user requirements document statement

NSW VEGETATION INFORMATION SYSTEM – USER REQUIREMENTS

User Requirements Document Statement

Developed for the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change

Final Version 2.0

Prepared by Spatial Vision Innovations Pty Ltd ABN 28 092 695 951 March 2008 Level 2 170 Queen Street Melbourne 3000 Victoria Australia Tel +61 3 9691 3000 Fax +61 3 9691 3001 E-mail [email protected] Web www.spatialvision.com.au

NSW Vegetation Information System – User Requirements Spatial Vision NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change

Ref: SV001931 07/03/08 Commercial-in-Confidence of 69 Spatial Vision

Document Control

Client Name NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change

Project Name NSW Vegetation Information System – User Requirements

Document Type User Requirements Document

Project Number SV001931

File Name SV1931_NSW DECC Veg Info System User Requirements 2.0.doc

Version Final 2.0

Version Date 5 March 2008

Written by Gemma Bailey

Reviewed by Graeme Martin

Contact Details

SV Contact Person Graeme Martin

Direct Dial Telephone 03 9691 3048

Mobile Telephone 0409 185 409

E-mail [email protected]



Acronyms

BRS

CAP

CMA

Bureau of Rural Sciences

Catchment Action Plans

Catchment Management Authority

DECC

DEWHA

Department of Environment and Climate Change

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

DPI Department of Primary Industries

LIST Land Information System Tasmania

LG

MER

Local Government

Monitoring, Evaluating & Reporting

MPSC

NGO

NPWS

Native Vegetation Type and Mapping Program Steering Committee

Non Government Organisation

National Parks & Wildlife Service

NRINC

NRM

Natural Resources Information Needs Committee

Natural Resource Management

NSW New South Wales

NSWVCA New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment

NVIS National Vegetation Information System

PoM Plan of Management

PVP Property Vegetation Planning

SH

SoE

SoF

SoP

Stakeholders

State of Environment

State of Forests

State of Parks

SV

URS

Spatial Vision

User Requirements Statement

Vic VIS Victorian Vegetation Information System

VIS Vegetation Information System (NSW)

WoG Whole of Government

YETI Vegetation Survey Database (Yet Another Vegetation Database)



Contents

1. Introduction...................................................................................................................8 1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 8 1.3 Audience.................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.4 DECC Vegetation Project Organisational Structure .............................................................................. 8 1.5 Statutory Vegetation Legislation ............................................................................................................ 9 1.6 Related Projects...................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Rationale for a NSW VIS...............................................................................................10 2.1 Problem Statement............................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 The Business Opportunity .................................................................................................................... 10 2.3 High Level Business Drivers ................................................................................................................ 11 2.4 Current Issues....................................................................................................................................... 11 2.4.1 Governance ........................................................................................................................................... 11 2.4.2 Cultural.................................................................................................................................................. 11 2.4.3 Systems ................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4.4 Data ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.5 Spatial Software.................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.6 Work Practices...................................................................................................................................... 12 3. Methodology ................................................................................................................14 3.1 High Level Method ................................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Stakeholder Engagement ..................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Stakeholder Definition .......................................................................................................................... 15 3.4 Defining User Groups ........................................................................................................................... 16 3.5 Defining User Requirements................................................................................................................ 17 4. VIS – Defining User Groups..........................................................................................18 4.1 Business Function Definition................................................................................................................ 18 4.2 User Group Definition ........................................................................................................................... 18 5. Core Information Products ..........................................................................................21 5.1 Purpose of Information Products......................................................................................................... 21 5.2 Information Products............................................................................................................................ 21 5.3 Information Programs – Description ................................................................................................... 23 6. User Requirements .....................................................................................................27 6.1 Setting of Priorities............................................................................................................................... 27 6.2 User Requirements Matrix ................................................................................................................... 27 6.3 Priorities................................................................................................................................................ 43 6.3.1 Major Priorities for VIS Development .................................................................................................. 43 6.3.2 Common Requirements........................................................................................................................ 43



6.3.3 Relation to Subsequent Documents..................................................................................................... 44 7. Existing Systems .........................................................................................................45 7.1 YETI: Yet Another Vegetation Database ............................................................................................... 45 7.2 New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment (NSWVCA).......................................... 45 7.3 Biometric Tool....................................................................................................................................... 45 7.4 NSW Wildlife Atlas ................................................................................................................................ 46 7.5 Threatened Species Web Site............................................................................................................... 46 7.6 Threatened Species Tool ...................................................................................................................... 46 7.7 David Keith’s Vegetation Map ............................................................................................................... 46 7.8 The Biobanking Credit Calculator ........................................................................................................ 47 7.9 NSW Natural Resources Data Directory (NRDD) ................................................................................ 47 7.10 Public Access Web Sites....................................................................................................................... 47 8. Review of VIS Systems within Australia .......................................................................48 8.1 NVIS Information Structure.................................................................................................................. 54 8.2 Conclusions Drawn from the Review ................................................................................................... 55 9. Glossary ......................................................................................................................56

TABLES

Table 1: Stakeholders in a NSW Vegetation Information System.................................................................... 15 Table 2: Vegetation Related User Groups......................................................................................................... 18 Table 3: User Group Decision Making and Critical Data Requirements.......................................................... 21 Table 4: NSW Information Programs and VIS................................................................................................... 23 Table 5: Federal NVIS System ........................................................................................................................... 48 Table 6: SA VIS System ...................................................................................................................................... 49 Table 7: QLD VIS System.................................................................................................................................... 50 Table 8: WA VIS System ..................................................................................................................................... 51 Table 9: Victorian VIS System............................................................................................................................ 52 Table 10: Tasmanian VIS Systems..................................................................................................................... 52 Table 11: ACT VIS System.................................................................................................................................. 53 Table 12: NT VIS System.................................................................................................................................... 53 Table 13: NVIS Information Hierarchy .............................................................................................................. 54 Table 14: Governance Issues............................................................................................................................. 64 Table 15: Cultural Issues................................................................................................................................... 64 Table 16: Systems Issues .................................................................................................................................. 64 Table 17: Data Issues......................................................................................................................................... 65 Table 18: Spatial Software Issues ..................................................................................................................... 66 Table 19: Workflow Issues................................................................................................................................. 66 APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Participants in Consultation Process ........................................................................................... 59 Appendix 2: Current Issues ............................................................................................................................... 63 Appendix 3: Business Function and Information Products.............................................................................. 67



NSW Vegetation Information System – User Requirements

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is the lead agency for state-wide reporting on the type, condition and extent of biodiversity, native vegetation and threatened species in NSW. To enhance the Departments ability to meet core business responsibilities in these areas, the Department is undertaking a broad range of activities focused at introducing effective ‘single point of truth’ data management practices for all critical vegetation data. This project is called Standardising NSW Native Vegetation Data. A central element of this approach includes the development of a NSW Vegetation Information System (VIS) to facilitate better collection, management, access and integration of native vegetation information.

Spatial Vision has been contracted by DECC to undertake various tasks associated with the Investigation and Consolidation Phase (Phase 1) of the overall Standardising NSW Native Vegetation Data project. This document is the User Requirements Statement (URS). This document will define the major stakeholders for native vegetation; their current business needs for information and will detail their requirements for a VIS. This is the first of a series of deliverables; the information herein will provide the foundation for documentation of NSW VIS functional specifications and an implementation strategy.

The vision for the NSW VIS is to become the ‘single point of truth’ or access for native vegetation information, and improve DECC’s capacity to support a range of core business activities including (but not limited to) mapping programs, biobanking, biocertification, property vegetation planning (PVP), and general reporting (e.g. SOE, NVIS, MER). The VIS should support convenient access for government agencies, CMA’s, and their clients; providing access to standardised products as well as access to underlying data (i.e. plot and map) for various research and re-use applications.

Acceptance of the supporting information management (IM) processes and governance arrangements to maintain VIS as the ‘single point of truth’ for vegetation data will be vital to effective development and operation of VIS.

The User Requirement investigations have reviewed information needs for vegetation extent, type and condition; in addition to consideration of field survey, mapping and modelling requirements, and taking into account current systems already operational (e.g. PVP, Bio-banking) and reporting for CAP’s, SoE and MER.

The User Requirements Statement is intended to inform a variety of processes including the establishment of functional specification for priority system functionality definition, product development, systems integration and an implementation plan for the VIS.

The top 10 Priorities for VIS Development identified from this process include;

1. An accessible, standardised vegetation information classification dataset

2. Development of a ‘Vegetation Information System’ data model and process for transfer from existing systems (i.e., NSWVCA, YETI)

3. Application built to access vegetation spatial and non spatial data

4. Access to vegetation community plot data (YETI),

5. Access to standard, prepared DECC vegetation mapping products online



6. Accessible, comprehensive, historic, online, searchable metadata catalogue for vegetation related spatial and non spatial data,

7. Consolidation of various vegetation systems used currently within DECC

8. Contextual information should be available to support vegetation applications \(i.e., must include additional layers such as soils, land tenure, species etc)

9. Consistent support framework for VIS from IM to be established through workflows within DECC

10. The VIS must service the NSW vegetation community but must also inform the NVIS

Deployment of VIS must not be considered a one-off project. The VIS will need an ongoing commitment to be supported, both financially and operationally from head-office and regional staff.



NSW Vegetation Information System – User Requirements 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose

The purpose of the User Requirements Statement (URS) is to categorise the need for action in relation to the NSW Vegetation Information System. This document is oriented towards documented needs; it does not seek to recommend a specific solution or acquisition program. It is intended as an analysis derived from an extensive consultation process that establishes capabilities in relation to the demand for potential services from a NSW VIS.

Specifically, the objectives of the URS are to:

• Identify stakeholders and their interests/role in vegetation information,

• Define the specific business needs of stakeholders in relation to vegetation information,

• Define user requirements with regards to vegetation information products (i.e. maps) and systems.

1.2 Background The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is the lead agency for state-wide reporting on the type, condition and extent of biodiversity, native vegetation and threatened species in NSW. To enhance the Departments ability to meet core business responsibilities in these areas the Department is undertaking a broad range of activities focused at introducing ‘single point of truth’ data management practices for all critical vegetation data. This project is called Standardising NSW Native Vegetation Data. A central element of this approach includes the development of a NSW Vegetation Information System (VIS) to facilitate better collection, management, access and integration of native vegetation information.

Spatial Vision has been contracted by DECC to undertake various tasks associated with the Investigation and Consolidation Phase (Phase 1) of the overall Standardising NSW Native Vegetation Data project. This document is the User Requirements Statement (URS). This document will define the major stakeholders for native vegetation; their current business needs for information and will detail their requirements for a VIS. This is the first of a series of deliverables; the information herein will provide the foundation for documentation of NSW VIS functional specifications and an implementation strategy.

1.3 Audience This User Requirements Statement has been prepared for and approved by the DECC Project Team.

The User Requirements Statement will be examined by the Native Vegetation Information Steering Committee, currently responsible for coordinating a range of vegetation projects of which this is a part.

At the executive level, this project will inform the DECC Natural Resource Management (NRM) Executive Sub-committee.

