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Christopher Howe
An Environmental Information and Decision Support System for
Cornwall, UK
Background: Why we implemented GIS
The need to develop a local environmental information and decision
support system in Cornwall, together with the granting of £330,000
of financial assistance to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall
County Council and the SEPNB by the European Commission in 1993,
led to the implementation of the "Cornwall LIFE Project",
which has the following aims:
- Establish a GIS based local environmental information and
decision support system, including graphic data capture, database
population and development of custom analysis facilities
- Use the system to support development plan and nature conservation
applications in Cornwall
- Dissemination of information about the methods and results
of the project.
The system meets the specific requirements of environmental policy
and legislation at a local level. As part of an EC Demonstration
Programme, it provides a model to other potential partnerships.
Establishing the system
The two main elements of establishing the system were:
- Data collection, capture and verification. This included
air photo interpretation, manual and automated digitisation and
population of databases using results of manipulation of graphic
data.
- Development of custom environmental analysis facilities.
Custom interactive searching, comparative impact analysis, summary
graphic data set generation, semi-automated attribute creation
and change analysis have been developed.
Applications and benefits
The system provides tangible benefits by supporting (1) consideration
of the environment in the development plan process; and (2)
effective use of resources for biodiversity conservation. Three
project applications, implemented using the custom facilities
mentioned above, provide the methods by which these benefits are
achieved:
- Semi-natural habitat monitoring. Analysis of changes
in semi-natural habitat allows assessment of the effectiveness
of planning designations; differences in implementation of county
policies by district councils; and identification of causes of
habitat loss.
- Input to the development plan process. The system is
used to contribute to the definition of county policy areas, and
to provide interactive search and comparative impact analysis
facilities.
- Nature conservation overview/Biodiversity planning guidelines.
Analysis of habitat and species protection across Cornwall gives
rise to target maps for agricultural extensification (e.g. Countryside
Stewardship), priority areas for habitat re-creation and priority
areas for increased site protection.
Dissemination and access
The system and data has been developed for a number of platforms,
but is or will be available on desktop computers for ArcView and
other summary data presentation software (such as the DoE's Countryside
Information System, the United Kingdom Digital Marine Atlas and
PC spreadsheets).
Papers, technical reports, a video and project publications can
be obtained from the project co-ordinator.
Future developments
Future developments include increasing the range of supported
software/hardware platforms; improving and developing the custom
facilities; and broadening the range of available data.
Christopher Howe
Cornwall LIFE Project
5 Acres
Allet
Truro
TR4 9DJ
UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1872 73939
Fax: +44 (0)1872 225476
email: cornwt@cix.compulink.co.uk