects. AutoCAD is often the source for data and design for site characteristics, sampling programs, and instrumentation. 3DsMax is also a source for physical properties and geometry of complex objects.

• Bathymetry in rivers, streams, and coastlines
• Characterization of aquatic wildlife habitats along a river
• Characterization of sediment grain size distributions along a river and 10-year floodplain
• Concentration of PCBs in the bottom sediments and along a river
• Characterization of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in channel sediments
• Location and operational history of monitoring wells
• Progression of longwall coal mining
• Topography (Digital Terrain and Elevation Models)

Dynamic Solutions is also highly experienced in the development and utilization of large databases. The ability to manage, manipulate, store and interpret large quantities of environmental data is a critical component of water resource and environmental studies. Examples of projects that include development and utilization of large databases include the following:

Data Management and Analysis System for Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers (DASLER). Dynamic Solutions staff member Paul Craig was one of the original developers of DASLER, a Windows-based database program designed to manage and report many types of water quality data. DASLER is currently being used by several USACE Districts, including the Huntington and Louisville Districts, to manage large volumes of water quality data. Data are concentrated into two broad categories: physical/chemical and biological. The main DASLER interface provides a central management point for both areas, with special functions tailored to the specific needs of each section. DASLER uses the same database engine and database file structure as Microsoft Access. The database engine can communicate with any SQL database. This allows individual installations to use their database software of choice, as long as an ODBC driver exists for that software. For instance, one installation may be using Oracle while another uses the native Access format. The DASLER suite includes plotting software (called DPLOT3, for DASLER Plotting) that produces a variety of standard plots from your data. DPLOT3 interacts with DASLER or runs as a stand-alone program. Plots are highly customizable and can be printed on any Windows printer or saved as metafiles. Plot settings can be saved as custom templates. Some installations of DASLER also include a GIS-based interface to the water quality data.