Updating the Master Management Plan for El Cachucho MPA (Cantabrian Sea) using a spatial planning approach

Located in the Cantabrian Sea (NE Atlantic), 30 nm off the Asturian coast, “El Cachucho” was the first off-shore Marine Protected Area (MPA) to be declared in Spain. The area includes Le Danois Bank and its intraslope basin. It joined the OSPAR Network of MPAs in 2009 and, thereafter, was included in the Natura 2000 Network in 2011. The main reason for its declaration as MPA was the presence of the 1170 Reefs habitat included in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. In 2018, the MPAs Master Management Plan was under revision and its design criteria were subjected to evaluation. We used Marxan decision support tool to evaluate the MPA's management design criteria. This tool selects the most important conservation features, while minimizing the socioeconomic cost. First, the 1170 Reefs habitat was defined as the main environmental value. Specifically, we took into account the six large sized target species that are more representative of this habitat in the area: the sponges Asconema setubalense, Geodia cf. barretti and Phakellia robusta, the anthipatarian Leiopathes glaberrima, and the gorgonians Placogorgia sp. and Callogorgia verticillata. A spatial distribution map was produced for each species using Generalized Additive Models (GAM). We also considered the presence of spawning stocks of fish species which are present in the area as an important conservation value. Their spatial distribution was modeled through Maxent software. Additionally, for the socioeconomic cost, fishing effort of the different fisheries operating in the area was estimated linking VMS/Logbook data before and after the MPA was declared. The first results obtained with the Marxan tool were presented in public consultation, in the context of the LIFE + INTEMARES Project, to help in decision making within the new Management Plan. Thus, to improve the management measures aimed at the conservation of the environmental values of the MPA, an enlargement of the protected area to the West was proposed, and a more reasonable use of the buffer area to fishermen than that defined in the former Management Plan was suggested. Involving all stakeholders in the development of the management plan for this MPA is a decisive step for the creation and consolidation of an important network of MPAs in Spain.En prensa2,08

Data infrastructures and spatial models for biodiversity assessment and analysis: applications to vertebrate communities.

In conservation biology the computation of biodiversity maps, based on statistical models is a central concern. These maps, produced with objective and repeatable methods are an essential tool for conservation and monitoring programs as well as for landuse planning. Since the computation of biodiversity maps requires complex and time consuming procedures for data processing and analysis, it is necessary to design methods for homogeneous, scalable and repeatable data management and analysis. Moreover, the huge volume of data used in ecological modelling requires suitable software architectures to store, analyze, retrieve and distribute information in order to support research and management actions in due time. First of all we developed an analysis system (SOS - Species Open Spreader) providing statistical and mathematical models to predict species distribution in relation to a set of predictive environmental and geographical variables The system is composed of a module for data input/output toward and from the GIS and of a package of scripts for the application of different modelling techniques. At present, three statistical techniques are integrated in SOS: Logistic Regression Analysis (LRA), Environmental Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) and flexible Discriminant Analysis with method BRUTO. Furthermore, two empirical spatial methods of analysis are available within SOS: Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) and Spatial Overlay. The system is designed to work with the GIS (Geographical Information System) soft-ware GRASS and the statistical environment R, coupled together through the SPGRASS6 library. Three different outputs are expected: text and graphical outputs with statistical results and suitability maps. Second, we tested the use of spatial Database Management Systems (Spatial DBMS) to handle wildlife and socio-economic data and we developed a web database application to provide facilities for database access. The information system was built for the Meru district (Tanzania) in the context of an Italian cooperation project of land use planning in Maasai rural areas. We tested two di_erent solutions: SpatiaLite and PostgreSQL-PostGIS; they both offer advanced technical facilities and spatial extensions to analyze spatial data. SpatiaLite is a new solution and offers the main advantages to consist of a unique file and to present a user-friendly interface, which make it the best solution for many applications. in spite of this we used PostgreSQL-PostGIS since it represents a well-established information system supported by libraries for web applications development. We applied SOS to three case studies at different spatial scale: Brescia plain (small scale), Mount Meru region - Tanzania (medium scale) and Lombardy region (big scale) in order to produce maps of species potential distribution and biodiversity maps for planning and management. We applied logistic regression analyses to compute models and ROC analysis for classification performance evaluation. The automation of processes through SOS gave us the possibility to build models for a large number of vertebrate species. The analysis produced very reliable results at middle and big scale while regression methods did not converge at small scale. This is probably due to habitat homogeneity and to the use of environmental variables with an insufficient level of detail. The potential distribution and biodiversity maps produced also had in all cases an applicative use in fact we used mammal species models computed for Mt. Meru region to produce a map of biodiversity within the area: this map represents an informative base for land use planning at village level within a cooperation project for Maasai economic development and environmental redemption. Amphibians and reptiles models, computed for Lombardy, represent a good informative base for planning management actions in the region

