Tools for marine spatial planning (Tool FAQ #2)

This message was posted by: Zach Ferdana
EBM Tools

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) recently conducted an MSP workshop in Santa
Cruz, focused on practitioners who have experience with the various
components of marine spatial planning. The objective of the workshop was
to discuss some sound practices and produce a document for planners -
basically providing some practical advice to advance the concepts
presented in Bud and Fanny's document cited below. We will keep the
Tools Network up to date on the development of this doc.

One of the sessions focused on decision support tools, particularly
focused on the development of web mapping services. MarineMap, the
Multipurpose Marine Cadastre and the Coastal Resilience project were all
brought forward and discussed as an overarching approach - the
development of online decision support tools designed to enable
stakeholders and management agencies to make more informed decisions
while recognizing multiple objectives.

Below is more information on MarineMap (http://www.marinemap.org/) in
particular, but the Cadastre project (www.csc.noaa.gov/mmc) and Coastal
Resilience (http://coastalresilience.org/) also provide great examples
of this approach.

Feel free to contact any of us for follow-up.

thanks
Zach Ferdana, Will McClintock, Charles Steinback

The MarineMap Consortium includes scientists and technologists at UCSB,
TNC and Ecotrust. Through the development of web mapping services and
online decision support the consortium has come to understand the
importance of using a specific methodology that we are calling "adaptive
development". Like many marine spatial planning efforts these days, MPA
planning within the MLPA Initiative is extremely fast paced and
stakeholder driven. Stakeholders are tasked with making science-based
decisions about MPA design and the science of MPA design is, in fact,
changing on a monthly basis. In our case, adaptive development involves
persistently responding to the evolving needs of those who use
MarineMap.

The MarineMap Decision Support Tool (DST) was developed to facilitate
marine protected area (spatial) planning for California's Marine Life
Protection Act Initiative. In short, the MarineMap DST is a web-based
application that allows you to (1) visualize social and ecological
attributes (map layers) of coastal areas, (2) draw and assemble networks
of prospective MPAs, (3) specify types of regulations to be applied to
each MPA as well as goals and objectives fulfilled, (4) generate reports
that assess MPAs according to scientific guidelines as well as social
and economic impacts, (5) share MPA boundaries and networks with other
users, and (5) quickly and easily modify existing MPA concepts as the
process evolves. We will also be adding new technologies for
incorporating place-based comments and discussions.

MarineMap was developed to engage stakeholders in the planning process
by promoting transparency, facilitating the exploration and
communication of alternative solutions, and presenting information in a
way that can be easily digested by non-technical users. With respect to
the UNESCO-IOC document that you reference below, MarineMap was designed
to meet the following goals:

#4: Organize stakeholder participation (by engaging stakeholders in the
process).

#5: Define and Analyze Existing Conditions (by allowing users to map
biological and ecological areas, physical features, current human uses,
assess conflicts and compatibilities between human use and ecosystem
health).

#6 Define and Analyze Future Conditions (by creating and visualizing
alternative spatial use scenarios, analyzing tradeoffs between
alternative spatial use scenarios, and selecting a preferred spatial use
scenario).

#7 Prepare and Approve the Spatial Management Plan (by evaluating the
effectiveness of possible MPAs, developing alternative MPA plans with
specific usage rules, evaluating the degree to which MPA plans meet
definite objectives, select a preferred MPA plan).

Although the MarineMap DST was not specifically designed for this
purpose, our team strongly believes that MarineMap can be easily adapted
to serve additional functions:

#8 Implement and Enforce the Spatial Management Plan (by displaying
real-time vessel traffic and user compliance with the spatial management
plan)

#9 Monitor and Evaluate Performance (by displaying and reporting on MPA
monitoring data)

It is sometimes tempting to think of application development, such as
the creation of MarineMap, as a one-time event. That is, you develop a
tool and install it on one or more computers at which point development
ends. But we are adamantly in favor of adaptive development so that as
needs emerge, the proper application features may be developed. Two
things greatly facilitated our ability to adapt MarineMap to changing
needs: (1) our choice of open source technologies (PostGIS, GeoServer,
MapServer, GRASS, GeoDjango, OpenLayers, ExtJS, JQuery), and (2) our
decision to hire in-house developers (in addition to seeking outside
consultants when needed). If your MSP process changes rapidly, as all
seem to, then having developers on your team throughout that process is
essential.

An open source technology stack also facilitates the distribution of
MarineMap to other MSP efforts without the cost of licensing. Although
MarineMap is "free" (and open source developers are welcome to take a
crack at it) it is not a simple installation. Furthermore, as MarineMap
was developed specifically for the MLPA Initiative, other planning
efforts will likely want to tweak the application for their specific
needs. So, those who wish to use MarineMap should budget for
development, the cost of which depends on the level of customization you
seek, the amount of in-house expertise you already have, and other
factors. As a group with experience in marine spatial planning, The
MarineMap Consortium is interested in facilitating MSP by engaging in
the planning process and further developing the MarineMap Decision
Support Tool.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide any further
information about our consortium, methods or tools.

