Integrated multimedia approach to the utilization of an Everglades vegetation database

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.