Targeted stocktake and capability analysis of space and spatial information technology and data coordination for State of the Environment reporting in 2021 and 2023.
The Challenge:
The Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (CES) conducts statutory, scientific environmental condition reporting on the state of Victoria’s environment to enable practical action. The State of the Environment (SoE) 2018 Report made the following recommendation which was supported in principle by the Victorian Government: That DELWP develop its spatial information capability and database, and ensure it is regularly and routinely updated, to inform decision-making across the environment portfolio.
The 2021 project focused on marine and coastal applications of spatial information technology to inform the State of the Marine and Coastal Environment (SMCE) reporting and deliver a review of current, emerging and future spatial technologies and datasets aligned to SMCE reporting, enabling a strategic response to, and implementation of the recommendation.
The 2023 project built on the 2021 work and focused on harnessing space and spatial analysis techniques to improve biodiversity understanding, reporting and outcomes. Specifically, this work and its recommendations support the implementation of Victoria’s BioPlan 2037 which aims to improve overall biodiversity in Victoria over the next 20 years by periodically measuring against goals and targets to assess progress.
Partners:
This project was conducted in collaboration with the Victorian Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (CES).
The Solution:
The reviews of space and spatial information technology and datasets provided a stocktake (what is Victoria’s current capability and capacity) and, critically, commentary on emerging technology and applications and the opportunities on the horizon for the Victorian Government to be a leader in geospatial information and an early adopter of geospatial technologies.
The projects produced:
- Spatial Technologies Reports
- Understanding – the current and future elements of SMCE and SoE biodiversity reporting via workshops with CES.
- Reviewing – current, emerging and future space and spatial technologies and datasets aligned to SMCE and SoE biodiversity reporting via desktop analysis and environmental scans.
- Discussion – to validate the findings and recommendations, identify any gaps and provide feedback on the review stage.
- Reporting – written assessment of the current, emerging and future space and spatial technologies available for better understanding, managing and predicting the future needs of Victoria’s environments, including recommendations to support biodiversity monitoring and reporting, presented as chapters in the SMCE 2021 and SoE 2023 Reports.
- Report Card
- Two-page report card style infographics summarising the current, emerging and future space and spatial technologies and datasets aligned to SMCE and SoE biodiversity reporting.
Impact:
These projects were a step towards the CES establishing a spatial plan and/or investment roadmap for ecologically sustainable development in Victoria. The recommendations made ultimately inform medium- and longer-term investments in Victoria, further enhance decision-making supporting ecologically sustainable development, improve environmental management in Victoria and improve future CES recommendations to government.
Contact:
Please contact us at contact@frontiersi.com.au or Project Manager Jessica Keysers at jkeysers@frontiersi.com.au