Cheers,
Will McClintock

> Hello EBM Tools Listserver Folks,
>
> So the second Tool Frequently-Asked Question that we would like your
> participation in answering is a big one:
>
> *Tool Frequently-Asked Question #2: Are there tools that can help
> with_ marine spatial planning_?*
>
> The EBM Tools Network has already started compiling a Marine Spatial
> Planning Toolbox, and we will add your input and insight to it. And
> since this is such a big question, I wanted to provide some guidance
> in answering:
>
> 1) We are running with the definition /"Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)
> is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and
> temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve
> ecological, economic, and objectives"/ from the UNESCO-IOC website
> www.unesco-ioc-marinesp.be <http://www.unesco-ioc-marinesp.be>. So MSP

> includes ocean zoning.
>
> 2) In our initial cut at the toolbox, we would like to focus on tools
> that are software or well-defined methodologies.
>
> 3) Think multi-sector when answering. Undoubtedly, an MSP process may
> involve a range of tools, potentially single-sector management ones.
> But for now, let's focus on tools for multi-sector planning and
> management.
>
> 4) Below are steps in an MSP process and needed tool functionality
> adapted from the 2009 UNESCO-IOC document "Marine Spatial Planning: A
> Step-by-Step Approach toward Ecosystem-based Management" (downloadable

> from www.unesco-ioc-marinesp.be <http://www.unesco-ioc-marinesp.be>;
> full citation below). The steps are directly from the document, but we

> have adapted the tasks and actions to be bullets representing tool
> functionality that is needed in these steps. When you answer, please
> say which step(s) you feel the tool is useful for. And if we are
> missing any tool functionality that is needed for MSP, let us know.
>
> 5) In addition to names and references for tools, we would like to
> learn about a bit about what the tool does and how it works, what it
> costs to get the tool, resources and training needed to use the tool,
> data the tool needs, and case studies of previous tool use.
>
> *Steps in the MSP process and needed tool functionality:*
>
> * *
>
> 1) Identify Need and Establish Authority
>
> * Map ocean governance (relevant authorities, laws, regulations, etc.)
>
> 2) Obtain Financial Support
>
> 3) Organize the Process through Pre-Planning
>
> * Define ecosystem boundaries
>
> * Support development of social, economic, and ecological goals and
> objectives for process
>
> 4) Organize Stakeholder Participation
>
> * Engage stakeholders in process
>
> 5) Define and Analyze Existing Conditions
>
> * Map important biological and ecological areas
>
> * Map oceanographic and other physical features (e.g. bathymetry,
> currents, sediments) if comprehensive biological data is not available
>
> * Map current human uses
>
> * Assess conflicts and compatibilities among human uses
>
> * Determine cumulative impacts of human uses on ecosystem health
>
> * Assess conflicts and compatibilities between human uses and
> ecosystem health
>
> * Manage project data
>
> 6) Define and Analyze Future Conditions
>
> * Predict future human demands for ocean use and potential impacts on
> ecosystem health
>
> * Create and visualize alternative spatial use scenarios for the
> planning area
>
> * Analyze tradeoffs between alternative spatial use scenarios
>
> * Select a preferred spatial use scenario
>
> 7) Prepare and Approve the Spatial Management Plan
>
> * Evaluate effectiveness of possible management measures (e.g. marine
> protected areas, fishing gear regulations)
>
> * Develop alternative zoning plans with appropriate permitting, usage
> rules, and monitoring for each zone
>
> * Evaluate the degree to which zoning plans meet definite objectives
>
> * Select a preferred zoning plan
>
> 8) Implement and Enforce the Spatial Management Plan
>
> * Monitor user compliance with spatial management plan
>
> 9) Monitor and Evaluate Performance
>
> * Develop monitoring indicators to determine spatial management plan
> success at meeting defined objectives
>
> * Develop monitoring system to track indicators
>
> * Report on outcomes
>
> 10) Adapt the Spatial Management Process
>
> Hope we haven't scared you away! Please send your responses to
> <mailto: >
> unless they are good reasons not to in which case you can send them to

> me privately at
> <mailto: >.
>
> /Full citation for MSP document:/ Ehler, Charles, and Fanny Douvere.
> Marine Spatial Planning: a step-by-step approach toward
> ecosystem-based management. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

> and Man and the Biosphere Programme. IOC Manual and Guides No. 53,
> ICAM Dossier No. 6 Paris: UNESCO, 2009.
>
> Many thanks for your participation!
>
> Sarah
>