Case Study: Building a Centralized GIS Platform for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Natural Areas
Client: Cleveland Museum of Natural History — Natural Areas Department
Location: Northeast Ohio
Tools: Esri Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Survey123, Field Maps, QuickCapture, ArcGIS Pro
Project Type: GIS Systems Design & Implementation | Spatial Analysis | Data Management
The Problem
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History's Natural Areas (CMNH NA) department oversees more than 12,000 acres of ecologically significant preserves across Northeast Ohio — critical habitat for rare plant and animal species under constant threat from invasive species, deer overpopulation, and climate-driven habitat change.
But their data told a different story than their mission. Years of field work, species monitoring, and land management records were scattered across retired devices, local hard drives, hand-drawn notebooks, and inconsistently formatted digital files. Staff relied on institutional memory just to locate basic information. Onboarding new team members was slow. Cross-departmental collaboration was limited. And with over 200 datasets in play, there was no single place to see the full picture.
The department needed a centralized, accessible, and sustainable GIS solution — built on their existing Esri infrastructure — that could consolidate fragmented historical data, streamline ongoing field collection, and support data-driven conservation decision-making.
My Approach
I worked directly with the Natural Areas GIS staff to design and implement a centralized geospatial data hub using Esri Experience Builder, integrated with ArcGIS Online, Survey123, Field Maps, and QuickCapture.
The project unfolded in three phases:
1. Data Audit and Standardization
The first challenge was bringing order to over 200 datasets spanning decades. I digitized and georeferenced historical aerial imagery, hand-drawn survey maps, and field notebooks. Attribute schemas were harmonized across multiple data collection platforms — resolving format inconsistencies and aligning records to international biodiversity standards (Darwin Core / GBIF) to ensure the data could contribute not just to internal workflows but to the broader scientific community.
2. Spatial Analysis
With clean, integrated data in hand, I conducted hot spot analysis using the Getis-Ord Gi* tool in ArcGIS Pro to identify statistically significant clusters of invasive species across the preserves. Results identified high-density Phragmites infestations at Mentor Marsh as the highest priority, with moderate Spotted Lanternfly concentrations at North Kingsville Sand Barrens and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid presence at Cathedral Woods. These outputs directly informed treatment prioritization and resource allocation decisions.
Deer population monitoring data was also integrated and visualized, revealing rising harvest counts at Mentor Marsh correlated with exclosure damage — flagging an area requiring adaptive management response.
3. Experience Builder Hub Development
The centerpiece deliverable is a multi-page Esri Experience Builder site functioning as CMNH NA's digital operations hub. It includes:
- Dashboards for invasive species management, deer population monitoring, rare plant tracking, and preserve infrastructure
- StoryMaps presenting preserve-specific conservation narratives for Mentor Marsh, Cathedral Woods, and North Kingsville Sand Barrens
- Live field data integration via Survey123 and QuickCapture, enabling near-real-time dashboard updates directly from field staff
- Data, Tools, and Tutorials pages consolidating the geodatabase, collection forms, and training documentation for staff and volunteers
The platform was designed in compliance with CMNH's institutional branding and underwent multiple rounds of usability testing with Natural Areas staff to refine navigation, widget placement, and accessibility.
Results
- Consolidated over 200 fragmented datasets into a single, standardized, and accessible geodatabase
- Identified and ranked invasive species treatment priorities across three major preserves using spatial hot spot analysis
- Reduced manual data transfer through direct Survey123-to-dashboard integration
- Delivered an operational Experience Builder hub approved by both the Natural Areas department and museum administration
- Established a replicable data governance framework supporting long-term institutional knowledge and staff continuity
What This Project Demonstrates
This engagement reflects the kind of GIS work I do: taking complex, real-world data challenges and building practical, sustainable systems that actually get used. The CMNH Natural Areas hub isn't a prototype — it's a live operational platform supporting daily conservation decisions across 12,000+ acres of Northeast Ohio.
If your organization is managing fragmented spatial data, building out environmental monitoring workflows, or needs GIS support on a project basis, I'd love to talk.
📧 Stephdigsbones@gmail.com
🔗 Portfolio
📍 Northeast Ohio | Available for remote contract work
Stephanie Bechard-Smith is a GIS specialist with an MS in GIS Administration, focused on environmental applications, spatial analysis, and Esri platform implementation. Available for freelance and contract GIS projects.