An overview of virtual city modelling : emerging organisational issues

This paper presents a recent overview of the increasing use of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies for the simulation of urban environments. It builds on previous research conducted on the identification of three-dimensional (3D) city models and offers an analysis of the development, utilization and construction of VR city models. Issues pertaining to advantages, barriers and ownership are identified. The paper describes a case study of the development of a VR model for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK and outlines the role that academic institutions can play in both the creation and utilization of urban models. The study offers a new approach for the creation, management and update of urban models and reflects on issues which are emerging. Areas for future research are discussed

Cancer Surveillance using Data Warehousing, Data Mining, and Decision Support Systems

This article discusses how data warehousing, data mining, and decision support systems can reduce the national cancer burden or the oral complications of cancer therapies, especially as related to oral and pharyngeal cancers. An information system is presented that will deliver the necessary information technology to clinical, administrative, and policy researchers and analysts in an effective and efficient manner. The system will deliver the technology and knowledge that users need to readily: (1) organize relevant claims data, (2) detect cancer patterns in general and special populations, (3) formulate models that explain the patterns, and (4) evaluate the efficacy of specified treatments and interventions with the formulations. Such a system can be developed through a proven adaptive design strategy, and the implemented system can be tested on State of Maryland Medicaid data (which includes women, minorities, and children)

The right place at the right time: assisting spatio-temporal planning in construction

21st - 24th October 2003 This paper describes research carried out for requirements capture in the development of a computer-based decision support tool (VIRCON) for space-time scheduling and visualisation of construction tasks. The focus was on pre-tender work and involved interviews with construction planners. Both space-time scheduling and visualisation of tasks are largely informal/intuitive processes for planners. They form an important part of the planner\'s risk identification function. Planners tend to opt for a robust spatio-temporal schedule rather than an optimal one. They require decision support tools that are quick and easy to use rather than highly sophisticated. The research highlights the extent to which construction planning is a communicative and co-operative activity in addition to a complex problem-solving one. Questions arise about the cost to the client of non-involvement by the construction planner at the design stage, the costs of short pre-tender periods, inadequate design data and sub-optimal construction periods specified in tender documents

Issues Arising on the Interface of MPAs and Fisheries Management

One of 6 background papers presented at The Expert Workshop on Marine Protected Areas and Fisheries Management: Review of Issues and Considerations held in Rome from June 12-14, 2006. The workshop was a response to the FAO Committee on Fisheries' call for technical guidelines for marine protected areas (MPAs) to assist Members to establish representative networks of MPAs by 2012, as agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. This paper focuses on three key themes. First, it highlights the commonalities between discussions of marine protected areas and of fisheries management, with emphasis on their mutual use of spatial measures and ecosystem approaches. Second, the paper draws on the other Background Papers prepared for the Workshop, as well as a range of additional literature, to produce a substantial compilation of issues and considerations relating to the development and implementation of MPAs, within a fisheries management context. The third key theme of the paper is a focus on the 'preliminary steps' of decision-making, in which scoping of needs, gaps and feasibility takes place from the dual perspectives of MPAs and fisheries management. A relative paucity of information and analysis on this topic is noted, along with a consequent need for additional work on the subject. An initial effort is undertaken to explore the key decision-making elements in this 'preliminary stage'