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MarineMap: Participatory Marine Spatial Planning Using a Web-based Open Source Tool
Project Description
Since 2005, the MarineMap Consortium, consisting of scientists and technologists at the University of California Santa Barbara, Ecotrust and The Nature Conservancy, have developed web-based decision support tools for stakeholders to visualize and analyze geospatial information pertaining to the ocean. The MarineMap Decision Support Tool, first developed by the Consortium for marine protected area planning as part of California's Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPAI) has also been extended for coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) in Oregon and Washington. MarineMap instances vary with respect to features and functionality but, generally speaking, MarineMap users may (a) visualize geospatial data layers, (b) draw areas of inquiry (e.g., prospective marine protected areas, alternative energy sites, transportation zones) with attributed information, (c) assemble areas of inquiry into arrays, (d) share areas of inquiry and arrays with other users, and (e) generate graphs and statistics to evaluate areas of inquiry based on science-based guidelines. Based on Open Source technologies, the MarineMap decision support tool is well documented, freely distributed and modifiable for any area-based planning effort (code.marinemap.org).
How the tool(s) were used in this project
To identify locations for prospective marine protected areas (MPAs), alternative energy sites (e.g., wind or wave energy facilities), transportation zones - indeed, any prospective human use or exclusion zone - decision makers need capabilities to map and analyze biological, geological, ocenanographic and human use features in the ocean. MarineMap has been used by California's Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPAI), Oregon's Territorial Sea Project, and is currently being developed for use in Washington. In California, stakeholders used MarineMap to design marine protected area (MPA) proposals whereas in Oregon, stakeholders used MarineMap to design "areas of inquiry" with either conservation or alternative energy objectives. In both cases, users access MarineMap using a standard web browser to view maps, draw prospective ocean zones and publish designs to other MarineMap users. They can also generate analytical reports to compare alternative proposals. Data that can be viewed and analyzed within various instances of MarineMap come from a variety of trusted and/or authoritative sources such as government agencies, non-government organizations, and academic partners. MarineMap was designed to be used by non-specialists, with no prior experience with GIS mapping tools.
The technical use of the tool(s)
MarineMap is designed for use by non-specialists although we have discovered that technicians find it very useful as well. MarineMap may be used to very quickly draw prospective ocean zones and receive analytical feedback on what resources are contained within those zones. This information may be used to evaluate the tradeoffs between various ocean use planning schemes.
Users access MarineMap using a standard web browser and connection to the Internet. As such, all data and user designs are centrally located.
Tool evaluation
In 2010, the MarineMap Consortium received an award for Innovation in Technology and Environmental Conflict Resolution from the U.S. Institute of Environmental Conflict Resolution. Stakeholders ranked MarineMap as critically important to the MPA design process in California. Furthermore, planning staff (including GIS professionals) used MarineMap routinely due to the ease of use and efficiency it provided.
Process and methods
The decision making process varies depending on the planning process that implements MarineMap. In all cases, however, it is expected that stakeholders are central to a marine spatial planning project and, with guidance from scientists, they author alternative spatial designs. The design process may take place in a public setting (e.g., stakeholder meetings)or in the privacy of their own homes. Analytics built into MarineMap help users evaluate alternative designs before submitting them to a planning or regulatory body.
Decision making process
The decision making process varies depending on the planning process that implements MarineMap. In all cases, however, it is expected that stakeholders are central to a marine spatial planning project and, with guidance from scientists, they author alternative spatial designs. The design process may take place in a public setting (e.g., stakeholder meetings)or in the privacy of their own homes. Analytics built into MarineMap help users evaluate alternative designs before submitting them to a planning or regulatory body.
Management outcomes
MarineMap has only recently been developed for Oregon and we are still in the process of developing it for Washington. In California, MarineMap was used intensively by stakeholders in Southern and Northern study regions within the state. Stakeholders and the general public generated over 20,000 prospective marine protected area (MPA) designs which, ultimately, lead to the implementation of over 70 new MPAs.
Lessons learned
With properly designed web-based technologies, non-specialists may use geospatial tools to design and evaluate prospective marine protected areas. Previously the exclusive domain of GIS professionals, goespatial technologies can now be used by anyone, regardless of their technical or scientific abilities. By placing stakeholders at the center of the planning process, and creating technologies that encourage their participation, the process gains transparency and greater buy-in from the general public.
Innovative ideas
Previously, geospatial data analysis was performed on the desktop. Prior to 2008, our experience with GIS tools suggested that web-based goespatial technologies were simply too slow to allow for timely analytics. Buy using a suite of open-source geospatial technologies, we discovered that one can, in fact, develop stable and efficient geospatial analytical tools. Moreover, these tools can be developed with simple and intuitive interfaces that may be used by virtually any user.
Project Partners
Key Stakeholders and Participants
- Scientists, resource managers, stakeholders of all kinds and members of the public
Submitted by Dr. S.N.Ojha (not verified) on Wed, 12/21/2011 - 03:28.
I am working as a Fisheries Extension scientist in the Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India. I want to learn about the basics of EBM so that I can help the poor fishers around Mumbai. Please help.
REGARDS
snojha
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