1.4 DECC Vegetation Project Organisational Structure The DECC Project Team consists of Bob Denholm, Ron Avery, Dominic Sivertsen, Julie Ravallion, Malcolm Stevens and Utpala Narasimham. The governance structure for this project is set out in Figure 1.



Figure 1: DECC Project Governance Structure

1.5 Statutory Vegetation Legislation Native vegetation information in NSW supports a number of statutory and legislative requirements outlined within the following documents. These include the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997, the Local Government Act 1993, the Crown Lands Act 1989, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Rural Fires Act 1997, the Noxious Weeds Act 1993, and the Catchment Management Act 1989.

1.6 Related Projects This project will be run in conjunction with the Information Sciences Branch development of an Information Management Strategy to help address high level governance and IM issues. Also to be undertaken concurrently is the development of standards compliant with the ‘NSW Government Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management’ (NRC 2005). These are listed below and may be referred to throughout.

1. Definition of Native Vegetation and Operational Terms for reporting Extent1

2. Native Vegetation Extent Standard2

3. Native Vegetation Type Standard3

4. Native Vegetation Condition Standard4

1 Status = Complete. Proposed publish date Feb 2008

2 Status = Ongoing. Proposed publish date Nov 2008

3 Status = Ongoing. Proposed publish date Feb 2008

4 Status = Ongoing. Proposed publish date Nov 2008



2. Rationale for a NSW VIS 2.1 Problem Statement

DECC recognises the need in NSW for accessible information to support internal and external professionals to better inform native vegetation management, assessments and monitoring across the state.

Presently, access to native vegetation information is limited to disparate web systems for different NRM issues (eg, Threatened Species site, NR Atlas); specific operational tools (PVP, biobanking) and disconnected desktop operations which have created an incompatible operational framework for managing and delivering information.

Many operational assessments of native vegetation and management decisions are made at site, local and catchment scale by officers in regional DECC offices and Catchment Management Authorities. These regional entities do not have effective direct access to DECC enterprise information resources and consequently have created and maintained their own data resources. This has led to significant data silos within organisations affecting work processes, data access, collection and supply.

State level or broad scale vegetation information informs monitoring and reporting requirements (eg, in the form of SoE and MER) and allows the development of policy decisions in relation to scientific parameters for vegetation related constraints (eg, vegetation community definitions, EEC definition etc).

At a national level, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts operate the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS), a comprehensive data system that provides information on the extent and distribution of vegetation types across Australian landscapes. NVIS is a collaborative initiative between the Australian and state and territory governments to manage national vegetation data to help improve vegetation planning and management within Australia. To date, NSW has only been able to provide state-wide vegetation data to NVIS at a very basic level.

2.2 The Business Opportunity Support from the federal government to better deliver NVIS compatible vegetation data represents a significant opportunity to DECC to develop a VIS to not only meet the requirements of the federal government but also the impetus for providing a framework of support for vegetation management within NSW.

Significant financial and economic benefits to the state of NSW would be afforded by supplying the right data to the people that make decisions in a simple manner. Clearly, at this time, there are many disconnected processes used to collect, manage and distribute vegetation data that results in major inefficiencies and inconsistencies in decision making.

Deployment of a VIS will encounter issues (e.g., changing long upheld work processes); however, the main issues can be overcome with the following commitments:

• Significant support and funding from the DECC executive level in the area of Information Management.

• Meeting the requirements of large and small stakeholders in order to satisfy a broad view of end user needs for a VIS.

• Development of an export function that is compatible with federal NVIS reporting needs from existing NSW vegetation classification information.

• Solid and comprehensive enterprise data model for spatial and non spatial data that can support a variety of applications.

• Ongoing financial support for VIS to support operations and continuous improvements as well as a commitment by regional staff to make use of the resource.



• Alignment with state reporting programmes including SoE, MER and SoC.

2.3 High Level Business Drivers Significant benefits to the state of NSW would be afforded by supplying the right data to the people that make decisions NRM in a simple manner. State level drivers to be considered include;

Accurate, timely ‘single point of truth’ (SPOT) data that can be distributed to a multitude of users through a browser, significantly lowering the cost of data supply throughout the organisation.

Encourage efficient standardised work processes throughout the organisation. This is imperative for wider confidence in data and its reported outcomes.

Developing systems that apply smart decision methods and maintain transparent and accountable data records.

Significant investment in a tangible framework for future vegetation assessment, planning and decision making to address ‘climate change’ issues.

Users and commentators will recognise best practice in government technological development and support, thus DECC will be seen to be embracing the concept of knowledge based economy in NSW.

Investment opportunities emerging from vegetation based data require timely access to tools supported by vegetation information. It is imperative that access is established but also that the data supporting applications be of such a quality to be utilised in this manner (for example, emissions trading, carbon trading and carbon sequestration).

The recent significant re-organisation of authorities governing NRM issues requires significant, cost efficient investment in the standardisation of IM and IT.

Robust information systems support strong regulatory frameworks (i.e., Standards currently being developed) with firm targets, timelines and milestones.

2.4 Current Issues Consultation identified many issues related to the current situation and highlighted the need for a VIS. The main issues include:

2.4.1 Governance

o Historic lack of ongoing executive support for information management

o Lack of understanding at executive level that information systems underpin ALL reporting, operations and development decisions in relation to vegetation at all scales

o Lack of ongoing funding for structured information capture and management support

o Constant NSW Government restructuring and changes in policy direction have encouraged staff to do their own thing in order to solve their own business issues. (DECC needs to get systems into place, be given time to implement them without changes driven by politics affecting the underlying systems)

o Opportunities for leadership in data and systems integration and product delivery previously dissipated because of a lack of ongoing departmental strategic focus.

2.4.2 Cultural

o Staff within the DECC at all levels do their own thing in relation to their work processes. Where corporate standards exist, they are often not followed. Where



corporate systems exist, they are often not used. Consequently, information collected often does not enter the system

o Lack of IT support for IM practices and biodiversity databases across the whole of DECC

o External consultants do not (as a matter of work process) supply their data digitally to the DECC enterprise system

o Lack of integration between regional and head office work processes

o Cultures of three major NR agencies are merging

2.4.3 Systems

o Diminished competence of the DECC Enterprise System

o Insufficient or poorly defined IM processes

o Systems available operate in a stand alone environment for a specific purpose; they are not integrated

o Poor external availability of data

o Poor accessibility to systems

o Systems for three major NR agencies are merging

2.4.4 Data

o Poor appreciation at all levels of the value of data

o Weak skills in data acquisition, management and analysis

o A fundamental shift from qualitative to quantitative vegetation information analysis in the last 10 years

o Time and expense of data collection has never been a popular investment

o Poor external availability of data

o Poor accessibility to spatial / non-spatial vegetation information

o Fundamental corporate datasets are not within the enterprise system (eg, NSW VCA)

o Lack of data collection standards

o Inconsistent classification and attribution of vegetation data

o Need to facilitate spatial context into vegetation classification data

o Decisions need to be made within DECC about ‘source’ data. (For example, what is the most accurate source of taxonomic data?)

o Very limited metadata

2.4.5 Spatial Software

o Rapidly evolving GIS technologies; government have been ‘late adopters’ making systems semi obsolete when released

o Lack of centrally supported NRM tools

o Insufficient training

o No effective, consistent communication of IM strategy from head office to the regional offices

2.4.6 Work Practices

o Different cultures, disciplines and attitudes to collective systems



o Lack of structured workflow both within departments and interdepartmentally

o Different work processes are utilised for identical or similar functions



3. Methodology The methodology employed to develop the URS utilised extensive consultation with stakeholders from all levels of the decision making process (i.e., site, local, catchment and state). The process is detailed below.

3.1 High Level Method Stakeholder Engagement

Spatial Vision undertook interviews and workshops in order to develop a clear understanding of the business requirements of internal and external stakeholders in vegetation information.

Objectives

• Collection of requirements of internal and external stakeholders

• Definition of user groups and their business function

• Highlight key findings from stakeholder consultation

User Requirements Development

User requirements were developed around the specific requirements of user groups.

Objectives

In order to fully appreciate the associated issues and requirements of vegetation data stakeholders, Spatial Vision:

• Defined user groups and their requirements in relation to processes, systems and products.

• Reviewed documentation relating to nominated vegetation information systems and databases within DECC.

• Followed up interviews with identified stakeholders for outstanding queries.

• Reviewed nominated sites to illustrate to DECC current trends and best practice in native vegetation systems already in operation.

3.2 Stakeholder Engagement DECC nominated internal and external stakeholders with interests in vegetation information for consultation. Stakeholders included representatives of DECC, CMA’s, NPWS, Local Government, NGO’s, private sector industry groups and the DPI.

Spatial Vision engaged with identified DECC and external stakeholders in order to capture information in a number of ways;

o Questionnaire

o Workshop Facilitation

o Personal and Telephone Interviews

Of 75 questionnaires mailed, 25 (33%) were returned completed. These were from a variety of different Business Units and have added significant detailed information to our analysis. These will also provide much needed detail for subsequent document development.

Participation in regional workshops included:

9 of 19 invitees to Newcastle

9 of 17 invitees to Queanbeyan



6 of 15 invitees to Dubbo

Sydney workshops included a range of different discussions with different departmental stakeholders. A full list of people and organisations invited to participate and their type of involvement is provided in Appendix 1.

3.3 Stakeholder Definition The VIS seeks to meet the requirements of large and small stakeholders in order to satisfy a broad view of end user needs for vegetation information. Below is a description of the main stakeholders and a brief description of their function and need for vegetation information.

Table 1: Stakeholders in a NSW Vegetation Information System

Stakeholder Description

DECC NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change mandate is to determine policy and support operational conduct through action, administration and reporting on all matters on the environment and in relation to climate change.

This includes (but is not limited to) the management of biodiversity, threatened species and native vegetation mapping, vegetation clearing, water, fire control, sustainability and conservation issues.

Vegetation data is an essential requirement that is used extensively to resolve issues, to design effective operational plans and budgets and to manage and evaluate the management of a significant natural resource. This is done within DECC at site, local, catchment and whole of state scales.

CMA Catchment Management Authorities were introduced across NSW to ensure that regional communities have a say in how natural resources are managed in their catchments.

CMAs are supported by DECC to provide regional scale operations and funding for NRM concerns. They develop CAP (Catchment Action Plans), investment strategies and annual implementation plans for prioritorised NRM programs.

CMAs utilise vegetation information in many ways. They administer and manage PVPs, native vegetation consents and clearing, water management, native vegetation management and rehabilitation. All decision making and planning are requiring of accessible, timely, vegetation information.

NSW CMA boundaries are divided as below.

Commonwealth National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) is an accessible, nationally consistent framework for describing and collecting vegetation type data for the whole of Australia.

NVIS was developed to assist in managing a range of ecosystem services and practices



such as biodiversity conservation, salinity control, improving water quality and other national concerns.

The NVIS system seeks s to collect a standardised vegetation dataset from each state on a regular basis in order to have up to date information to make decisions at a national scale.

NSW DECC, on behalf of the NSW government, is responsible for the delivery of this data in a specific format (see Glossary for NVIS Information Hierarchy)

Local Government Local Councils are major investors in the delivery of NRM outcomes. Councils are involved as planners, regulators, investors, land managers, service providers, and educators and has a range of functions, powers and responsibilities at its disposal to influence NRM - on both private and public land.

