NIDRM 2013-2027 map and image services
(December 27, 2013)
A wide range of National Insect & Disease Risk Map (NIDRM) map and image services are now available from US Forest
Service Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET). Map and image services can easily be added to ArcGIS and
incorporated into your map document(s). Map services provide ready to use map layers with fixed symbology while
image services provide a wider range of flexibility such as data download and customizable symbology. Below find an
overview of these map and image services followed by instructions for their access.
NIDRM map services:
The NIDRM Map Services are organized into group layers. There are three basic types of group layers;
1. Basemaps
2. GIS layers showing the composite hazard from all forest insects and diseases
3. Forest insect or disease specific GIS layers
Basemaps:
There are separate “Basemaps” for the coterminous US, Alaska and Hawaii. Hydrology and state boundary
vector GIS data overlay geo-referenced images to recreate the hillshade maps shown in the main body of the
NIDRM 2013-20127report. These map services provide an attractive background that can be combined with
other GIS layers to generate custom maps.
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Composite Data:
The “CompositeData” group layer includes rasters for:
 % Total BA Loss = Estimated basal area (BA) loss rate due to forest insect and disease
 Risk = Areas where estimated loss rates equal or exceed 25% of total basal area
 Total BA loss = Estimated basal area losses expressed in square feet per acre
 Total BA = Total basal area. While not a NIDRM dataset, this raster is used to calculate many of the NIDRM
outputs. For example; % Total BA loss = Total BA loss / Total BA.
Forest insect or disease specific GIS layers:
Over 40 different pests and pathogens were modeled as part of the NIDRM 2013-2027 effort. To simplify access
to these data we have grouped these damage agents into 7 guilds; Bark Beetles, Declines, Defoliators, Diseases,
Exotics, HawaiianPests, Other. For each agent, the group layer shows three types of NIDRM outputs:
1. % Host BA Loss = Projected loss rate to host tree species BA - by pest
2. % Total BA Loss = Projected loss rate to total BA ( all tree species) - by pest
3. Total BA Loss = Basal area loss (across all modeled tree species hosts) - by pest
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Below is a table showing how modeled pests and pathogens are organized into the 7 guilds.
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NIDRM Image Services
Image services are added to your map document one raster at a time with no preconfigured symbolization. Once
added to a map document, the user can:
 Symbolize the data.
o Symbolization can be changed like any other raster dataset
 Access the metadata
o To access the metadata for an image service added to your map document. Right-click the layer in the
table of contents and click Data > View Description.
 Download the source data to their local computer or network.
o Right-click the image service layer in the table of contents and click Data > Export Data. This will open an
‘Export Image Service Data’ dialog.
The image services include all of the datasets shown in the map services. The naming convention is a concatenation of:
1. Region; Coterminous US (L48), Alaska (AK), Hawaii (HI)
2. Theme; (e.g. PctTotalBALoss, PctHostBALoss, TotalRisk, etc.) and
3. Detail;
a. In the case of percent host BA loss by tree species ( i.e. PctBAHostLoss) Detail shows the tree species
(e.g. L48_ PctHostBALoss _PacificSilverFir)
b. In the case of datasets that show damage summarized by damage agent, detail shows the name of the
pest or pathogen ( e.g. AK_ PctTotalBALoss_SpruceBeetle)
c. For composite datasets that summarize impact from all damage agents, the Detail qualifier is
“Composite” ( e.g. HI_TotalRisk_Composite)
Connecting to the NIDRM 2013-2027 map and image services
There are two methods for connecting to the NIDRM map and image services;
A. Adding a GIS Server connection
B. Using a connection file
Procedure for adding a GIS Server connection to NIDRM map and image services:
1. From the Catalog window, click on GIS Servers > Add ArcGIS Server OR alternatively you may connect to GIS
Servers > Add ArcGIS Server from the Add Data tool
2. Accept the default option to “Use GIS services”
3. Type in the following URL to connect to the GIS server that hosts the NIDRM services:
http://foresthealth.fs.usda.gov/arcgisfh/services
a. Leave User Name and Password blank
b. Click [Finish] button
4. You will now have a connection node called “arcgisfh on foresthealth.fs.usda.gov”
a. Open that node and you will see folders for NIDRM_Image and NIDRM_Map
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Using a connection file:
Embedded below are 4 connection files for ArcMap versions 9.3.1, 10.0, 10.1, and 10.2.
foreshealth931.ags
foresthealth10.ags
foresthealth101.ags
foresthealth102.ags
1. Right-click to copy the embedded *.ags file that corresponds with your version of ArcMap and using
standard Windows Explorer paste it to one of your ArcMap folder connections.
a. In the example below the user is running ArcMap 10.0 and places the file “foresthealth10.ags” in
their C:\Data\GIS folder.
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2. Open up ArcMap, and the GIS server connection appears in Catalog under the designated folder or by
navigating to that folder from the Add Data button. Double-click on that connection to open up the
directory tree and access the services in the NIDRM_Map and NIDRM_Image services.
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