Integrating Enhanced Weed Management, Web Portal Services and
Workforce Development throughout Montana.

Invasive weeds on public and private lands represent a threat to economic health in several ways. Weeds displace native plants, degrade range for agricultural production, reduce critical habitat for wildlife, often limit the appraised value of land and degrade recreational experiences for residents and tourists.

Noxious weeds such as leafy spurge and spotted knapweed displace valuable forage and can render range sites useless for cattle production. Grazing capacity can be reduced up to 65 to 90 percent from original levels. Current estimates show that weeds cost Montana farmers and ranchers more than $100 million per year in direct expenses and crop losses. Spotted knapweed is calculated to cost Montanans more than $42 million per year currently. If knapweed continues to spread to the full extent of its potential range, those costs could run to $155 million per year.

The Montana Weeds To Web project integrates proactive noxious and invasive weed management science, the delivery of comprehensive weed information through web services, and 21st century workforce development to create and utilize systems that benefit residents and stimulate Montana’s economy.

Montana Weeds To Web generates highly effective weed management data and then delivers the processed data to stakeholders through next-generation web services and a standardized web template called “Montana View”. Geospatial weed data are used to assess weed management actions and make strategic decisions for future control efforts. This work recognizes the importance of agricultural productivity and land valuation as keys to Montana economic development, and helps address the economic and ecological impacts of invasive and noxious weeds across the landscape. The web template provides the basis for additional web services for communities, and provides every Montana county with ready access to advanced web-based utilities. A comprehensive suite of tool and data management training opportunities are delivered to bolster the effectiveness of these systems and to provide 21st century workforce development opportunities for all Montanans.

This weed management tool is fully consistent with the five key elements of the Montana Weed Management Plan, including:

• Risk Analysis and Prevention
• Management
• Inventory, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Public Awareness, Education and Outreach
• Research

The Montana Weeds to Web project will acquire accurate baseline weed data from airborne hyperspectral imagery, satellite multispectral and/or digital photo imagery, and existing weed data from ground-based records. The AquilaVision Research and Development team is highly skilled in utilizing hyperspectral imagery and integrating multiple data sources for comprehensive weed mapping.

Processed weed imagery and geospatial data are used to populate an accessible and distributed geodatabase (geospatial database). This baseline weed information can be accessed through an easy-to-use web portal called Montana View and downloaded for use by GPS-enabled PDA devices, provided for use to weed district stakeholders. Ground-truthing and weed treatment actions are captured and documented on the PDA. New Data from PDAs, captured during fieldwork, are synchronized with the weed database to update information. The modified and updated weed database is instantly viewable in near real-time for viewing through the Montana View portal. Weed managers, landowners and land managers gain efficiency and effectiveness by utilizing data for assessment of past actions and strategic planning of future efforts.