Councils tend to work apart from State government agencies (ie, DECC). They collect data at a much finer scale than CMAs because of their community focus.

They collect and use fine scale vegetation spatial and non spatial information (1:5000, 1:10000 & 1:25000) to develop Plans of Management, Catchment Assessment, Local Environmental Plans (zoning), Development Control Plans, SoE reporting and Development Assessment Plans.

NGO Non Government Organisations represent an independent voice for engagement in environmental issues. They lobby local, state and federal government on issues or priority, conservation focus, and communicate with wider environmental groups in the community.

They review government policy and operations and provide a system of checks and balances for decision making on environmental issues. (For example, National Parks Association of NSW)

These organisations need vegetation data to support their lobbying and to provide data to community groups that don’t have the resources.

Universities Universities provide DECC with significant off site and independent research and development programs for vegetation based work. University findings can inform policy and provide assistance in the development of systems and tools to satisfy statutory legislation in NSW.

Department of Planning

The Department of Planning has developed the State Plan for the incumbent Labour government. The plan reports on various measures and includes Vegetation reporting in the Environment and Living section. Information must be provided to the Department of Planning for them to report on the State Plan.

Department of Lands The Department of Lands does considerable work in the collection of spatial data. Many regional DECC staff use Lands SIX spatial data tool as they have up to date imagery and data available. DECC vegetation and Lands have converging interests in the area of State Parks, Crown Land and Soil.

Landholders Landholders include farmers and other persons with claim to lands who seek to engage with DECC and CMAs in order to guide their practices in environmental monitoring and practice. Landholders may include single operations or community groups in a particular area.

3.4 Defining User Groups User groups were defined by a combination of business function, the role of vegetation information and the scale at which decisions are made for different purposes.

User needs were determined for each User Group. The following diagram explains how User Groups were derived.



Figure 2: User Needs Derivation

3.5 Defining User Requirements The capture of the high level User Requirements for VIS included:

1. Definition of function of the main business units (defined in Section 4.1)

2. Definition of different scale requirements (defined in Section 4.1)

3. Definition of the role of vegetation information for different business functions (see Appendix 3: Business Function)

4. Definition of the main User Groups (defined in Section 4.2)

5. Identification of User Requirements (Section 6.1)



4. VIS – Defining User Groups 4.1 Business Function Definition

The Business Function defines what decisions are being driven by vegetation data. These are high level activities that will be serviced by the proposed vegetation information system (NSW VIS).

These business functions are performed at different scales to generate different outcomes. They include;

1. Site Level (site based assessment involving on-ground survey – eg, biometric)

2. Local level (localised planning without site assessment, used to support planning decisions such as biocertification via LEP's)

3. Catchment level (used to direct management plans and investment decisions)

4. State level (used in determination of broad priorities for MER, State Plan and NVIS etc)

It is important to understand that all scale levels are important; they just serve a different function within the DECC.

A full dissemination of user groups and their role is provided in Appendix 2.

4.2 User Group Definition User groups were defined by the scale at which decisions are made for different purposes, an understanding of different business functions and the role of vegetation information within those functions.

Table 2: Vegetation Related User Groups

User Group Stakeholders Business Function Decision Level (Scale)

Role of Vegetation Information

1. UG-1: Site Assessment

CMAs

DECC

LG

Landholders

Condition assessment

BioBanking proposals

Property Veg Plans (PVP)

Property Level

- Provides a context for decision making through benchmarks and other conservation status parameters eg %cleared

- Derivation of community classifications

- Spatial mapping

- Assists identification of values on site

- Provides a context for other values (eg, fauna)

2. UG-2: Local Scale Planning

Dept of Planning

DECC

LG

NGOs

Clearing Applications (NV Act)

DA’s (EPA Act)

Farm Management Plans

Recovery planning for highly restricted species

Forestry

Recovery planning for EEC’s and particular species

Sub catchment

- Allows impact of development to be identified and strategies to be put in place to avoid intensification of land-uses

- Provides the basis for offsetting

- Capacity to maximise strategic value of certification processes and to avoid inappropriate zoning is entirely dependant on mapped vegetation info



3. UG-3: Reserve Management

DECC - PWG

LG

Dept of Lands

Preparation of LEP’s (current zoning)

PoM

Bio-certification process

Threshold rezoning

Fire management planning

Carbon trading and Sequestration

Catchment - Allows tracking of progress towards a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative Reserve system

- Allows prioritisation of effort for fire, pest, weed and species/habitat management strategies

- Allows HR burning to be undertaken within ecological thresholds and informs wildfire suppression activities

- Informs visitor management and interpretative work

- Capacity to maximise strategic value of certification processes and to avoid inappropriate zoning is entirely dependant on mapped vegetation info

4. UG-4: Regional / Catchment Strategy

CMAs

DECC

CAP preparation

Recovery planning for habitat generalists / widely dispersed species

Climate change adoption planning

Catchment - Allows spatial and thematic priorities to be set (eg, private landholder incentive programs)

- Gives spatial focus to some elements of climate change adaptation planning (eg, corridor linkages)

- Allows biodiversity to be a factor in long term urban growth planning

- Allows conservation plans to be developed for widespread species and communities

5. UG-5: Monitoring & Reporting

DECC – MER

Commonwealth

Monitoring State Plan targets for veg. extent, type & condition

SoE reporting

SoP reporting

SoF reporting

MER reporting

NVIS

National reporting

State - Monitoring changes in condition (via plot data)

- Monitoring changes in extent

- Informs political policy related to NRM issues

6. UG-6: Science & Policy

DECC

Universities

Development of parameters for PVP/PAMS & Bio Banking

Development of parameters for other decision support tools

Vegetation classification

Listing decisions under the TSC Act (justification of EECs)

Climate change

State - Vegetation community definition

- EEC definition (via distribution, condition and status information)

- Define habitat surrogates for other species contribution to conservation status

- Allows for adaptation planning for some aspects to climate change



adaptation strategies

7. UG-7: Information Management

DECC

Licensing

Vegetation data maintenance

Managing inclusions and exclusions to DECC corporate databases

Data deployment

Application management

Metadata system management

N/A - Information Management

- Application Support

- Systems Support

Refer to Appendix 2 for a full description of User Groups; their business function; the main consumers of their information products; existing decision support processes and systems; their data needs for decision making and their critical vegetation information products.



5. Core Information Products Information Products are documents, reports, maps and/or systems that are drivers requiring elements of the proposed VIS. Information products may require input from a number of User Groups.

It is important to remember that Vegetation mapping is not the only end product of vegetation information. There are decisions made at many different scales that require vegetation information in its many different formats.

5.1 Purpose of Information Products Information products satisfy legislative, planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, operational and budgeting requirements at many different decision making levels within the organisation. It is important that the proposed VIS satisfies the requirements at all levels.

5.2 Information Products A core information product is described for each of the seven user groups. The Functional Specification will define the formats through which the products will be delivered. These formats may include web applications, map products, desktop GIS etc.

Table 3: User Group Decision Making and Critical Data Requirements

User Group Decision Type Decision Support Available

Critical Data Required

1. UG-1: Site Assessment

Condition assessment

BioBanking

Clearing applications

PVP/PAMS

BioBanking

Vegetation

Over-cleared vegetation

Over-cleared landscapes

Vegetation benchmarks

Threatened species profiles

Invasive native scrub

Biometric Veg Types

Regional veg. classification and mapping products

YETI floristic plot data

Contextual

Soils

Salinity

Water Quality

Land management DB

Wildlife Atlas

PlantNet

SIX

2. UG-2: Local Scale Planning


DA’s (EPA Act)

Farm Management Plans

Recovery planning for highly restricted species

Forestry

Recovery planning for EEC’s and

Bio-forecasting tool in use but not formally operationalised

Statutory process in place

No formal decision support systems in place

Vegetation

Plot data

Condition data (eg old growth, wilderness)

Detailed EEC mapping boundaries with reasonable agreement with cadastre

Connectivity assessments



particular species currently Point locality data for TS and habitat modelling

Contextual

Land tenure

Zoning

Other contextual data layers (including old growth, wilderness, wetland layers)

3. UG-3: Reserve Management

Preparation of LEP’s (current zoning)

PoM


Threshold rezoning



No formal decision support systems in place currently

Vegetation

Floristic plot data

Detailed vegetation community boundaries

Some planning needs detailed ECC mapping boundaries

TS records and habitat models

Contextual

Reserve & wilderness boundaries

Fire history and thresholds

Condition layers (eg Old growth, wilderness)

4. UG-4: Regional / Catchment Strategy

CAP preparation

Recovery planning for habitat generalists / widely dispersed species

Climate change adoption planning



Regional planning strategies and urban settlement strategies defined by policy objectives

Vegetation

Biometric Veg Types

Floristic plot data

Condition data (eg old growth, wilderness)

Detailed EEC mapping boundaries

Connectivity assessments

Point locality data for TS and habitat modelling

Contextual

Land tenure

Zoning

Various combinations of most data available

5. UG-5: Monitoring & Reporting


SoE reporting

SoP reporting

SoF reporting

MER reporting

NVIS

National reporting



Various processes feed into these reports. Therefore, many different data requirements are needed to satisfy these reporting requirements.

6. UG-6: Science & Policy



Vegetation classification



Various processes define policies and research. Many different data requirements are needed to satisfy these requirements.



Listing decisions under the TSC Act (justification of EECs)

Climate change adaptation strategies

7. UG-7: Information Management

Licensing

Vegetation data maintenance

Managing inclusions and exclusions to DECC corporate databases

Data deployment

Application management

Metadata system management

NA NA

Refer to Appendix 2 for a full description of User Groups; their business function; the main consumers of their information products; systems; their data needs for decision making, their critical vegetation information products and they scale at which they require them.

5.3 Information Programs – Description This section sets out how VIS will support key information programs run by DECC. The following table highlights the relation ship between the key information programs and VIS.

Table 4: NSW Information Programs and VIS

NSW Government Programs Relationship to VIS

MER: The MER Strategy lists proposed state-wide monitoring programs to be implemented, and additional monitoring programs that may be implemented if funding becomes available. It identifies lead agencies for each monitoring program. Agency and CMA monitoring programs will be coordinated to gain maximum use of data sets and to minimise costs.

Frequency: 5 yearly

MER reporting indicators include; Native Vegetation (type, extent and condition), Riverine Ecosystems (saltmarsh, mangrove and seagrass), Groundwater and Land Capability.

CMAs have MER reporting obligations which are done at various scales to satisfy a large number of outputs.

All vegetation classification levels and spatial scales of VIS data will be used for MER reporting.

MER reports have yet to be fully defined.

The VIS will be expected to manage vegetation type and extent map products and plot data collected as part of the type mapping program, or extent remote sensing field validation program. Permanent vegetation monitoring plots will also need to be managed in the VIS.

SoE: is a report developed by DECC which aims to provide credible, scientifically based environmental information to assist those involved in environmental policy and decision-making and managing the State's natural resources report is structured around six major themes: Toward Environmental Sustainability, Human Settlement, Atmosphere, Land, Water and Biodiversity.

