PlanWise4Blue#
Description#
Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA)
CEA is the process of systematically analysing and assessing cumulative environmental change. The purpose of CEA is to ensure that the full range of consequences of actions is considered.
Cumulative impacts can occur over different temporal and spatial scales by interacting, combining and compounding so that the overall effect often exceeds the simple sum of previous effects.
The spatial scale can be local, regional or global, whilst the frequency or temporal scale includes past, present and future impacts on a specific environment or region. Cumulative effects can simply be defined as the total impact that a series of developments, either present, past or future, will have on the environment within a specific region over a particular period of time.
Source: DEAT (2004) Cumulative Effects Assessment, Integrated Environmental Management, Information Series 7, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), Pretoria.
PlanWise4Blue
The PlanWise4Blue (PW4B) platform, accessible at https://gis.sea.ee/bluebiosites/, is a collaborative initiative led by the Department of Marine Systems at the Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu. This innovative decision support system was born out of a critical need to bridge the gap between scientific research and policymaking. It aims to facilitate the sustainable development of marine areas and the formulation of effective conservation strategies for European seas, particularly in the context of rapid human-induced environmental change. The platform is dynamic, constantly expanding in geographical scope and incorporating different natural values, human impacts and analytical tools.
The PW4B portal is developed using ASP.NET MVC architecture, PostgreSQL database engine for data management, and ESRI ArcGIS API for JavaScript for geospatial data visualization and mapping. The PW4B technology ensures full responsiveness and accessibility across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, regardless of the operating system used (Windows, iOS, or Android). The development approach of PW4B is characterised by the use of the Single Page Application (SPA) model, which enables dynamic user interaction with the portal’s controls, data, and elements within a single webpage, eliminating the need for page reloads after each action. This approach improves the user experience by enabling seamless navigation and interaction within the portal. The backend of PW4B uses PL/pgSQL Procedural Language to create and manage conditional and impact matrix tables, which are essential to the tool’s ability to process and present data. Python programming language is used to analyse data, generate various human pressure combinations, and calculate the cumulative effects of different pressures on natural assets. The PW4B system architecture comprises server and client/user interface components. GIS data is prepared, analysed, and stored in a geodatabase using ArcGIS Desktop and Python scripts on the server side. A rcGIS Server enables the sharing of GIS data through Web Map Services (WMS) and the execution of Geoprocessing tool Services. Additionally, the PostgreSQL database is used to store and manage auxiliary tables such as conditional and impact matrix tables, WMS layer information, model parameters, and user interface configurations using PL/pgSQL.
The ESRI ArcGIS API for JavaScript is used on the client side to visualize WMS layers and support interactive map creation.
Users can overlay multiple layers, query feature information, and engage with the portal to set model parameters, execute geoprocessing services, and view the results. The PW4B portal facilitates the organization and management of geospatial data, ensuring interoperability. It serves as a versatile platform for creating customized scenarios, running diverse analyses, and supporting sustainable marine spatial planning
Kotta et al. (2024) Ecological toolkit (ESE1) for MPAs prioritization and networking. Deliverable – D3.4., under the WP3 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707)