Habitats d4.2.2 final

European Commission
Information Society and Media

DELIVERABLE

Project Acronym: HABITATS

Grant Agreement number: CIP- ICT-PSP-2009-3-250455

Project Title: Social Validation of INSPIRE Annex III Data Structures in
EU Habitats

D-4.2.2
HABITATS INSPIRE Networking Architecture

Document identifier: D 4.2.2

Date: July 28th, 2011

Nature: REPORT

Dissemination level: PU

WP Lead Partner: HSRS

Revision Final

Project co-funded by the European Commission within the ICT Policy Support Programme
Dissemination Level
PU Public X
RE Restricted to a group specified by the consortium (including the Commission Services)
CO Confidential, only for members of the consortium (including the Commission Services)

This project is partially funded under the ICT Policy Support Programme as part of the Competitiveness and
Innovation Framework Programme by the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/ict_psp
This document reflects only the author's views and the European Community is not liable for any use that might
be made of the information contained herein. © HABITATS Consortium, 2010

Date: 2011-08-01 Habitats INSPIRE Networking Architecture
Doc. Identifier: D-4.2.2
Project: Social Validation of INSPIRE Annex III Data Structures in EU Habituas

Abstract:
This document defines the generic architecture for the HABITATS project, but also include
individual pilot applications and Reference Laboratory. The Architecture definition use RM-ODP
methodology. The document is updating of first version of D4.2.1 and it was updated on the base of
pilot works during period from Month 9 to Month 15. On the base of pilot user cases, generic user
cases are defined. Architecture is defined as platform independent.

Key Words:
INSPIRE, Networking Architecture , RM ODP, Metadata, Data models, Reference Laboratory,
Pilots implementation

Authors:

Karel Charvat HSRS
Gregorio Urquía Osorio TRAGSATEC
Lisa Maurer TUG
Peteris Bruns IMCS
John O’Flaherty MAC
Andrea Scianna Madonie
Filip Hajek, Marek Mlcousek, Jan Bojko FMI

-2-


Revision History

Revision Date Author Organization Description
2010-09-14 K.Charvat HSRS Table of Contents
2010-09-21 K.Charvat HSRS TOC, responsibilities
2011-01-31 K.Charvat HSRS Draft version
2011-02-10 G.Urquia TRAGSATEC Revision, detail
modifications,
comments
2011-02-10 K. Charvat HSRS Update of documents,
user scenarios, generic
scenarios, and single
viewpoints
2011-02-15 L.Maurer TUG Comments
2011-02-17 K. Charvat HSRS Revision
2011-03-03 A.Sierra TRAGSA Format Revision
V1.0 2011-07-15 K. Charvat HSRS Document updating and
including contribution
from partners
V1.1 2011-07-21 K. Charvat HSRS Integration of
contribution from
MAC, IMCS and
TRAGSATEC
V1.2 2011-07-25 K. Charvat HSRS Update of introduction
V1.3 2011-07-25 A. Sierra TRAGSA Format revision
Final 2011-07-28 All Final revision

Document Change Record

Issue Date Author Item Reason for Change

-3-


Project Officer: Krister Olson
European Commission
DG Information Society and Media
Project Officer
Address:
DG INFSO – E06
Office: EUFO – 01/177
L – 2920 LUXEMBOURG
Phone: +(352) 43 0134332

Fax: +(352)