Frequency: 3 yearly

SoE reported attributes include 37 environmental issues that are reported within particular NR themes through environmental data for 71 environmental indicators

This allows the ability to assess state wide classification, extent, and change and condition information, for essential, timely and accurate reporting.

All vegetation classification levels and spatial scales of VIS data will be used for SoE reporting.




There are no specific SoE reports defined.

National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) is an accessible, nationally consistent framework for describing and collecting vegetation type data for the whole of Australia.

NVIS was developed to assist in managing a range of ecosystem services and practices such as biodiversity conservation, salinity control, improving water quality and other national concerns.

The NVIS Information Hierarchy is based firstly on structural information and secondly on dominant genus and growth form collected at the sub-stratum level.

Frequency: None set to date

The NVIS System should receive direct exports of vegetation information from the VIS database in the classes defined by NVIS.

The vegetation classification scale will be coarse initially in some areas of the state but this will improve over time. Standards supporting data collection will ensure these classes are accurate.

All vegetation classification levels and spatial scales of VIS data will be used for NVIS reporting.

An NVIS report and transfer process will be defined in the Functional Requirements.

CAP (Catchment Action Plan): are plans developed by CMAs to coordinate vegetation activities and budgeting for the lands within their boundaries. They support associated investment strategies that integrate and enhance the Catchment Blueprints and the regional vegetation management plans.

Frequency: Ongoing

Generation of CAP’s would be more efficient if Catchment Coordinators have access to maps and spatial data from one authoritative source. This would allow extensive search, query, reporting and geo-processing capability on vegetation and contextual data from one authoritative data source, ie, VIS.

Information products utilised in the CAP process are defined by UG4.

Biometric Vegetation Types: is an assessment engine currently used for statutory processes including Property Vegetation Planning (under the NSW Native Vegetation Act 2003) and Biobanking (NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) but can, and will be used for other conservation assessment programs.

Excel-based tool that contains the definitive NSW list of vegetation community types along with their definitions and estimates of (extent) vegetation cover.

In NSW, these have been put together from the best data available. In the west of the state, vegetation types have been drawn from the NSWVCA database.

Frequency: Ongoing

(a) The Biometric veg types list will be maintained in the VIS, and will periodically go through a formal review process before being approved for exported to the Biometric assessment tool.

An aspiration goal for the future mapping program will be that all new veg type maps align directly with biometric veg type.

b) Threatened Species Data Base: This database develops profiles for all threatened species (flora and fauna). Each species is associated with one or more Biometric veg types. Currently this enables an officer to identify the veg type at a site and then generate a list of TS present likely to be present. Once Biometric types are mapped, the threatened species associations will enable the (modelled) distribution of TS to be mapped.

Relevance to VIS: does VIS needs link with TS profiles?

c) Over-cleared landscapes: This data base relies on mapped extent of native vegetation (woody and non-woody veg).

Relevance to VIS: capacity to generate overcleared landscape values in VIS by intersecting the best available veg extent data with Mitchell Landscapes.

d) Biometric Veg Condition Benchmarks: Site based condition metrics are defined for each Keith Veg Classes. This involves establishment




of reference sites and appropriate field survey metrics, that allows vegetation at other sites to be quantitatively assessment against a known good condition benchmark.

Relevance to VIS: The VIS needs to record the location and metrics of benchmark sites, and subsequent survey data collected for other sites which will be captured via the PVP or Biobanking programs.

All vegetation data products must be held within the ‘single point of truth’ for vegetation data – NSW VIS database – thus ensuring that different copies of the same database are not being utilised for formal decision support

Biometric Vegetation Types database will be stored in the VIS and service PVP applications or ‘tools’.

Biometric data structure and governance process will be defined in the Functional Requirements.

PVP/PAMS: Property Vegetation Plans (PVPs) set out how landholders will manage their vegetation in 15 year plans. They are supported by an IT system for land vegetation management known as PVP Administration Management Module or PAMS. This system aims to cease broad scale land clearing across the state.

Biometric Vegetation Types data informs this system, along with vegetation benchmarks, threatened species and over-cleared landscapes.

Frequency: Ongoing

All applications should be serviced from a ‘single point of truth’ for vegetation data – NSW VIS database – thus ensuring that different copies of the same database are not being utilised for formal decision support.

The PVP/PAMS application’s source Biometric Veg Types databases (see Biometric above) will be stored in the VIS and service PVP applications or ‘tools’.

PVP/PAMS application source databases will be defined in the Functional Requirements.1

Biobanking: is a market-based scheme encouraging developers to move away from areas with high biodiversity value while at the same time providing incentives for landowners to protect and secure these areas.

BioBanking enables 'biodiversity credits' to be generated by landowners who commit to enhance and protect biodiversity values on their land through a biobanking agreement. Credits can then be sold, generating funds for the management of the site. Credits can be used to offset impacts on biodiversity values that are likely to occur as a result of development. The credits can also be sold to those seeking to invest in conservation outcomes.

Frequency: Ongoing

All applications should be serviced from a ‘single point of truth’ for vegetation data – NSW VIS database – thus ensuring that different copies of the same database are not being utilised for formal decision support

The BioBanking application’s source databases will be stored in the VIS and service BioBanking applications or ‘tools’.

BioBanking application source databases will be defined in the Functional Requirements.1

Strategic land use planning: Recent reforms to TSC Act commit DECC to engage in the land use planning

VIS would support all areas of strategic land

1 Datasets driving the PVP/PAMS, BioBanking and Threatened Species Assessment Tool includes; Over-cleared vegetation, Over-cleared landscapes, Vegetation benchmarks, TS Profiles, Invasive native scrub, soils, salinity & water quality.




process at the earliest possible stage. Thus avoiding situations where land within high biodiversity values is rezoned for intensive use without biodiversity assessment. Outcomes include avoiding intensification of land uses in areas of high value and the development of offsetting schemes for unavoidable impacts.

Biocertification of Environmental Planning Instruments is the primary legislative tool to deliver this outcome. To work credibly it requires fine scale information on extent and condition of endangered ecological communities along with a suite of other data products. While offering the potential to end inappropriate rezoning decisions and resulting unproductive case by case conflict at a development applications level – the process must be supported by appropriate data to be credible.

Frequency: Ongoing – associated with major urban settlement strategies and regional land use planning initiatives – particularly in peri-urban and coastal areas

planning.

To have access to maps and spatial data from one authoritative source would allow extensive search, query, reporting and geo-processing capability on for one authoritative data source, ie, VIS.

There is no specific Strategic land use planning report defined.

Threatened Species Priorities Action Statement (TS PAS): outlines strategies to promote recovery of threatened species, populations and ecological communities and how to manage key threatening processes.

The PAS offers guidance on species recovery and provides priority lists of action for government and NGOs with the resources to contribute to the recovery effort. The PAS identifies which recovery and threat abatement plans DECC will prepare over the next three years to 2010.

The PAS will be reviewed every three years with input from the Natural Resources Commission, the Scientific Committee, the Social and Economic Advisory Council, the Biological Diversity Advisory Council, state and federal government agencies, and the public.

Frequency: 3 yearly

All applications should be serviced from a ‘single point of truth’ for vegetation data – NSW VIS database – thus ensuring that different copies of the same database are not being utilised for formal decision support

The Threatened Species Assessment application’s source databases will be stored in the VIS and service TS applications or ‘tools’.

The Threatened Species Assessment application source databases will be defined in the Functional Requirements. 1

IM&T Strategy: Information Management & Technology Strategy for NSW DECC

NA

Proposed Veg Type Mapping Program: currently being developed. The program will guide investment in veg type map products in NSW and define guidelines for product development.

Products will be available through the NSW VIS

Vegetation Standards: currently being developed. Will affect whether and how biometric veg types are mapped and specify standards for field survey in the plot (YETI) database redevelopment

This data will be available in the NSW VIS system



6. User Requirements This section describes the high-level user requirements for each of the 7 User Groups. They have been prioritised as High, Medium and low.

High (H) means that this requirement be addressed in the Functional Specification (meets more than 5 High Level Drivers)

Medium (M) described those requirements that will be integrated into the system at a later date (meets from 2-4 High Level Drivers)

Low (L) refers to those desirable items that are not imperative to the integral business drivers behind the build of the VIS (meets less than 2 High Level Drivers).

6.1 Setting of Priorities Priorities for the VIS (listed in Section 6.3.1) have been defined as those identified as HIGH in User Requirements matrix. They have been arranged in logical order from an implementation viewpoint.

6.2 User Requirements Matrix This matrix lists the User Requirements identified as part of the consultation process. User Requirements have been developed specific to a particular focus (ie, Data Content, Reporting, Discovery & Query, Data Access, Analysis & Manipulation, Communication, Information Architecture and Governance). For this reason, the same requirement may be listed under several of these headings. However, from a distinct focal point, this User Requirement will require different Functional Specification and therefore must be listed.

Key Requirements of NSW VIS

User Groups High Level Drivers - Programs

Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

ortin

g

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity

UG1 UG2 UG3 UG4 UG5 UG6 UG7



1 Data Content Requirements

1.1 Access to vegetation base spatial data. (vegetation type, condition and extent)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

1.2 Uniform vegetation classification database (with NVIS capacity)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

1.3 Ability to view and query Vegetation Plot data spatially

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

1.4 Access to current versions of contextual data for NSW (ie, access to DECC corporate spatial databases)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

1.5 Authoritative “Vegetation Types” database.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

1.6 Vegetation “Map of Maps” (history of cartographic projects)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

1.7 Pre-1750 Communities data

√ √ √ √ √ M

1.8 Vegetation Benchmarks √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

1.9 Ability to view multiple datasets in a spatial context (e.g. vegetation layers against contextual data)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


1.10 Ability to see offset areas

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

1.11 Access to statistical information available for vegetation

√ √ √ √ √ √ M

1.12 Accessible digital library of historic to present imagery available (including aerial and satellite imagery, photos and pdfs)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

1.13 Identify gaps or missing information and data.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

2 Reporting

2.1 Query maps: using mapping layers of different information, drilling down to more

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


detailed and smaller areas.

2.2 Print maps. √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

2.3 Generate and publish pre-defined, standard map products

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

2.4 Ability to develop reports linked to relevant databases and spatial data

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

2.5 Ability to export NVIS classes for federal government requirements

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

2.6 Ability to configure standardized reports for end users

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


2.7 Ability to make requests to IM for standard reporting templates

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

2.8 CMA / Regional reports to be submitted online

√ √ √ √ √ √ M

2.9 Ability to include spatial data in report templates

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

2.10 Ensure reporting mechanisms are integrated

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

2.11 Ability to monitor user activity of services

√ √ √ √ √ L

3 Discovery and Querying

3.1 An accessible viewing platform for spatial data that can link to spatial and non spatial information (ie, web

√ √ √ √ √ v √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


based application).

3.2 Standard spatial tools to be utilised for any web based applications (eg, Zoom, Pan, Identify)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

3.3 Ability to set parameters for search & query function

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

3.4 Conduct simple, intuitive searches of data and obtain meaningful search results.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

3.5 Comprehensive, searchable metadata catalogue

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

3.6 Development of work process and standard for metadata inclusion

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


3.7 Conduct simple searches of products (ie, Map of Maps) and obtain meaningful search results.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

3.8 Ongoing administration of metadata and product (“Map of Maps” catalogues

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

3.9 Search for data and information by multiple dimensions including by: data sets, information elements, time periods, jurisdictions, locations, dates, etc.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

3.10 Search & display metadata about: date, information, data sources, scale, projects,

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


references, etc.

