InVEST User Guide

Editors: Richard Sharp, James Douglass, Stacie Wolny.

Contributing Authors: Katie Arkema, Joey Bernhardt, Will Bierbower, Nicholas Chaumont, Douglas Denu, James Douglass, David Fisher, Kathryn Glowinski, Robert Griffin, Gregory Guannel, Anne Guerry, Cyrus Guerry-Lawler, Justin Johnson, Perrine Hamel, Christina Kennedy, Chong-Ki Kim, Martin Lacayo, Eric Lonsdorf, Lisa Mandle, Lauren Rogers, Richard Sharp, Jess Silver, Jodie Toft, Gregory Verutes, Adrian L. Vogl, Stacie Wolny, Spencer Wood, Katherine Wyatt.

Citation: Sharp, R., Douglass, J., Wolny, S., Arkema, K., Bernhardt, J., Bierbower, W., Chaumont, N., Denu, D., Fisher, D., Glowinski, K., Griffin, R., Guannel, G., Guerry, A., Johnson, J., Hamel, P., Kennedy, C., Kim, C.K., Lacayo, M., Lonsdorf, E., Mandle, L., Rogers, L., Silver, J., Toft, J., Verutes, G., Vogl, A. L., Wood, S, and Wyatt, K. 2020, InVEST 3.9.0.post25+ug.g6361440 User’s Guide. The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, University of Minnesota, The Nature Conservancy, and World Wildlife Fund.

Introduction

• Why we need tools to map and value ecosystem services
  • Introduction
  • Who should use InVEST?
  • Introduction to InVEST
  • Using InVEST to Inform Decisions
  • A work in progress
  • This guide
• Getting Started
  • Installing InVEST and sample data on your Windows computer
  • Installing InVEST on your Mac
  • Standalone InVEST Tools
  • Older InVEST Versions
  • Using sample data
  • Formatting your data
  • Running the models
  • Support and Error Reporting
  • Working with the DEM

InVEST Models

Supporting Ecosystem Services:

• Habitat Quality
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • References
• Habitat Risk Assessment
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Interpreting Results
  • Appendix
  • References
• Pollinator Abundance: Crop Pollination
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the model
  • Interpreting Results
  • Appendix: Table of Variables
  • Appendix: Data Sources
  • References

Final Ecosystem Services:

• Forest Carbon Edge Effect
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The model
  • Data needs
  • Running the model
  • Interpreting Results
  • References
• Carbon Storage and Sequestration
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Appendix: Data Sources
  • References
• Coastal Blue Carbon
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Limitations and Simplifications
  • Data Needs and Running the Model
  • Example Use-Case
  • References
• Annual Water Yield
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Interpreting Results
  • Appendix 1: Data Sources
  • Appendix 2: Calibration of Water Yield Model
  • References
• NDR: Nutrient Delivery Ratio
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Appendix: Data sources
  • References
• SDR: Sediment Delivery Ratio
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Evaluating Sediment Retention Services
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Appendix 1: Data Sources
  • Appendix 2: Representation of Additional Sources and Sinks of Sediment
  • References
• Unobstructed Views: Scenic Quality Provision
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Limitations and Simplifications
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • References
• Visitation: Recreation and Tourism
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Interpreting Results
  • References
• Wave Energy Production
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Interpreting Results
  • Case Example Illustrating Results
  • Appendix A
  • References
• Offshore Wind Energy Production
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Interpreting Results
  • Data Sources
  • Running the Model
  • References
• Marine Finfish Aquacultural Production
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Limitations and Simplifications
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Interpreting Results
  • References
• Fisheries
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Scenarios
  • Limitations and Simplifications
  • Model Details and Guidance
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Interpreting Results
  • References
• Crop Production
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data Needs
  • Running the model
  • Interpreting Results
  • References
• Seasonal water yield
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Data needs
  • Running the model
  • Appendix 1: Data sources and guidance for parameter selection
  • Appendix 2: \({\mathbf{\alpha},\mathbf{\beta}}_{\mathbf{i}},\)and \(gamma\) parameters definition and alternative values
  • References

Urban Ecosystem Services:

• Urban Cooling Model
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Limitations and simplifications
  • Data needs
  • Interpreting outputs
  • Appendix: Data sources and guidance for parameter selection
  • FAQs
  • References
• Urban Flood Risk Mitigation model
  • Introduction
  • The model
  • Data needs
  • Interpreting outputs
  • Appendix: Data sources and guidance for parameter selection

Tools to Facilitate Ecosystem Service Analyses:

• Coastal Vulnerability Model
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Model
  • Limitations and Simplifications
  • Data Needs
  • Running the Model
  • Interpreting results
  • Appendix A
  • Appendix B
  • References
• InVEST GLOBIO Model
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The model
  • Data needs
  • Running the model
  • Interpreting Results
  • References

Supporting Tools

• RouteDEM
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • Tool Inputs
  • References
• DelineateIt
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • Tool Inputs
  • Tool Outputs
  • References
• Scenario Generator: Proximity Based
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The model
  • Data needs
  • Running the model
  • Interpreting Results
  • Sample Script
• InVEST Scripting Guide and API
  • Summary
  • Introduction

Acknowledgements

• Acknowledgements
  • Data sources
  • Individuals and organizations