E-mail: Krister.olson@ec.europa.eu

Project Manager: Mariano Navarro

Address: C/ Julián Camarillo, 6b, 28037, Madrid, Spain

Phone: + 34 91 322 65 21

Fax: + 34 91 322 63 23

E-mail: mnc@tragsa.es

-4-

Date: 2011-08-01 Habitats INPIRE Networking Architecture
Doc. Identifier: D 4.2.2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................7
1.1. TERMS ..........................................................................................................................................................7
1.2. ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................................8
2. METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................9
2.1. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RM ODP METHODOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION FOR HABITATS .....................................9
2.2. GENERIC AND PILOT DESIGN .........................................................................................................................11
3. ENTERPRISE VIEWPOINT – USER SCENARIOS, USE CASES AND BUSINESS MODELLING....12
3.1. PILOT DEFINITION ........................................................................................................................................12
3.2. WILD SALMON MONITORING .......................................................................................................................12
3.3. LA PALMA PROTECTED MARINE AREA ........................................................................................................16
3.4. NATURAL RESERVE .....................................................................................................................................18
3.5. HIKING TRIP PLANNER.................................................................................................................................20
3.6. SHEEP AND GOAT HERDING MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................22
3.7. ECONOMICAL ACTIVITY AT MARINE COASTAL BENTHIC HABITATS ..............................................................25
3.8. NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMME.................................................................................................................27
3.8.1. Cross pilot use cases ...........................................................................................................................34
3.9. PILOT ACTORS .............................................................................................................................................38
3.10. GENERIC ACTORS AND USERS .....................................................................................................................39
3.11. ACTORS ACTIVITIES. .................................................................................................................................41
3.12. GENERIC USE CASES ...................................................................................................................................43
4. INFORMATION VIEWPOINT – WHICH DATA AND HOW WILL BE SHARED ..............................50
4.1. DATA TYPES USED IN HABITATS ARCHITECTURE AND HOW THE DATA ARE ACCESSED .................................50
4.2. INFORMATION LIFE-CYCLE ...........................................................................................................................51
4.2.1. Reference data .....................................................................................................................................51
4.2.2. Satellite imagery ..................................................................................................................................52
4.2.3. In-situ observation ...............................................................................................................................52
4.2.4. Terrain measurement...........................................................................................................................53
4.2.5. User edited data ..................................................................................................................................54
4.2.6. User derived data ................................................................................................................................54
4.3. DATA AND METADATA MODELS ...................................................................................................................55
4.3.1. Metadata ..............................................................................................................................................55
4.4. SEA REGIONS ...........................................................................................................................................57
4.5. BIO-GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS ...........................................................................................................57
4.6. HABITATS AND BIOTOPES....................................................................................................................57
4.7. SPECIES DISTRIBUTION ........................................................................................................................58
4.7.1. Data models .........................................................................................................................................58
4.7.2. Feature catalogues for sea regions .....................................................................................................59
4.8. DATA HARMONISATION ...............................................................................................................................60
4.8.1. COORDINATE TRANSFORMATION .................................................................................................60
4.8.2. FORMAT TRANSFORMATION ..........................................................................................................60
4.8.3. SCHEMA TRANSFORMATION ..........................................................................................................60
4.9. USED DATA SETS ..........................................................................................................................................61
4.9.1. Reference laboratory data sets ............................................................................................................61
4.9.2. Wild Salmon Monitoring .....................................................................................................................67
4.9.3. LA PALMA PROTECTED MARINE AREA .........................................................................................69
4.9.4. NATURAL RESERVE ..........................................................................................................................70
4.9.5. HIKING TRIP PLANNER and SHEEP AND GOAT HERDING MANAGEMENT .........................71
4.9.6. ECONOMICAL ACTIVITY AT MARINE COASTAL BENTHIC HABITATS ......................................72
4.9.7. NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMME .................................................................................................73
5. COMPUTATIONAL VIEWPOINT-LOGICAL ARCHITECTURE .........................................................76
5.1. CONCERNS ...................................................................................................................................................76
5.1.1. FILE SYSTEM .....................................................................................................................................76