3.11 Preview data and information and indicative maps without needing to access the source.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

4 Data Access

4.1 Access plan for desktop users of spatial data (eg, SDE replication or disks)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

4.2 One authoritative tool / system to quickly locate, and access spatial data.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

4.3 Ability to add spatial and non spatial datasets to systems that support

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


end-user applications (ie, VIS)

4.4 Access to current versions of contextual data for NSW.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

4.5 Ability to define security and user roles

√ √ √ √ M

4.6 Ability to customise a variety of end-user interfaces

√ √ √ √ √ √ H

4.7 Ability to leverage a variety of spatial and tabular data sources from common formats, image files, web data services and databases

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

4.8 Ability for CMAs to return data to the enterprise system

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


5 Analysis and Manipulation

5.1 Access to data that helps the users understand how the information can be queried / used (ie, metadata specific to veg analysis – how data was derived, dendrograms etc)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

5.2 Ability to compare information over time (e.g. for MER monitoring plots or for image analysis).

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

5.3 Delivery of automated business processes

√ √ √ √ √ √ H

6 Communication Plan





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


6.1 Providing information on the type of data and information that is available at different scales.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

6.2 Providing information on the purpose of data and information that is available at different scales.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

6.3 Comprehensive training √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

6.4 Internal and external marketing of the new VIS to relevant stakeholders

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

7 Information Architecture





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


7.1 Intuitive navigation options: spatially, topic, data type, common boundary (LGA, CMA, IBRA), locations.

√ √ √ √ √ √ v √ √ M

7.2 Loosely coupled architecture with the ability to service many clients using the same data

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

7.3 Provide access to data at the following scale levels: Site / Local / Catchment / State

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

7.4 "Drill down" through data and information: starting at a high level, digging deeper if required.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

7.5 Single point of truth √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


(SPOT): one stop shop for vegetation information

7.6 Streamline proposed VIS system with current systems (PVP/PAMS, Biobanking)

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

7.7 System to be accessible to end users with no requirements for plug ins or add-ons

√ √ L

8 Additional Requirements

8.1 Generate and publish pre-defined, standard map products

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

8.2 Distribute fundamental data

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


8.3 Distribute pre-defined, standard map products

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

8.4 Configure and publish interactive map applications

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

8.5 Provision of support for end users by IM

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

8.6 Maintain Web Portal √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

8.7 Integration of systems with DECC corporate marketing (ie, website) in a seamless manner

√ √ √ √ M

8.8 Completely scaleable solution

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

8.9 More standardised, consistent products

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

9 Governance





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


9.1 Develop work processes that support enterprise wide IM practices

√ √ √ √ √ √ V √ √ √ √ √ √ H

9.2 Develop IM communication plan to support end-users

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ M

9.3 Exchange of information between CMAs and DECC – work processes must be reviewed

√ √ √ √ √ √ M

9.4 Development of processes that supports submission of vegetation datasets to the enterprise system

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

9.5 Comprehensive diagnostic criteria for identification of mapped vegetation types in the field - Standards

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H





Site

Ass

essm

ent

Loca

l Sca

le P

lann

ing

Res

erve

Man

agem

ent

Reg

iona

l / C

atch

men

t St

rate

gy

Mon

itori

ng a

nd

Rep

orti

ng

Scie

nce

& P

olic

y

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

MER

– S

tate

Pla

n

SoE

NVI

S

CAP

s

Bio

met

ric

Vege

. Typ

es

PVP/

PAM

S

Bio

Ban

king

TS P

AS

IM&

T St

rate

gy

Stra

tegi

c la

nd u

se

plan

ning

P

rior

ity


9.6 Ability to ask a question to the VIS administrator.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ L

9.7 Establishing rules in relation to custodianship of data in VIS

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

9.8 Establishing rules in relation to change control of data in VIS

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H

9.9 Establishing rules in relation to version control of data in VIS

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ H



6.3 Priorities

6.3.1 Major Priorities for VIS Development

There are several priority actions for VIS development, some of which are currently being developed in parallel projects.

The top 10 Priorities for VIS Development identified include;

1. An accessible, standardised vegetation (biometric vegetation types) information classification dataset

2. Development of ‘Vegetation Information System’ (VIS) data model and process for transfer from existing systems (i.e., NSWVCA & YETI)

3. Application built to access vegetation spatial and non spatial data

4. Access to vegetation community plot data (YETI)

5. Access to standard mapping products online (map library)

6. Accessible, comprehensive, historic, online, searchable metadata catalogue for vegetation related spatial and non spatial data,

7. Consolidation of various vegetation systems used currently within DECC

8. Contextual information for vegetation applications available (i.e., must include additional layers such as soils, land tenure, species etc)

9. Consistent support framework for VIS from IM to be established through workflows within DECC

10. Capacity to manage a variety of vegetation plot data types, including conditional benchmarking, MER condition monitoring and remote sensing ground validation programs.

6.3.2 Common Requirements The most common User Requirements identified from the consultation process include the following (This list broadly consolidates all User Requirements identified in Section 6.2);

1. Access to vegetation base spatial data (vegetation type, condition, extent) and plot

2. Access to current versions of contextual data for vegetation issues in NSW

3. Access to library of digital imagery; historic to present (including aerial photos, satellite photos etc)

4. Accessible viewing platform for spatial data that can link to spatial and non-spatial information (ie, web application)

5. Information on the data type, purpose and information available at different scales

6. Comprehensive training

7. Access to data at all scale levels (Site, Local, Catchment & State)

8. “Drill down” through data and information; starting at a higher level and digging deeper when required

9. Single point of truth (SPOT): one stop shop for vegetation information & products

10. Provision of coordinated support for end users by the IM team

11. A smart system that delivers information and products (ie, reports, maps, queries and searches)

12. A process for returning data to the corporate system

13. Data model that will export to NVIS classes



6.3.3 Relation to Subsequent Documents

All User Requirements rated as HIGH will be addressed in the Functional Requirements to follow this document.

All User Requirements will be addresses within the Implementation Plan as a prioritised action plan.



7. Existing Systems Presently, access to native vegetation information is limited to disparate web systems for different NRM issues (eg, Threatened Species site, NR Atlas); operational tools built for specific purposes (PVP, biobanking) and disconnected desktop operations.

This has created an incompatible operational framework for managing and delivering information. All should be considered as part of an integrated approach to vegetation information.

This section provides a brief summary of relevant internal DECC systems.

7.1 YETI: Yet Another Vegetation Database YETI was an internally built MS Access system for recording site assessment details for systematic vegetation surveys. YETI contains approximately 1.5 million records and has been migrated to a SQL server database. Future plans will develop the spatial capability of the database which is not currently spatially enabled.

The YETI database is well used in NSW for the recording of systematic vegetation surveys and supports the extraction of data for analysis. Work is being undertaken to develop a corporate version of the database in SQL Server, which will link to the Atlas database.

Standardisations for data entry into the YETI system are currently under review and being developed in conjunction with this project. The scope of the YETI database may be increased to address management of forms of vegetation survey captured as part of the MER veg condition, remote sensing ground validation, PVP site evaluation, biobanking site evaluation and other programs.

7.2 New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment (NSWVCA) The strength of this database is that it contains consistent vegetation descriptions, photographs and estimates of %cover for each community type that can be used to support the biometric tools in the PVP and Biobanking processes. Coverage is currently only complete for the western half of the state (i.e., 57% of the state) and estimated time for completion for the remainder is 10 years. Where complete, NSWVCA types have been adopted into the state-wide biometric veg type’s database, where the NSWVCA provides a detailed description profile of those communities.

The NSWVCA vegetation classifications are linked upwards to Keith classes. The data has no spatial context and is not consistently quantitative (is descriptive in many cases). Currently, corporate access to the data is limited. The MS Access database is limited in terms of the size of the database and the imagery it can support, which is now impacting the performance of the database.

Plans should be developed to integrate this information into a comprehensive Biometric Vegetation Types database to service all tools and systems requiring this information (i.e., in the PVP and Bio-Banking tools).

7.3 Biometric Tool The Biometric tool is the assessment engine of the PVP Developer and Biobanking programs, which has been developed by DEC. The Biometric tool is a site based technique used to assess applications for native vegetation clearing and thinning and for the evaluation of on-going monitoring of Biobanking sites.

Vegetation Condition Benchmarks are generally a set of condition metrics developed for each Keith Vegetation Class that can be applied to any assessment site to determine relative condition against a reference benchmark site. This allows changes in condition to be measured and the differences in condition between sites to be quantified. They are used by field officers in the PVP and Bio-Banking process to assess the impact of clearing and the offset for each benchmark variable.



The tool has been commended on its underlying science, i.e. the assessment methodology, and is currently the most effective state-wide and systematic land management evaluation tool which operates at the property level. The availability of quality input data is limited, in particular vegetation types, condition and the vegetation extent mask, and ongoing efforts to improve these. The tool was developed to operate in MS EXCEL, which was not an appropriate platform for the level of decision making required. Biometric is currently being replaced with the PADACS project to make the tool more efficient for native vegetation clearing.

7.4 NSW Wildlife Atlas The Wildlife Atlas web site publishes sightings of fauna and flora from the Wildlife Atlas database. Data is extracted from the Wildlife Atlas (in ORACLE) for the public web display on a weekly basis.

The site is well used both internally and externally and has potential links to a number of systems in-house, including the Threats database and the Recovery database. It has links to the Threatened Species Web Site.

The site is used by a range of external clients including from school children to non- government organisations and environmental consultants. Users can generate species lists and maps of species sightings for their area of interest, and the site is often used by consultants as a source of background data to inform survey work and the preparation of environmental reports.

The public Atlas website only allows access to the 1.2 million records for which DECC is custodian which limits its usefulness for internal use. It is anticipated that use of the public website will be largely replaced by the Atlas Intranet application, for DECC staff.

The Wildlife Atlas Intranet site is similar to the public website, but it allows DECC staff to access additional data provided by external agencies for DECC use only. The application allows DECC staff access to over 5 million species records held in the Atlas database. It has the facility to download data, enabling users to create their own shapefiles for use in their GIS.

7.5 Threatened Species Web Site The Threatened Species Website lists and illustrates threatened species and their profiles. The web site has links with the Wildlife Atlas web site, PlantNET and the NSW Native Vegetation web-map.

The site provides broad community access to threatened species information via the Web; however, there is a lack of a systematic and coordinated updating program.

7.6 Threatened Species Tool The Threatened Species Tool has been developed for the PVP process. It will also be used in the Bio-Banking process with the following modifications:

• Migrated fully to MS Access

• Recording of the response to management actions for threatened species

One of the weaknesses of the tool is the underlying data. The data was constructed as a quick response to the requirements of the Native Vegetation Act.

7.7 David Keith’s Vegetation Map In 2004, David Keith developed a broad vegetation map depicting formation & classes, and a vegetation mask that covers the state and is widely used in the Department.

