The Auckland Council Experience From EcoBase to KiECO The Auckland Council Experience Presentation by Jade Khin, Research and Evaluation Unit (RIMU) 29.08.17

Overview Background The world of ecological data Moving to KiEco First steps Key features Challenges Learnings Migration stats Where to from here?

Community shellfish ecology Background Ecological data in ECOBASE Accommodating multiple types of marine, freshwater & terrestrial biodiversity data Rocky reef ecology Forest biodiversity Community shellfish ecology Freshwater ecology Wetland biodiversity Marine ecology Estuaries Riparian extent Regional discharge

The world of ecological data * Taxa – “today, yesterday, tomorrow”… - Maintaining integrity of historical data - Recognising and incorporating taxonomic progress - Retaining links to historical data, making it relevant now Doodia australis Blechnum parrisiae Rasp fern

The world of ecological data * Detailed metadata For example, stem data: Plant taxa Species code Count / Measure Vege type Vege status Location Who / what / when Quality code Tag ID Alive / Dead Notes Value

The world of ecological data * Layers of locations Transects Nested plots Stratified random Catchment - reaches Stations, subplots, seedling plots, tiers

The world of ecological data * Capturing varying spatial resolution Catchment data alongside individuals

The world of ecological data * Multiple classifications For example, bird count data: Bird taxa Count Distance Detection type Minute Location Who/what/when Quality code Value © Matt Binns

The world of ecological data Diverse, complex, layered data ALL this info captured in a database Stored in a useful/meaningful way & facilitates “re-construction” at a later date

Moving to KiECO Excitement!!! Trepidation LOADS of: Data in EcoBase Historical data Data heading to EcoBase Taxa Variables

First steps Covering the bases – marine, freshwater & terrestrial KiECO 101 - series of well crafted skype, (and later, in-person and workshop) sessions with Vicky Isaac & Steffi George Constant communication Used this information to start mapping our various programmes…….contemplating: site layout: sampling areas/observations areas & obs spots observation attributes additional attributes

Sampling area type additional attributes First steps Sampling area type additional attributes

Layout of sampling area (obs area, obs spots) First steps Layout of sampling area (obs area, obs spots)

Additional attributes @ sampling event or observation level First steps Additional attributes @ sampling event or observation level

First steps Once layouts drafted, able to see & test example data Revisiting decisions & restructuring where appropriate Advantage of using examples vs real data

Key Features Custom fit Taxa management options Structure to fit the data, not make the data fit… Based on programme or data type – for example Community shellfish data vs terrestrial forest data Variable level of detail required at each level ‘Meaningfulness’ of data retained Able to cater for the complexity and variability of ecological data Taxa management options Linking data so you can better manage changes Storing historical info Multiple additional features can be stored Extended search options Ability to search by taxa, parameter, sampling areas, additional attributes and all other imaginable combinations Visualisation of sampling areas At multiple levels of the data, able to view locations on maps

Challenges Options!!!! Language Taxa as parameters Lots of options to choose from Multiple ways to do the same thing No ‘wrong’ answer, just different How do we want to “use” the data? Language Sites…sampling areas Variables…parameters Classifications…attributes Stations/subplots….observation areas & observation spots Taxa as parameters Recognising taxa as parameters as well Understanding why… Managing ‘2’ lists

Learnings Familiarity with database in advance Seeing examples of our own data displayed Trial different facets before making choices Training and workshop sessions at key points Embedding the language as early as possible

Migration stats • 969 sampling areas • 10,912 samplings • 3,009 taxa • 2,863 parameter types • 63,741 observation areas • 77,933 observation spots • 1,984,646 observations

Where to from here? Migration complete……. First uploads underway Tweaking exports Taxa management processes Navigating around Looking towards KiWIS & web portal Expanding coverage

Any questions, please contact Jade Khin Environmental Specialist Research and Evaluation Unit Auckland Council jade.khin@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz +64 21 2275424