5


5.1.2. RDBMS ................................................................................................................................................76
5.1.3. Sensor connector .................................................................................................................................77
5.1.4. ACES infrastructure ............................................................................................................................78
5.1.5. Web Map server ...................................................................................................................................79
5.1.6. Metadata server ...................................................................................................................................80
5.1.7. WPS .....................................................................................................................................................81
5.1.8. Sensors server ......................................................................................................................................81
5.1.9. Geographical extensions for RBDSM ..................................................................................................81
5.1.10. Web Based GIS Analytical Tools .......................................................................................................81
5.1.11. Registry management ........................................................................................................................82
5.1.12. Authorisation/Authentication.............................................................................................................82
5.1.13. View ...................................................................................................................................................84
5.1.14. WFS Gazetteer ...................................................................................................................................85
5.1.15. Data services .....................................................................................................................................85
5.1.16. Transformation ..................................................................................................................................86
5.1.17. Analysis .............................................................................................................................................87
5.1.18. Monitoring .........................................................................................................................................87
5.1.19. External services ...............................................................................................................................88
5.1.20. Geo-portal BUS .................................................................................................................................88
5.1.21. Applications .......................................................................................................................................88
5.1.22. Applets ...............................................................................................................................................88
5.1.23. Servlets ..............................................................................................................................................89
5.1.24. Portlets ..............................................................................................................................................89
5.1.25. WMC ..................................................................................................................................................90
5.1.26. RSS/GeoRSS ......................................................................................................................................91
5.1.27. KML/KMZ .........................................................................................................................................91
5.1.28. iFrame ...............................................................................................................................................92
5.1.29. DIV ....................................................................................................................................................92
5.1.30. Augment reality .................................................................................................................................92
5.1.31. CMS ...................................................................................................................................................93
5.1.32. Social Networks and Media ...............................................................................................................93
5.1.33. Workflow management ......................................................................................................................93
5.2. PILOTS COMPUTATIONAL VIEW ....................................................................................................................94
5.2.1. WILD SALMON MONITORING .........................................................................................................94
5.2.2. LA PALMA PROTECTED MARINE ARE ...........................................................................................94
5.2.3. AUGMENTED REALITY - NATURAL RESERVE...............................................................................95
5.2.4. HIKING TRIP PLANNER and SHEEP AND GOAT HERDING MANAGEMENT .............................95
5.2.5. ECONOMICAL ACTIVITY AT MARINE COASTAL BENTHIC HABITATS ......................................95
5.2.6. NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMME .................................................................................................95
6. ENGINEERING VIEWPOINT- DISTRIBUTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE ..........................................97
6.1. RELATION OF PILOT IMPLEMENTATION AND REFERENCE LABORATORY .......................................................97
6.2. DESIGN FOR REFERENCE LABORATORY .......................................................................................................98
7. TECHNOLOGY VIEWPOINT – INFRASTRUCTURE MAPPING .................................................. - 100 -
7.1. EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE COMPONENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................. - 100 -
7.2. REFERENCE LABORATORY IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................................... - 102 -
7.3. PILOTS ARCHITECTURE ......................................................................................................................... - 111 -
7.3.1. WILD SALMON MONITORING .................................................................................................. - 111 -
7.3.2. LA PALMA PROTECTED MARINE AREA .................................................................................. - 112 -
7.3.3. NATURAL RESERVE ................................................................................................................... - 114 -
7.3.4. HIKING TRIP PLANNER and SHEEP AND GOAT HERDING MANAGEMENT ...................... - 115 -
7.3.5. ECONOMICAL ACTIVITY AT MARINE COASTAL BENTHIC HABITATS ............................... - 116 -
7.3.6. NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMME .......................................................................................... - 116 -
8. CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................................... - 119 -

9. REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... - 120 -

6


1. INTRODUCTION
The objective of Task 4.2 is to define generic architecture (platform neutral) and also architecture for
pilot solutions. Important part basic set of networking services which are an extension of existing
INSPIRE services, for the management, discovery, sharing, processing and publishing of spatial
planning data by public and commercial sector, NGOs, citizens, private sector, education and science,
and all those who play an important role in biodiversity and see region protection and also
exploitation.
The objective of this task is to define such architecture for SDI, which will allow effective
management of sensitive areas, support for tourism, education and research in this areas, and also
promotion of these regions. HABITATS defines the tools and interfaces by which the different parties
will be able to manage, discovery, share and reuse spatial data.
This D4.2.2 document provides final version of HABITATS networking and data sharing architecture,
and suggests its possible logical components, but also possibilities, how provide practical
implementation of this logical components. This architecture is based on user needs and is validated by
users on the base of concrete implementations. The starting point and requirements can be found in the
HABITATS deliverable D4.1, but document is mainly based on D4.2.1. Initial architecture design
from D4.2.1 was modified in interaction with users to develop concrete pilot cases and led to the final
architecture design. First version of the document was updated on the base on user response. In this
process local technical expert’s plaid an important role, who and contributed to the testing of
principles and of the architecture and cooperate on design of concrete local implementation. For this
the Living Lab methodology was used.

1.1. TERMS
• infrastructure for spatial information – metadata, spatial data sets and spatial data services;
network services and technologies; agreements on sharing, access and use; and coordination and
monitoring mechanisms, processes and procedures, established, operated or made available in
accordance with this Directive; [INSPIRE Directive]
• INSPIRE application schema – application schema specified in an INSPIRE data specification
• INSPIRE data specification – harmonized data product specification for a theme adopted as an
Implementing Rule
• metadata – information describing spatial data sets and spatial data services and making it possible
to discover, inventory and use them [INSPIRE Directive]
• spatial data – data with a direct or indirect reference to a specific location or geographic area
[INSPIRE Directive]
• spatial data set – identifiable collection of spatial data [INSPIRE Directive]
• spatial object – abstract representation of a real-world phenomenon related to a specific location or
geographical area [INSPIRE Directive]
• feature – abstraction of real world phenomena [ISO 19101]
• feature catalogue – catalogue(s) containing definitions and descriptions of the spatial object types,
their attributes and associated components occurring in one or more spatial data sets, together with any
operations that may be applied [ISO 19110 – modified]
• discovery services – search for spatial data sets and services on the basis of the content of the
corresponding metadata and to display the content of the metadata [INSPIRE Directive]
• view services – services to display, navigate, zoom in/out, pan, or overlay viewable spatial data
sets and to display legend information and any relevant content of metadata [INSPIRE Directive]
• download services – services to copy of spatial data sets, or parts of such sets, to be downloaded
and, where practicable, accessed directly [INSPIRE Directive]

7


• transformation services – services enabling spatial data sets to be transformed with a view to
achieving interoperability [INSPIRE Directive]
• services allowing – spatial data services to be invoked [INSPIRE Directive]

1.2. ABBREVIATIONS
• INSPIRE – Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe
• ISO – International Organisation for Standardisation
• SDI – Spatial Data Infrastructure
• WMS – Web Service Map
• WFS – Web Feature Map
• WCS – Web Coverage Map
• WFS – G - Web Service Map Gazetteer
• WMC – Web Map Context
• WPS – Web Processing Services
• CS – W - Catalogue Service Web
• CNIG – National Centre of Geographic Data of Spain
• URM – Uniform Resource Management
• OGC – Open Geospatial Consortium
• SOA – Service Oriented Architecture
• CMS – content management systems
• SOS – Sensor Observation Services
• SAS – Sensors Alert Services
• SES – Sensors Event Services
• SEIS – Shared Environmental Information System
• HTML – HyperText Markup Language
• API – Application Programming Interface
• ESA – European Space Agency
• GMES – Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
• GEOSS - Global Earth Observation System of Systems
• EU – European Union
• EC – European Commission
• URI – Uniform Resource Identifier
• KML – Keyhole Markup Language
• GML – Geography Markup Language
• RM-ODP - Reference Model of Open Distributed ProcessingINSPIRE – INfrastructure for
SPatial InfoRmation in Europe
• ISO – International Organisation for Standardisation