This dataset provides state-wide coverage for vegetation classes, which has not been previously available. The compilation of this data includes a state-wide review of best available mapping suitable for state-wide analyses. The extent product was updated in



2006 for inclusion into the PVP Biometric Over-cleared Landscapes database and plans are in place to update the formation/class map by 2008.

The varying scale and resolution of the base data used to derive the state classification has resulted in a widely varying level of uncertainty in spatial accuracy, which places considerable limits on the use of the mapping. There is a requirement within the Department to facilitate the classification and mapping of vegetation at a finer level, preferably by vegetation types, rather than formation or classes.

David Keith has used generalised grids for between 10-1km to restrict over interpretation of this map. This reflects a more general need to quantify accuracy of vegetation products and the need to implement techniques that minimise inappropriate use.

7.8 The Biobanking Credit Calculator The Credit Calculator is being proposed as the tool to be used in the assessment of Bio-Banking sites. This tool utilised the Biometric tools as its primary assessment engine, and hence relies on the biometric vegetation types, Threatened Species and Condition Benchmarking databases.

7.9 NSW Natural Resources Data Directory (NRDD) The NRDD is a web site developed to allow users to determine what natural resource data is available in NSW.

A system of this type is of great value to users of natural resource data, but requires contribution from all agencies (WoG support) in order to be successful. The web site has not been kept current in recent times, and therefore is not widely supported.

7.10 Public Access Web Sites There are a number of web sites that deliver data managed by DECC that are hosted on the government AC3 web site, including Davis Keith’s vegetation map and the Key Habitats and Corridors dataset for the North East.

These provide broad community access to data and biodiversity information via the Web. It would be beneficial to a user of biodiversity information if there was a Data Discovery tool to indicate what data and applications are available.



8. Review of VIS Systems within Australia There are a number of vegetation systems in Australia allowing state and commonwealth governments to develop decision support tools and use information in a constructive manner in order to reach their planning goals. These are detailed below.

Table 5: Federal NVIS System

NVIS

Description The National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) is a collaborative initiative between the Australian and state and territory governments to manage national vegetation data and help improve vegetation planning and management across Australia.

NVIS was developed to assist in managing a range of ecosystem services and practices such as biodiversity conservation, salinity control, improving water quality and other national concerns.

The National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) is a nationally consistent framework for describing and compiling data on vegetation types in Australian landscapes. This is a hierarchical classification system for describing the structural and floristic patterns of vegetation.

The NVIS is managed through the Executive Steering Committee for Australian Vegetation Information (ESCAVI), which comprises senior representatives from the Australian Government and each state and territory. ESCAVI was established in November 2001 following completion of Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001 by the National Land and Water Resources Audit.

Purpose To ensure the continued survival of native flora in Australia, land managers, scientists and other decision-makers need up-to-date and reliable information.

The maintenance and improvement of the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) is a key initiative designed to support the needs of those responsible for developing sustainable long-term solutions for Australian landscapes.

Drivers The business drivers supporting NVIS include:

• Resolving data and information differences across administrative and program boundaries to provide comparable and consistent data Australia wide

• Developing a collaborative work of mutual benefit

• Recognising regional level environmental differences

• Delivering information to meet current needs, foreshadowing and anticipating long-term needs

• Improving the knowledge and information base of Australia's vegetation (pre-European and present) and addressing data gaps

• Providing information and assessments to support vegetation and other natural resource decision making

• Improving vegetation data access and dissemination

• Recognising the jurisdictional role in meeting specific vegetation information requirements, management responsibilities and obligations.

Outputs NVIS information has been compiled to enable Australia-wide analysis of Major Vegetation Groups (MVGs) and Major Vegetation Subgroups (MVSs), which are



based on the detailed NVIS Level I–VI data. Some non-NVIS data have been used in the development of these products where gaps exist in the NVIS coverages.

These products are designed for broad use at a national or state-wide scale, or for simple vegetation descriptions at a regional scale. They are available in Present (Extant) and Estimated Pre- 1750 vegetation themes.

Scale These broader-scale interpretations are limited to approximately 30 MVG’s and 67 MVS’s that represent the dominant vegetation in each pixel.

Audience Policy makers, program managers, NRM regional vegetation managers, research and education and the general public

Access Web application – web browser access

Platform Oracle database, ArcSDE

Table 6: SA VIS System

South Australia

Description The SA NVIS System integrates site-based data, the flora taxonomic database and GIS used to map vegetation.

In 1995, they discussed the need for a vegetation mapping database. SA had 16 regional vegetation datasets delivering data as separate layers.

Examples of data available for vegetation mapping was analysis methods, type site, over storey species, understorey species, landform, structure, cover data, soil and geology.

Recognising alignment with the NVIS allowed standardisation of the system; i.e., one layer in one format; SA VIS developed an editor for creating and exporting VIS data in xml and scripts to deliver data in NVIS format.

South Australia developed an NVIS compliant system run by the SA Biological Survey Coordinating Committee (BSCC). The infrastructure for the system is maintained by the Department of Environment and Heritage SA.

Purpose The purpose of the SA VIS was to streamline processes and datasets so vegetation analysis could be achieved across boundaries whilst still being able to report vegetation to the federal government.

Drivers The business drivers supporting vegetation data inclusion to the SA VIS:

• Development of a common framework for vegetation data collection across the state of SA. Use of the NVIS information hierarchy allowed a development framework which fit all scales of use and engendered direct transfer into the national system using a single framework.

• Organisation and collection of vegetation data to a common standard to support robust analysis and higher level decision making

• Support of regional level environmental concerns. • Accessibility to all through a web application. • Streamline IT and GIS work processes to ensure data integrity

servicing applications

Outputs Local, catchment, subcatchment, state and federal

Scale SA reports to NVIS level 6.



Audience Policy makers, program managers, regional vegetation managers, research and education and the general public


Platform Oracle

Table 7: QLD VIS System

Queensland

Description Queensland has an extensive and well supported vegetation survey program. This supports the State’s 1999 Vegetation Management Act. Mapping has generally been carried-out consistently at 1:50,000 – 1:100,000.

The basis of this system is Queensland’s Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD) and CORVEG Database. The REDD is a database of Queensland’s 1100 regional ecosystems. Together with CORVEG, this system is used to maintain information on characteristic species, ecological values, distribution, condition and status.

NVIS attributes are maintained in parallel with this database. This information has been made available online to the general public.

Purpose The purpose of the SA VIS was to streamline processes and datasets so vegetation analysis could be achieved across boundaries whilst still being able to report vegetation to the federal government.

Drivers The business drivers supporting vegetation data inclusion to the SA VIS:

• Development of a common framework for vegetation data collection across the state of SA. Use of the NVIS information hierarchy allowed a development framework which fit all scales of use and engendered direct transfer into the national system using a single framework.

• Organisation and collection of vegetation data to a common standard to support robust analysis and higher level decision making

• Support of regional level environmental concerns. • Accessibility to all through a web application. • Streamline IT and GIS work processes to ensure data integrity

servicing applications


Scale Ability to report to NVIS level 5



Platform Oracle



Table 8: WA VIS System

Western Australia

Description Under the current NVIA work plan, the Commonwealth has funded a joint project between Department of Conservation and Land Management (DCLM) and the Department of Agriculture WA (DAWA).

The aim is to address information gaps in NVIS data sets for Western Australia identified following NVIS Stage 1. These include detailed floristic and structural information for vegetation types currently mapped in Western Australia at scales between 1:250,000 and 1:1 million.

Following the initial establishment of the Western Australian Vegetation Information System (WAVIS) in late 2002, a review of test data was conducted by the State project proponents and the BRS in March 2003. Following this review, some elements of the WAVIS database structure were modified – principally to accommodate independent datasets and descriptions for individual components of vegetation mosaics.

Prior to the current project, 831 vegetation types (Associations) were recognised in Western Australia, as the current project nears completion – we now recognise nearly 3000 vegetation types (System-based Associations).

Purpose Ongoing development of this project recognises the following aims;

• Improvement in the level of detail of pre-European vegetation types dataset for Western Australia,

• Integrating spatial datasets and linked databases for current vegetation extent, and some existing site and reconnaissance vegetation survey records.

• Including detailed information on the structure and floristic nature of these vegetation units (including extensive species lists for many of the vegetation units),

• Integration with a well established relational database and GIS infrastructure. This will facilitate development of new information products including OGC-compliant interactive web-mapping.

• Integration with a comprehensive information framework, nationally supported, into which additional existing and new vegetation information can be compiled.

• Collaboration in maintaining the NVIS dataset through a distributed national system of State-maintained databases.

• To reconcile existing conflicts in vegetation mapping across the WA/NT and WA/SA borders where these conflicts arise from the use of formerly different vegetation classification systems between the states.


Scale WA reports to NVIS level 4, but not across the whole state.

Audience Policy makers, program managers, regional vegetation managers, research and education




Table 9: Victorian VIS System

Victoria

Description Victoria has a similar database structure to SA. The database, run by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), contains site-based data. Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC’s), mapped through the Regional Forest Agreement process, are the base unit for regional assessments. Computer-aided data analysis and manual interpretation of field data is used to derive spatial units from site data.

EVCs are derived from large scale forest type and plant community mapping and contain the following types of information; plant communities and forest types (including species and structural information, ecological information and descriptions of variations in the physical environment.

NVIS descriptions have been compiled for each of the classes mapped. The Department of Primary Industries are linking site data with taxonomy under the current NVIA work plan.

Purpose • Development of a common framework for vegetation data collection across the state of Victoria

• NVIS compliance


Scale Victoria reports to NVIS level 5


Access Web Portal

Platform Oracle database, ArcSDE database

Table 10: Tasmanian VIS Systems

Tasmania

Description TASVEG is a Tasmania-wide vegetation map, produced by the Tasmanian Vegetation Mapping Program (TVMP). The TVMP use 154 distinct vegetation communities to produce TASVEG at a scale of 1:25,000. The TASVEG mapping builds on and incorporates the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) mapping of forest vegetation communities as well as the World Heritage Area (WHA) mapping that was carried out at 1:25,000 scale.

The Tasmanian government currently runs the TASVEG program (Department of Primary Industry Water and Environment – Nature Conservation Branch). Spatial data, mapped at large scales 1:50,000 or larger, is stored in a GIS format linked to an ORACLE database.

Non-forest community types include grasslands, heathlands, scrub, wetlands and salt marshes as well as riparian and coastal vegetation, woodlands and forest remnants. Recent mapping of plantations by Forestry Tasmania and Private Forests Tasmania has been incorporated into TASVEG.

The principal techniques used are aerial photographic interpretation, transformation of that data into digital form and incorporation of external data resources, such as the RFA, WHA and plantation mapping, followed by field verification.



Vegetation descriptions are textual and descriptions were manually derived from this for NVIS Stage 1. These descriptions are being further enhanced through the current NVIA work plan.

Outputs Photographic interpretation has been digitised and joined using custom software (PhotoFactory) and attributed with Genamap with a custom-made interface.

Scale Tasmania reports to NVIS level 5


Access Maps in printed and digital format and via LIST Web Portal

Platform Oracle database, ArcSDE database

Table 11: ACT VIS System

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Description The ACT had no digital database for vegetation before NVIS Stage 1. NVIS attributes and descriptions were compiled during NVIS Stage 1. An NVIS compliant GIS and database is being established through the current NVIA work plan.

