An approach for integrating multimedia data with a geographic information s
ystem (GIS) database was developed for an area corresponding to the U.S. Ge
ological Survey (USGS) Long Pine Key and Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower 1:24,000
-scale topographic quadrangles in Everglades National Park. The multimedia
database contains descriptive text, ground photographs, digital video clips
, and audio segments highlighting the characteristics of Everglades plant c
ommunities, individual species, and invasive exotics, as well as plant-anim
al interactions, hurricane damage, and post-fire vegetation succession. It
is linked to a GIS database that includes detailed vegetation maps, SPOT pa
nchromatic imagery and scanned National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) 1
:40,000-scale color-infrared (CIR) aerial photographs. The integrated multi
media approach was implemented in two steps: (1) an interactive multimedia
system designed to manipulate multimedia information such as hypertext, hyp
erlinks, scanned photographs, digital video, and sound was developed in a M
icrosoft Visual Basic programming environment; and (2) a GIS application pr
ogram to manipulate spatial data was constructed using Visual Basic and Env
ironmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) MapObjects software. The inter
active multimedia approach provides a unique way to represent geographic fe
atures and associated information on interrelationships between flora, faun
a, and human activities in Everglades National Park.