8


2. METHODOLOGY
As was already described in D4.1, architecture design is realised on the base of a Reference Model of
Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) (ISO/IEC 10746-1). This model is the architecture reference
model used also within ISO/TC 211 “Geographic Information – Reference model” [ISO 19101:2002],
and on Open Geospatial Consortium Reference Model (ORM).
The use of RM-ODP will give us two opportunities:
• To define the basic design of the solution as platform neutral and to support different local
implementation. This is important, because the objective of the document D4.2 is not to
describe one unique technology solution, but to give general models, which could be used by
different organisation across Europe. These models are then demonstrated on selected pilot
cases that are part of the project, in order to demonstrate the feasibility of such solution
• To build on positive experiences of previous European research projects, as this methodology
is used by most European (mainly research) projects and some recommendations already exist.
A previous analysis (D4.1) demonstrates that the basic principles for INSPIRE, GEOSS and
GMES projects are very similar and that some basic building blocks could easily be re-used in
different applications. Our objective is to extend these models to make them more oriented
towards actual user needs.

The architecture design provides an overall conceptual framework for building geo-processing
services for biodiversity, sea region protection and for effective management and utilisation of
sensitive areas The RM-ODP framework will have to be integrated with the Model Driven
Architecture (MDA) approach, which allows to define the system through an abstract schema,
independent from implementation tools and techniques.

2.1. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RM ODP METHODOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION FOR
HABITATS
The RM-ODP divides all process of architecture design into five generic and complementary steps,
which are called viewpoints on the system and its environment. This viewpoints are:
• The enterprise viewpoint, which focuses on the purpose, scope and policies for the system. It
describes the business requirements and how to meet them. It is based on user scenarios and user
cases

• The information viewpoint, focuses on the semantics of the information and the information
processing performed. It describes the information managed by the system and the structure and
content type of the supporting data. This viewpoint is related to WP3, where data and metadata
models are defined. The Information viewpoint extends these models and analyses also necessary
operation

• The computational viewpoint provides functional decomposition of the system into objects
which interact at interfaces. It describes the functionality provided by the system and its functional
decomposition.

• The engineering viewpoint focuses on the mechanisms and functions required to support
distributed interactions between objects in the system. It describes the distribution of processing
performed by the system to manage the information and provide the functionality.

• The technology viewpoint focuses on the choice of technology of the system. It describes the
technologies chosen to provide the processing, functionality and presentation of information. In

9


principle only this viewpoint is platform dependent. In our architecture design in this first
document we will analyse potential components for implementation. In the second version of the
document delivered in Month 15 concrete tools for single pilots will be defined.

For the architecture design of HABITATS we adapted RM ODP methodology to guarantee real
adoption of user needs and to give real possibilities of an user involvement into the design process.
The design process will be done iteratively with this as the first version, so all views will be modified
on the basis of user validation and user experiences. It is necessary to take into consideration, that in
many cases users are not familiar with newest technologies and also have no experience in the design
of distributed systems. Another important aspect is also, that we don’t design one concrete solution,
but a number of relatively independent services. In order to allow reuse of some components we have
defined among pilots what common generic functions are that fulfil the requirements of different
scenarios and what specific solution dependent components are. In the first version of the design, we
will focus mainly on generic functionality, in the second version, we will try to add more pilot specific
functions.
The relation of all these five viewpoints could be described by the following scheme:

The Enterprise viewpoint of the architecture design is focused on the analysis of pilot scenarios and
the definition of a limited numbers of generic use cases, which are implemented to support basis
functionalities required by more scenarios, but also supporting the process of data and metadata
harmonisation based on outputs from WP3.
The Information viewpoint is focused on basic data and metadata sets, which could be shared among
different scenarios and also will be focused on data and metadata related to HABITATS and INSPIRE
specification. It is also focused on common infrastructure being accessible trough ReferenCe
Laboratory
The Computational viewpoint is focused on generic components, which could be reused for more
scenarios and which will be some basic parts of the infrastructure. Already here we extend the basic

10


principles of INSPIRE, GMES and GEOSS and add some new functionalities related to data
management and updating.
The Engineering viewpoint defines a generic scheme, which can be reused for all pilot
implementations and which could be modified for different scenarios. Also this viewpoint is platform
independent.
The Technical viewpoint defines basic architecture modifications for single scenarios and suggests
potential technical implementation. This solution is really basic definition and will give more option of
implementation. Concrete implementation will be modified during the implementation and validation
process.