Purpose NVIS compliance

Outputs catchment, state and federal

Scale ACT reported to NVIS level 4


Access PDF Map products

Table 12: NT VIS System

Northern Territory (NT)

Description The Northern Territory Government currently maintains the Resource and Vegetation System (RAVS) – based on site-based data. RAVS is undergoing considerable modification through the current NVIA work plan and will be used to enhance existing, small – scale vegetation mapping.

Purpose The main objectives for vegetation mapping in the Northern Territory are to:

Identify ecologically sensitive areas (e.g. mangroves and wetlands).

Map areas recognised as priorities due to possible land use change (e.g. Daly Basin).

Delineate broad ecological attributes of particular vegetation types (e.g. Paperbark Forests) or habitats (e.g. National Parks).

Enhance Land System and Land Unit mapping - vegetation is an integral component.

Outputs The outputs of vegetation mapping include maps, associated data and technical reports. The data includes floristic information, structural



formations and environmental attributes.

Scale NT reported to NVIS to level 3


Access Vegetation information is available in a variety of formats. Many published reports and maps are available in PDF format whilst some information is only available in hardcopy. Data is also available as raster or vector digital datasets.

Platform Standard storage of vegetation mapping datasets is as Arc/Info coverages, shapefiles and MapInfo files in GDA94 geographical format.

8.1 NVIS Information Structure The NVIS Information Hierarchy (detailed below), is based firstly on structural information and secondly on dominant genus and growth form collected at the sub-stratum level.

Table 13: NVIS Information Hierarchy

Hierarchical Level

Description NVIS structural/floristic components required

Example

I Class Dominant growth form of the ecologically dominant stratum

Tree

II Structural Formation Dominant growth form, cover and height of the ecologically dominant stratum

Open forests

III Broad floristic formation

Dominant growth form, cover, height and broad floristic code usually dominant land cover genus of the uppermost or dominant stratum

Acacia open forests

IV Sub-formation Dominant growth form, cover, height and broad floristic code usually dominant genus and family of the three traditional strata (upper, mid and ground)

Acacia open forests/mixed tall open shrubland/grassy sparse tussock grassland

V Association Dominant growth form, height, cover and species (three species) of the three traditional strata (upper, mid and ground)

U+ Acacia harpophylla, Casuarina cristata, Eucalyptus orgadophila/tree/7/c;

M Eremophila mitchellii, Geijera parviflora, Capparis lasiantha/shrub/4/I;

G Ancistrachne uncinulata, Aristida �amose, Paspalidium caespitosum/tussock grass, forb/2/r

VI Sub-association Dominant growth form, height, cover and species (five species) of all layers / strata

U1+ Acacia harpophylla, Casuarina cristata, Eucalyptus orgadophila, Eucalyptus populnea, Atalaya hemiglauca/tree/7/c;

M1 Eremophila mitchellii, Geijera parviflora, Capparis lasiantha, Canthium oleifolium, Santalum lanceolatum/shrub/4/I;



G2 Ancistrachne uncinulata, Aristida �amose, Paspalidium caespitosum, Paspalidium criniforme, Sporobolus caroli/tussock grass,forb/2/r;

G1 Carissa ovata, Enchylaena tomentosa, Myoporum deserti/shrub, chenopod shrub/2/r

8.2 Conclusions Drawn from the Review Some important conclusions can be drawn from the review of VIS systems from the other states. These include;

Currently each of the states provide data at differing NVIS levels; however the aspirational target for all states is NVIS Level 5. The NVIS standard is “the capacity to supply vegetation descriptions to the Commonwealth at level 5/6”.

NSW is the only state in Australia that does not have a vegetation information system (VIS).

NVIS reporting units can serve as the basis of the states vegetation reporting (as in South Australia).

Reporting requirements of NVIS facilitated the states to get their ‘house in order’ in relation to vegetation data. This will benefit all users of vegetation data at state and federal levels.

NSW must decide whether or not to adapt the basic structure of NVIS to suit their own needs (like South Australia) or to develop their own system and extract NVIS values from it (like the Queensland model).

The question for NSW Vegetation professionals is – How can we adopt the NVIS structure to suit our own needs? What levels of NVIS (other than level 5) do we require? For what purpose? Answering these questions will leverage the opportunity afforded of a ready made data model and mitigate risk.



9. Glossary

Benchmarks The Vegetation Condition Benchmarks database has been put together for the Biometric tool in PVP Developer and Biobanking process. The vegetation Benchmarks contain vegetation condition information based on ten metrics that have been established on reference sites of good condition. Vegetation Benchmarks have been developed for Keith vegetation classes, although the aspirational long term goal is to develop benchmarks for all vegetation types.

This database requires formal Ministerial consent before it can be used in PVP Developer or the Bio-Banking Tools. In the case of the Biometric Tool, it is required to be signed off by the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Natural Resources, whereas in the case of the Bio-Banking data it only requires the consent of the Minister of Environment.

Carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration refers to the capture and long-term storage of carbon in forests, soils and oceans, so that the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will reduce or slow. Managing land and vegetation to increase carbon storage can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon trading

By assigning a monetary value to annual capped emissions shortfalls allows carbon ‘credits’ to be traded at a market price. Carbon credits are a component of emissions trading schemes throughout the world.

Contextual data

This relates to data required in order to make decisions on vegetation related matters but is not specifically vegetation data (ie, will not be held in the VIS).

This includes – Land use / Zoning

- Land tenure

- Imagery / RS derived data

- Catchment hydrology

- Geology / Soils

- Topography

- Habitat / PAS

- Wildlife / Fauna

- Compliance targets

- Emu

Emissions trading

A trading approach to reducing pollution. The Australian Carbon Trading Scheme will allow the trading of carbon emissions on the ASX futures market.

MER Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER) The draft MER Strategy lists proposed statewide monitoring programs to be implemented, and additional monitoring programs that may be implemented if funding becomes available. It identifies lead agencies for each monitoring program. Agency and CMA monitoring programs will be coordinated to gain maximum use of data sets and to minimise costs.

NVIS National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) is an accessible, nationally consistent framework for describing and collecting vegetation type data for the whole of Australia.

NVIS was developed to assist in managing a range of ecosystem services and practices such as biodiversity conservation, salinity control, improving water



quality and other national concerns.

NVIS information has been compiled to enable Australia-wide analysis of Major Vegetation Groups (MVGs) and Major Vegetation Subgroups (MVSs), which are based on the detailed NVIS Level I–VI Information Hierarchy.

PoM Plan of Management (PoM) were developed for National park Estate Reserves by DECC’s Parks and Wildlife division.

SoE State of Environment (SoE) is a report developed by DECC which aims to provide credible, scientifically based environmental information to assist those involved in environmental policy and decision-making and managing the State’s natural resources report is structured around six major themes: Toward Environmental Sustainability, Human Settlement, Atmosphere, Land, Water and Biodiversity.

Thirty-seven environmental issues are reported within these themes through environmental data for 71 environmental indicators. These indicators are consistent with those covered in previous reports, and align closely with the core environmental indicators approved by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council in March 2000.

SoF State of Forests (SoF) The report details the organisation’s performance across a range of social, environmental, economic and sustainability indicators, highlighting trends and key achievements for the year.

SoP State of Parks (SoP) report is part of an ongoing State of the Parks program to better understand and respond to the condition of the park system and the pressures it faces. It is essential that public agencies charged with the responsibility for managing such valuable, often unique and irreplaceable, natural and cultural assets do so in a way that is accountable.

State Plan The State Plan is the Blueprint for the NSW government development up until the year 2015. In relation to biodiversity, the targets are stated as:

o By 2015 there is an increase in native vegetation extent and an improvement in native vegetation condition

o By 2015 there is an increase in the number of sustainable populations of a range of native fauna species

o By 2015 there is an increase in the recovery of threatened species, populations and ecological communities

o By 2015 there is a reduction in the impact of invasive species.

Vegetation base data

Vegetation base data relates to all data that will be held in the VIS and does not include contextual data.

This includes – Native Veg Type / Extents / Condition

- Vegetation “Map of Maps”

- Pre 1750 Vegetation communities

- Vegetation Benchmarks

Web Portal A web portal is a site that functions as a point of access to information (spatial and non spatial) on the internet.

Web Service Application logic accessible across a network using standard Internet protocols. Web Services utilise component-based development and the Web. Web Services represent functionality that can be easily reused without knowing how the service is implemented and are accessed via ubiquitous Web protocols



(e.g. http) using universally accepted data formats (e.g. XML).



Appendix 1: Participants in Consultation Process



Find below a comprehensive list of all stakeholders invited to participate in this process.

Participants at the Newcastle workshop were:

Name Invited Participated Org Business Unit

John Seidel √ √ DECC BioBanking

Tim Hagar √ √ DECC I&AS

Penny Kendall √ √ DECC BioConservation

Paul Sherringham √ √ DECC BioConservation

Dennis Davidson √ √ NCC Local Government

Greg West √ √ DECC Marine / Aquatic

Shawn Capararo √ √ CMA BioConservation

Georgina Woods √ √ NGO National Parks Association

Bob Denholm √ √ DECC Project Manager

Deborah Ashworth √ DECC BioConservation

Daniel Connelly √ DECC I&AS

Simon Hemer √ DECC PWG

Ross Dixon √ DPI Forests

Rob Williams √ absent DPI Fisheries

John Hudson √ DPlanning

Michael Pitt √ CMA Hunter Central

Bernie Bugden √ CMA Hawkesbury Nepean

Rob Humphries √ Industry Biobanking

Participants at the Queanbeyan workshop were:

Name Invited Participated Org Business Unit

Max Beukers √ √ DECC Parks & Wildlife Group

Paul Packard √ √ DECC I&AS (South)

Owen Maguire √ √ DECC I&AS (South)

Reiner Rehwinkel √ √ DECC BioConservation

Mike Saxon √ √ DECC BioConservation

Dani Ayers √ √ DECC Biometric

John Briggs √ √ DECC BioConservation

Donna Hazel √ √ CMA Southern Rivers

Will Allen √ √ CMA Southern Rivers

Michael Pennay √ DECC I&AS (South)



Sue Briggs √ DECC

John Searson √ CMA Murrumbidgee

Anthony Couroupis √ CMA Murray

Chris Glennon √ CMA Lachlan

Paul Dixon √ LMA Lower Murray Darling

Deb Lenson √ LGA Eurobodalla Shire

Sue Robb √ LGA Cooma Monaro Shire

Elizabeth Dixon √ LGA Shoalhaven City

Participants at the Dubbo workshop were:

Participants Invited Participated Org Business Unit

Dave Robson √ √ DECC I&AS (West)

Helen Knight √ √ DECC I&AS (West)

Miranda Kerr √ √ DECC BioConservation

Scott Hoskings √ √ CMA Central West

Nicolai Cooper √ √ CMA Central West


Christopher Naldony √ DECC Armidale

Peter Christie √ DECC BioConservation (west)

