VolunteerMatch

IUCN and Google have partnered in an initiative to make information about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) available to a global audience in 'Oceans in Google Earth', available through Google Earth v5.0. This layer contains both exciting multimedia content and core data on MPAs that is critical to our global monitoring efforts. IUCN WCPA Marine, in collaboration with many partners, has also developed a web portal, www.protectplanetocean.org, which has the following objectives:

- to provide complementary and additional information on MPAs to that provided in the Google Earth layer;
- to provide a conduit to the best marine conservation information on the web;
- to provide a publicly accessible and editable online system for all users to add and update MPA data and multimedia content that is displayed in the Google Earth layer.

We are currently seeking a skilled GIS & Google Earth Assistant to work with the Protect Planet Ocean (PPO) Project Manager, based in San Francisco, California, and the web development team, Solertium Inc, based in Williamsburg, VA, to:

- assist in the management and maintenance of spatial data for MPAs;
- develop the Oceans in Google Earth page of the Protect Planet Ocean portal (http://www.protectplanetocean.org/oceans.html)

The ideal time commitment would be 1-2 days per week, or equivalent, depending on availability, for a minimum of 6 months.

Role and responsibilities

1. Develop a range of additional Google Earth MPA layers to complement the global layer, including:
   • MPAs included in the Google Earth Oceans Preview layer
   • World Heritage Sites
   • President Bush's Marine National Monument Designations
   • 'Less well known gems'
   • Regional tours for WCPA regions (provided for download)
     
   • Tours of MPAs that portal partners work in, e.g. WWF, TNC, & CI
     
2. Work with the PPO project manager and/or the assistant web developer to upload new content for the Oceans in Google Earth page of the portal
3. Work under the direction of the PPO project manager to improve interlinkages between existing layers in Oceans in Google Earth (this may also involved working with the Multimedia Assistant)
   
4. Assist MPA Research Assistant(s) to process and manage spatial boundary data for MPAs. Typical tasks include direct digisiting and producing as .kml format

• * Bachelors degree preferred * Good knowledge of HTML and KML * Sound knowledge of MS Excel or equivalent spreadsheet software, and associated formats, e.g. .csv * Experience using GIS and/or Google Earth Pro, particularly in digitising and processing polygons * Experience using the internet and internet-based tools such as Google Groups, Google Docs, etc * Attention to detail * Knowledge and interest in marine protected areas, and marine conservation