2.2. GENERIC AND PILOT DESIGN
An important part of the methodology is to divide design of generic architecture and pilot dependent
architecture. On the basis of user requirements, generic use cases will be defined and generics services
will be designed for these generic use cases, which will be reusable for different pilot solutions. On the
basis of these generic services pilot applications will be defined, which will be composed from generic
services. Generic services will be available for developers so they can implement specific user
applications using these generic services. Important is, that these applications can reuse existing
components. Such a model was used in the past in the c@r project and also is used currently in the
GENESIS project.
For the development of applications it will be possible to:
• Orchestrate existing services using some workflow management of language as BPEL

• Integrate existing services and components using standard programming tools

11


3. ENTERPRISE VIEWPOINT – USER SCENARIOS, USE CASES AND BUSINESS
MODELLING

3.1. PILOT DEFINITION
According to the HABITATS user-driven approach to standardisation, the full impact of results will be
sparked off by the pilot service scenarios and their ability to attract new participants to the
communities of adoption. Each pilot is therefore built on
a) existing concrete services currently carried out by project partners,

b) potentials of data access through network services and

c) enhancement through usage scenarios developed by user communities, in order to meet the
three criteria of relevance, openness and responsiveness.

The pilots fall into the three forward-looking categories described above as follows:

• Management of natural resources

o Wild Salmon Monitoring (IE)

o La Palma Protected Marine Area (ES)

• Eco-tourism

o Hiking Trip Planner (IT)

o Natural Reserve (ES)

• Economic activities

o Sheep and Goat Herd Management (IT)

o Economical activity at marine coastal benthic habitats (LV)

• National policy

o Czech National Forest Programme (CZ)

Each of these validation pilots relies on trans-regional and trans-European data sharing between pilot
settings within INSPIRE networks present in the project, and with collaborating members of the
HABITATS User Communities.

3.2. WILD SALMON MONITORING
Partner: MAC
Location: Ireland; replicable in other Member States

Service and user scenario:
Ireland has best practice in Salmon Conservation and Management – so the processes and data-
structures used in Ireland have pan-European significance for INSPIRE, and so are very relevant for
the HABITATS project, and should also help to promote Irish fishing across Europe.

12


Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have taken over responsibility for coordinating the monitoring and
conservation of wild salmon in Ireland. MAC is working with the IFI National Salmon Monitoring
Programme, Salmon Scientific Standing Committee, and other involved agencies such as the Irish
Marine Institute (MI) to develop a Salmon Conservation Limits portal, to pilot the use of the
HABITATS INSPIRE metadata profile, and bottom-up social validation process to improve
presentation, accessibility and use of the data that is being collected, and get better buy-in by all
stakeholders (particularly scientists, anglers, and angling related businesses) to be aware of,
understand and engage in the salmon conservation procedures, regulations and catch limitations that
are set each year. This will provide better intelligence to researchers, fishermen and decision makers
on salmon conservation, so that they can better manage the wild-salmon resource in a sustainable
manner and help prevent the extinction of wild salmon in rivers on the North Atlantic coast of Europe.
Once operational in Ireland the process will be scaled up in collaboration with the FP7 SALSEA-
Merge project which is investigating the migration and distribution of salmon in the North-East
Atlantic, working with the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO).
To explore use of the HABITATS approach, the initial Irish Salmon CL pilot is focusing on one
specific area and community (such as a catchment or sub-catchment), where users can link to the
various data for that area, including a range of static data (such as catch regulations, WFD fish data,
water quality etc) as well as more dynamic data partially generated by users themselves there (e.g. by
online listing of their catches etc). Part (or a tributary) of the river Nore in the South-East of Ireland
could be a good pilot site, as discussions with the community of active local groups and stakeholders
there are proving to be quite positive. However the final pilot location is to be made by the IFI in the
coming weeks.
In line with IFI policy, the Salmon CL Portal will have special focus on the involvement and feedback
from tourist (mainly foreign) anglers, local angling-related businesses and awareness/education of
users for the social validation aspects of HABITATS. User feedback so far indicates that this could
supplement and link to the many existing local angling groups and sites, to pilot a bottom-up and
consultative approach that IFI could subsequently use in other contexts in Ireland and across Europe
(with NASCO and SALSEA-Merge).

