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Information Management Toolbox

This toolbox supports the management of information resources, including data, applications, and technology to help provide complete, accurate, useable, and sharable information about visitor use and biophysical conditions in a wilderness area. The toolbox includes FS strategies and examples for information planning, data collection, data storage and analysis, information presentation and use, and national forest wilderness website examples. The toolbox features an Information Needs Assessment (INA) tool and includes methodology, a template, and FS examples of application. In addition to the resources provided here, you may also be able to obtain advice and recommendations through discussion on Wilderness Connect. Date of last update: 12/27/12.

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Introduction

Brief Introduction to Information Management
Information management is a vital, though often overlooked, component of a successful wilderness stewardship program. Though many definitions abound, the term "information management" is used here to mean: "the management of information resources, including data, applications and technology, to provide complete, accurate and sharable information in a format, and within a timeframe, that is useful to people."\ As such, it is more than databases and computers. The term is used more broadly to encompass the various aspects of the "information stream", from identifying and prioritizing the information needs of an organization, developing and implementing data collection protocols, building and maintaining databases to manage the data, developing analytical routines and display formats for generating needed information and providing it to the target audiences and then, most importantly, using that information to support the decision-making process.
Wilderness Information Management Graphic
Key Terms, Definitions & Acronyms

Agency Strategies

Information Planning

Information Needs Assessment (INA)

Data Collection

FS Wilderness Mobile Application
The FS Wilderness Mobile application allows for field data collection using a Personal Data Recorder (PDR) on customized data collection screens, including the capture of GPS coordinates. Field data can then uploaded to Infra-WILD at the office and the new records are integrated with previous data for seamless analysis and storage. Software can be downloaded to customize a monitoring protocol in Infra-WILD for use with the PDR and for downloading a template for collecting new data.
1. Getting Started with Wilderness Mobile
2. Hardware Guidance for Wilderness Mobile
3. Training Webcasts
Standard protocols
1. Campsite Monitoring
  1. FS National Minimum Protocol (Recreation Site Monitoring Toolbox)
2. Solitude Monitoring
  1. Guide to Monitoring Encounters (Visitor Use Management Toolbox)
Data Storage & Analysis
1. Agency Databases
  1. FS Infra-WILD Tutorial (.exe file)
Information Presentation & Use
1. FS 10 Year Wilderness Stewardship Challenge
  1. Accomplishment Graphs FY05-09
2. FS Wilderness Websites
  1. Overview of Forest Wilderness Web Pages
    A national forest wilderness web page is a sub-section of the national forest website. It is typically accessed via a sidebar list or feature link on the forest website home page. The link is sometimes found be under the 'Recreation' sub-heading but is more appropriately found by placing a 'wilderness' sub-heading on the sidebar or elsewhere on the forest home page.
    
    The forest wilderness web page is the place for any wilderness information that the forest wilderness managers want to provide. It is linked from the wilderness area page provided for each wilderness at: http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/. Forests may choose to duplicate or emphasize visitor information or regulations already posted on wilderness.net to better meet management objectives, or supplement the information with seasonal updates, volunteer and partnership opportunities, requests for input on management topics or other items useful to the wilderness visitor.
    
    This section provides the Forest Service policy and guidelines for website content, tips for creating or improving web pages, and examples of some forest wilderness web pages for ideas.
  2. Reference Material: FS Web Content Policy, Style Guide, Style Compliance Checklist
  3. Guiding Principles for Posting Wilderness Information on Forest Web Sites
  4. Tips for Improving Your Forest Wilderness Web Page
  5. Forest Wilderness Web Page Examples