OLC NIFA Data Cube Datasets

Overview

This repository organizes key geospatial, environmental, and socio-cultural datasets used in the Oglala Lakota College (OLC) NIFA Data Cube project.
These datasets support research, education, and land stewardship, including work with the Pine Ridge Reservation and surrounding regions.

The OLC NIFA Data Cube integrates multi-source datasets for ecological, climate, and land-use research in the Northern Great Plains region.
The project emphasizes Tribal data sovereignty, open science, and land-based education.

All data are intended for research, education, and conservation purposes and should be used following proper attribution and data sharing agreements, particularly for Tribal and culturally sensitive data.

Geographic and Spatial Data

• USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US):Link
• OpenStreetMap (OSM):Link
• Boundary Data: Spatial boundaries for the Pine Ridge Reservation
  • GIS boundary datasets (Shapefiles/GeoJSON)
  • Option: Export full boundary from ArcGIS as GeoJSON

Geology and Soils Data

• POLARIS Soil Dataset:Link
  • Variables: Soil pH, organic matter, texture, etc.
  • Includes biomass, carbon, hydrology, and land use data
• USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey:Link
• SSURGO Downloader (NRCS):Link
• SoilGrids (ISRIC):Link
• South Dakota Geological Survey (SDGS):Link

Elevation and Topography

• USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED):Link
• NASA SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)
• Derived variables: slope, aspect, hillshade

Climate Data

• MACAv2-METDATA (THREDDS):Link
  • Downscaled climate data (temperature, precipitation, humidity)
  • Scenarios: RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5
• NOAA Climate Data (NCEI):Link
• PRISM Climate Data:Link
• GridMET:Link
• DayMET:Link
• NASA EarthData EOSDIS:Link
• NASA Global Climate Change - Vital Signs of the Planet:Link
• ESA Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI):Link

Vegetation and Land Cover

• National Land Cover Database (NLCD):Link
• MODIS Land Cover (MOD12):Link
• BONAP (Biota of North America Program):Link
• USGS Species Viewer:Link
• USFS National Grasslands:Link
• NDVI/EVI: Derived from MODIS or Sentinel-2 for vegetation health

Hydrology

• USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHDPlus HR):Link
• NASA GRACE (Groundwater Data):Link
• USGS Water Data for the Nation:Link
• Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC):Link

Satellite and Remote Sensing Data

• Landsat (USGS):Link
• Sentinel-2 (ESA Copernicus):Link
• Planet / Maxar (optional)

Conservation and Wildlife Data

• World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA):Link
• eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology):Link
• GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):Link
• USGS Protected Areas and Species Distributions:Link

Agricultural Data

• USDA NASS:Link
• FAO GIEWS:Link

Environmental Monitoring Data

• EPA Air Quality System (AQS):Link
• USGS BioData:Link

Infrastructure Data

• Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD):Link
• OpenStreetMap (OSM):Link
• Local GIS Resources: ex. IHS wells layer

Fire-related Datasets

• USGS LANDFIRE:Link
  • Existing Vegetation Type (EVT), Height (EVH), and Cover (EVC)
  • Fire Behavior Fuel Models (FBFM), Fuel Loading Models (FLM)
  • Disturbance (DST), Fire Regime Groups (FRG), Mean Fire Return Interval (MFRI)
• Fuelcast:Link

Socio-Cultural Data

• U.S. Census Bureau:Link
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) GIS:Link
• Tribal and Cultural Lands: GIS layers for culturally significant or sacred sites (with permissions)

Educational and Research Data

• NASA EarthData:Link
• Local Research Outputs (OLC): Biodiversity, cultural heritage, or land management studies
• Student Projects: Integrating student-generated environmental and GIS data

References and Acknowledgments

This repository integrates open and public data sources with Tribal-led research and ethical data management frameworks.
Please cite original data providers and respect Tribal Data Sovereignty principles when using or sharing these datasets.

Usage and Citation

The datasets in this repository are intended for research, education, and conservation purposes. Users must follow proper attribution guidelines and respect ethical data use, particularly for Tribal and culturally sensitive data.

Citing Datasets

• Always cite the original data providers for any dataset used.
• Include the dataset title, author/organization, year, and URL in any publication or report.
• For example, citing PAD-US could look like:

  USGS Gap Analysis Project. 2025. Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US). U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.usgs.gov/programs/gap-analysis-project/science/protected-areas

Tribal Data Sovereignty

• Some datasets represent Tribal lands, culturally significant sites, or community data.
• Users must request permission or follow Tribal guidance before using sensitive data, especially for public sharing, publications, or commercial use.
• Follow Tribal Data Governance principles, including:
  • Respect for Tribal ownership of data
  • Consultation with Tribal representatives for use of sensitive data
  • Following any license or use restrictions applied by the Tribe

General Guidelines

1. Do not redistribute raw data without permission.
2. Attribute all sources when using the data in visualizations, models, or reports.
3. Acknowledge Oglala Lakota College (OLC) NIFA Data Cube when using combined datasets or derived analyses.
4. Check dataset-specific licenses for any additional restrictions.

By following these guidelines, users ensure ethical, responsible, and culturally respectful use of all datasets in the OLC NIFA Data Cube.