Richard Hicks √ DECC

Bruce Brown √ CMA Namoi

Karen Kniepp √ CMA Western

Lisa Roberts √ CMA Border Rivers – Gwdiir

Mike Flemming √ DECC PWG

Participants in various Sydney workshops were:


Jon Benson √ √ DECC Veg Classification

Phil Gleeson √ √ DECC Information Management

Ron Avery √ √ DECC Project Manager


Dom Sivertsen √ √ DECC Standards

Tiff Brown √ √ DECC Policy

Luke McKinnon √ √ DECC Policy



Linda Bell √ √ DECC Policy

Julie Ravallion √ √ DECC Policy

Davis Keith √ √ DECC SSD

Phil Gleeson √ √ DECC SSD

Neil Saintillan √ √ DECC SSD

Ian Oliver √ √ DECC MER

Sarah Imgraben √ √ DECC SSD

Megan Pile √ √ DECC SSD

John Seidel √ DECC Biobanking

Tony Auld √ DECC SSD

Peter Smith √ √ DECC Climate Change

Daniel Connolly √ DECC CCEPG

Paul Mahon √ DECC SSD

Greg Chapman √ DECC SSD

Participants at the Canberra workshop were:


Ron Avery √ √ DECC Project Manager


Dom Sivertsen √ √ DECC Standards

Matt Bolton √ √ DEWHA NVIS – Tech Coordinator

Peter Wilson √ √ NLWRA Vegetation

Phil Tickle √ √ GA Vegetation

Richard Thackaway √ √ BRS Manager Veg Information

Geoff Dunn √ √ DAFF Vegetation

Gaston Rozenbils √ √ DECC Vegetation - NVIS

Malcolm Stephens √ √ DECC Information Systems

Peter Lyon √ √ DEWHA Policy



Appendix 2: Current Issues



The following are a list of issues identified through the consultation process.

Table 14: Governance Issues

Issue Affects

Lack of ongoing Executive Support for information issues

• Every business unit within the DECC

• Report accuracy and consistency

Lack of understanding at executive level that information systems underpin ALL reporting, operations and development decisions in relation to vegetation


• External end-users


Lack of ongoing funding for information management (IM) support



Lack of ongoing funding for information management (IM) support for regional offices and CMA’s

• External end-users


Enabling framework is restrictive • Every business unit within the DECC

• Planning and decision making

•

Constant NSW Government restructuring and changes in policy direction have encouraged staff to do their own thing in order to solve their own business issues.

(DECC needs to get systems into place, be given time to implement them without changes driven by politics to affect the underlying systems)


• All external consultants

• Diminishes competence of the Enterprise System

• Diminishes the effectiveness of the investment of funds in this resource

Table 15: Cultural Issues

Issue Affects

People do their own thing in relation to their work processes. Therefore, information collected does not return to the system.

• Diminishes competence of the Enterprise System


Lack of IT support across the whole of DECC • All Business Units

External consultants do not (as a matter of work process) supply their data digitally to the enterprise system

• Diminished competence of the Enterprise System


Integration between regional and metro work processes

• Diminished competence of the Enterprise System


• Diminishes effectiveness of staff and their contribution to the department

• Communication between policy making and operations

Table 16: Systems Issues

Issue Affects

Diminished competence of the Enterprise System • All Business Units

• Efficiency



• Consistency

• Sustainability

• Data structure

• Information accessibility

• Interoperability


Insufficient or poorly defined IM processes • Metadata


• Processes for updating & access

• Consistency

Poor external availability of data • Operations within CMA

• Enterprise data model (ie encourages data silos)



Poor accessibility to systems • Regional offices

• Un-streamlined work processes within DECC leads to inefficiencies and poor productivity


• Budgeting

Systems for 3 major NRM agencies are merging • All Business Units

Table 17: Data Issues

Issue Affects

Poor accessibility to spatial / non-spatial Vegetation information

• All Business units

• Encourages silos

• Encourages segmented work processes

• Affects planning and decision making

Fundamental corporate datasets are not within the enterprise system (eg, NSW VCA)

• Data consistency

• Access to end users


Lack of reporting standards • Data consistency


Inconsistent classification and attribution of vegetation data



Need to facilitate spatial context into vegetation classification data

• Reporting capacity

• Vegetation assessment

Decisions need to be made within DECC about ‘source’ data. For example, what is the most accurate source of taxonomic data?

• Reporting capacity

• Vegetation assessment

Very limited metadata • All Business units





Poor appreciation of the value of good data at all levels; time and expense of data collection has never been a popular investment

• Investment in quality data for decision making purposes

Weak skills in data acquisition, management & analysis

• All areas making fundamental (& in some cases legislative) decisions using poor data

A shift from qualitative to quantitative vegetation information analysis in last 10 years

• Vegetation information professionals

Table 18: Spatial Software Issues

Issue Affects

No effective tool for NRM data accessibility • All Business units

• External business interests

Inconsistent / Insufficient Training • Communication between policy and operations

No effective, consistent communication IM strategy from head office to the regional offices

• CMA operations and work flows

• Communication between policy and operations

Rapidly evolving GIS environments and NSW governments traditionally being ‘late adopters’ make systems semi-obsolete when installed


Table 19: Workflow Issues

Issue Affects

Lack of workflow standards within the department • Data collection consistency

• ‘Brain drain’ when staff leave

Different cultures, disciplines and attitudes to collective systems


Inconsistent processes for identical/similar functions



Appendix 3: Business Function and Information Products



Decision Type UG1-Site Assessment UG2-Local Scale planning UG3-Reserve Management UG4-Regional / Catchment Strategy UG5-Monitoring & Reporting UG6-Science & Policy UG7-Information Management

Business Function (Products)

Condition Assessment BioBanking


DA’s, EIS, 3As (EPA Act) Preparation of LEP’s

(current zoning) Bio-certification process Recovery planning for

EEC’s and particular species

Farm Management Planning

Recovery planning for highly restricted species/EECs

Forestry/PNF Zoning (LEPs)

Plans of Management including (PoM0


Pest and weed planning EEC and TS habitat

management Reserve establishment

planning – comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system assessments

Threshold rezoning (future zoning)


Urban settlement planning

Development of biodiversity and river health investment strategies as part of CAPs

Recovery planning for EEC and threatened species habitat

Climate change adaptation

Reviews of Regional Forest Agreements

Alps to Atherton initiative


SoE reporting SoP reporting SoF reporting MER reporting NVIS National reporting



Vegetation classification Listing decisions under

the TSC Act (justification of EECs)

Climate change adaptation strategies

Licensing Vegetation data

maintenance Managing inclusions and

exclusions to DECC corporate databases

Data deployment Application management Metadata system

management

Consumers

(high level)

CMAs LG DECC Community

DECC Dept of Planning LG Community

DECC – PWG LG DoL Community

CMAs DECC Community

DECC – MER Commonwealth Community

DECC Universities

DECC

Users

(examples)

Vegetation and Biodiversity professionals

CMA staff advising landowners

Council Planners Compliance Officers Local Council processes

advising landowners

Council Planners Fire managers Pest managers Regional Operations

Coordinators Sustainable Management

project officer

Catchment Coordinators Threatened Species

officer Biodiversity Conservation

officers

Native Vegetation Unit NRINS (Natural Resource

Information Needs Committee)

Research officers Policy advisers Standards designers Senior Natural Resource

officers

Data administrator Applications

administrator Systems administrator

Role of vegetation mapping information

Provides a context for decision making through benchmarks and other conservation status parameters eg %cleared

Derivation of community classifications

Spatial mapping Assists identification of

values on site Provides a context for

other values (eg, fauna)

Allows impact of new growth to be identified and strategies to be put in place to avoid intensification of land-uses

Provides the basis for offsetting

Capacity to maximise strategic value of certification processes and to avoid inappropriate zoning is entirely dependant on mapped vegetation info

Allows you to track progress towards a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative Reserve system

Allows prioritization of effort for fire, pest, weed and species/habitat management strategies

Allows HR burning to be undertaken within ecological thresholds and informs wildfire suppression activities

Informs visitor management and interpretative work

Capacity to maximise strategic value of certification processes and to avoid inappropriate zoning is entirely dependant on mapped vegetation info

Allows spatial and thematic priorities to be set (eg, private landholder incentive programs)

Gives spatial focus to some elements of climate change adaptation planning (eg, corridor linkages)

Allows biodiversity to be a factor in long term urban growth planning

Allows conservation plans to be developed for widespread species and communities

Monitoring changes in condition (via plot data)

Monitoring changes in extent

Gaps drive business decisions

Vegetation community definition

EEC definition (via distribution, condition and status information)

Define habitat surrogates for other species contribution to conservation status

Allows for adaptation planning for some aspects to climate change

n/a

Decision Support Available1

PVP/PAMS (+ VCA) BioBanking

Statutory processes in place for process and heads of consideration for decision making but no formal decision support systems in place2

Statutory processes in place for preparation and content but no formal decision support systems

Statutory processes govern form and content of CAPs but no formal decision support systems in place

Regional planning strategies and urban settlement strategies defined by policy

n/a n/a n/a

1 All decision support tools should have spatial capacity 2 Bioforecasting tool has been used in some processes but has not been fully operationalised



objectives

Data utilised for decision support

Land management DB Biometric Veg Types Regional veg.

classification and mapping products

YETI floristic plot data TS Profiles Wildlife Atlas PlantNet SIX

Plot data Condition data (eg old

growth, wilderness) Detailed EEC mapping

boundaries with reasonable agreement with cadastre

Connectivity assessments Point locality data for TS

and habitat modelling Land tenure Zoning Other contextual data

layers (including old growth, wilderness, wetland layers)

Floristic plot data Detailed vegetation

community boundaries Some planning needs

detailed ECC mapping boundaries

Reserve & wilderness boundaries Fire history and

thresholds Condition layers (eg Old

growth, wilderness) TS records and habitat

models

Biometric Veg Types Floristic plot data Condition data (eg old

growth, wilderness) Detailed EEC mapping

boundaries Connectivity assessments Point locality data for TS

and habitat modelling Land tenure Zoning Various combinations of

most data available

various

various

n/a

Critical vegetation information requirements

Scale – line work

Plots are traditionally 20*20 or 20*50 (m)

Vegetation classification3

1:5000 – 1: 25000 1: 25000 1:25000-1:250000 various various n/a

Scale – vegetation classification

Need ongoing revision of vegetation community definitions and descriptions

1:5000 – 1: 25000

Need classification to EEC level for biocertification

Need classification to NVIS 5 at least and NVIS ‘7” for EEC planning and management

Need classification to NVIS 5 at least and NVIS ‘7” for EEC planning and management

various various n/a

Outputs from decisions to be stored in VIS

Benchmark data

Floristic plot data

Benchmark data

Floristic plot data

N/A N/A NVIS data export

Outputs arising from decision making that need to be stored corporately

Line work for critical

habitat, biobanking agreements, PVP

Certificated and non-certified areas under biocertification agreements – part of legal clearing layer for monitoring

Progress towards CAR reserves

Fire management zoning layers

Priority EEC/TS management zone

Various (prioritization/investment layers including regional corridor layers)

3 Mapped vegetation information is required to derive and review contextual PVP parameters (such as extent cleared by Mitchell landscape or vegetation type) but is not needed to make a decision using the PVP/Biometric