@Ally (Ecostructures) – Thank you for the presentation. How do you collate engineering, biodiversity data etc. to support marine planning decisions? Would a single uniform database and data visualisation platform be of use?
As part of the Ecostructure project we have collected data in a number of ways and are collating it into a number of project outputs that will be made publicly available as resources to support planning and decision-making.
1) Our colleagues at University College Dublin collected data on all artificial coastal structures around the Irish Sea coasts of Wales and Ireland. This was through Google Earth surveys and ground-truthing. They are collating this into a web-based map platform of structure locations along with information about them, e.g. type, size, material, design, etc.
2) We undertook detailed field surveys of a number of these coastal structures, recording their physical properties through digital 3D habitat modelling and the biological communities colonising them. This data will all be made available in raw format but is also being used to address a number of research questions that will be published in papers over the coming years. One of the key outputs from this will be a web-based tool for predicting the biodiversity that is likely to colonise new structures in different locations around Irish and Welsh coastlines. Users will also be able to see what is already colonising existing structures. Our colleagues at Bangor University are working on this at present.
3) As well as generating evidence about actions that can be taken to enhance biodiversity on marine structures through our own experimental trials, we are collating the global evidence base into a Conservation Evidence synopsis www.conservationevidence.com . This will provide an objective summary of all the evidence out there for actions that can be taken to enhance biodiversity on structures.
All of these outputs will be made publicly available over the coming year - keep an eye on our website http://www.ecostructureproject.eu/ and Twitter @ecostructure_ for announcements. The platform on which 1 & 2 will be hosted is TBC - there have been a number of suggestions, including signposting from the Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre. But this decision is ongoing and any additional suggestions are welcome. Output 3 will be hosted on the existing Conservation Evidence website to ensure continuity and updating beyond the life of our project.
N.B. the Ecostructure project is much broader than the work I presented today and the outputs described above - there are teams working on material engineering, community engagement, hydrodynamic modelling, population genetics, non-native species risk management, ecosystem services valuation and engagement with policy/practice.
Please get in touch if you'd like to know more.
Ally
Croeso i
Ffurflen Gofrestru’r Digwyddiad Ar-lein
"Ein harfordir a'n moroedd: Rhoi syniadau ar waith"
QUESTION SUBMITTED LIVE:
Kath Wellard:
Ally - can you providea link to your paper on barriers please?
Hi Kath, you can access the paper through the link here https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901117312005 . I've also uploaded a pdf below for anyone without subscription access. Thanks for your interest, Ally
QUESTION SUBMITTED LIVE:
David Gold:
@Ally (Ecostructures) – Thank you for the presentation. How do you collate engineering, biodiversity data etc. to support marine planning decisions? Would a single uniform database and data visualisation platform be of use?
Hi David,
As part of the Ecostructure project we have collected data in a number of ways and are collating it into a number of project outputs that will be made publicly available as resources to support planning and decision-making.
1) Our colleagues at University College Dublin collected data on all artificial coastal structures around the Irish Sea coasts of Wales and Ireland. This was through Google Earth surveys and ground-truthing. They are collating this into a web-based map platform of structure locations along with information about them, e.g. type, size, material, design, etc.
2) We undertook detailed field surveys of a number of these coastal structures, recording their physical properties through digital 3D habitat modelling and the biological communities colonising them. This data will all be made available in raw format but is also being used to address a number of research questions that will be published in papers over the coming years. One of the key outputs from this will be a web-based tool for predicting the biodiversity that is likely to colonise new structures in different locations around Irish and Welsh coastlines. Users will also be able to see what is already colonising existing structures. Our colleagues at Bangor University are working on this at present.
3) As well as generating evidence about actions that can be taken to enhance biodiversity on marine structures through our own experimental trials, we are collating the global evidence base into a Conservation Evidence synopsis www.conservationevidence.com . This will provide an objective summary of all the evidence out there for actions that can be taken to enhance biodiversity on structures.
All of these outputs will be made publicly available over the coming year - keep an eye on our website http://www.ecostructureproject.eu/ and Twitter @ecostructure_ for announcements. The platform on which 1 & 2 will be hosted is TBC - there have been a number of suggestions, including signposting from the Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre. But this decision is ongoing and any additional suggestions are welcome. Output 3 will be hosted on the existing Conservation Evidence website to ensure continuity and updating beyond the life of our project.
N.B. the Ecostructure project is much broader than the work I presented today and the outputs described above - there are teams working on material engineering, community engagement, hydrodynamic modelling, population genetics, non-native species risk management, ecosystem services valuation and engagement with policy/practice.
Please get in touch if you'd like to know more.
Ally