Abstract

Spatial Impact Assessment as a Geodesign Web Service
Track: Geodesign
Authors: Michael Flaxman

Spatial impact assessment is a fundamental characteristic of geodesign. However, impact assessment models created with conventional desktop GIS tools have historically been difficult to share. Each application required a novel development process involving both subject matter and technical experts - a formulation which was often cost-prohibitive. With new hybrid desktop and online environments, much better workflows are possible.
We present here a template for impact assessment which generalizes key aspects of the process. A front end running as an HTML5 web application is responsible for scenario specification and geosketching. A back end is responsible for scenario simulation and impact assessment. We demonstrate this approach for an application simulating "incidental take" for 19 species under the endangered species act. The system was designed to support permit analysis under multiple climate change and urban development scenarios. The methods are generalizable to a variety of impact assessment contexts.