As almost all local government organisations have to manage data around
SNAs, this seems to me an area where a collaborative approach to system
development is highly likely to pay off.
If you are interested in pursuing this possiblity, please reply here, or
reply to me privately.
The process I have in mind is that two or more councils work together to
define a shared set of defined requirements, and then look for some way
to fund development of a system that would work for both councils. The
development may not have to be ground-up as some councils have already
developed systems that could be used as the basis for a more generically
applicable system.
There is already a set of SNA System Requirements that could be used as
a start for this.
http://dataversity.org.nz/guide/requirements/sna/
And there is also some documentation about a number of SNA systems
already in use,
http://dataversity.org.nz/guide/systems/sna
and one of these systems is already available for free download.
http://dataversity.org.nz/guide/systems/sna/mdcsna
Clearly, to be useful in a wide number of councils, the system would
have to be highly configurable. It should, for example be able to
support a variety of different approaches to prioritisation. Likewise,
it should be able to be integrated with a variety of different GIS
systems. Clearly, supporting data standards would go some way in this
regard.
We have seen such a collaboration already succeed with CADDIS-Fly.
http://dataversity.org.nz/guide/systems/caddis/
CADDIS-Fly was developed using a system that Cawthron Institute was
already using as a starting point. A small number of councils made a
joint application for Envirolink funding. Now CADDIS-fly is used at six
or more(?) councils, who all benefit from ongoing maintenance of the system.
Who's interested in pursuing this?
Environment Southland has spent four years developing a survey protocol
incorporating wetland and purely terrestrial ecosystems as part of a goal to
inventory SNAs on privately owned land in Southland.
We would be very interested in hearing feedback on what other councils are
doing with regard to data collection, storage and organisation.
We are 12 months in to the field testing process and are generally happy with
the format. Any feedback or comments on the attached field data sheets, or data
management would be greatly appreciated.
The
following files were added to this topic:
