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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. First steps Covering the bases – marine, freshwater & terrestrial
KiECO 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

12. Sampling area type additional attributes
First steps
Sampling area type additional attributes

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

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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. Any questions, please contact
Jade Khin
Environmental Specialist
Research and Evaluation Unit
Auckland Council