IFI are currently undertaking internal deliberations with their staff for their inputs and support of the
Salmon CL Portal and to agree its initial community/location-focus. Once it goes active, the external
stakeholders, including scientists, anglers and angling-related businesses will be brought into the
process through the HABITATS validation process on the Salmon CL portal.

From an IFI business perspective this is a very worthwhile pilot that introduces IFI’s staff to the whole
INSPIRE process, and also allows them and other government and public agencies to explore use of
social networking to involve communities of users, improve and promote fishing, and ultimately help
conserve and manage the vital wild salmon stocks.

Use of environmental data:

Wild salmon data that is being collected by the IFI and other public agencies such as the Marine
Institute will be made accessible through the Salmon CL Portal to provide better intelligence to
researchers, fishermen and decision makers on salmon conservation, so that they can better participate
in the management of the wild-salmon resource in a sustainable manner and help prevent the
extinction of wild salmon in rivers on the North Atlantic coast of Europe.
By merging genetic and ecological investigations, to advance understanding of stock specific
migration and distribution patterns and overall ecology of the marine life of Atlantic salmon and gain
an insight into the factors resulting in recent increases in marine mortality. Textual and map-based data
from the project as it progresses is available on their website under the following headings:

13


• Background
• Ecological Studies
• Genetic Identification Methodology
• Migration Modelling
• Marine Surveys
• Documents
• Genetic Stock Identification
The SALSEA Group are developing 2 major databases that will be issued as a unit in the same format:
• Genetic database – the big one. Brand new work – very valuable as it allows salmon to
be traced back to their rivers of origin. Keen to keep these aspects of the database
private.
• Sea database – based on WGNAPES (ICES). Much simpler – smaller database. Less
sensitive. Sea-going fish data. Maintained in the Faroh’s by the same people who
developed the original WGNAPEs database.

Stakeholders involved:
The SALSEA Group has extensive data bases, and is currently developing 2 new ones. It is only
recently that they have accepted the value of INSPIRE and its principles, but now fully accept that all
of their data should be INSPIRE compliant.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), and the Irish Marine Institute (MI) collect and own the data, but
collaborate with other Agencies and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO).
The service being piloted is packaging and providing that data as better intelligence to researchers,
fishermen and decision makers on salmon conservation. The main stakeholders (IFI and MI) are
currently benefiting from the project in getting a clearer appreciation of INSPIRE requirements and the
potential of social networking to engage all of the other stakeholders.
Once operational, the Salmon CL pilot will
1. Provide better communication, consultation and involvement of all stakeholders in the process
of specifying fishing conservation measures in Ireland and beyond.
2. Make formulation of the Irish Wild Salmon Fishing Regulations more participatory and
interactive by involving all relevant actors proactively in the process,
3. Make the datasets open and widely available (and INSPIRE complaint),
4. Enable users (such as anglers and scientists) to provide feedback on how to make the data
more useful for them.
However the key and very clear long-term objective is the sustainable management, conservation and
exploitation of the wild salmon stocks.

Users involved

The Pilot Service will enable Citizens, including researchers, anglers, fishermen, fishing-related
businesses and public agencies (policy and regulations decision makers) to be involved, for future
exploitation of the Salmon CL Portal and HABITAT’s results.

Policy / Business Model

The data collection is part of the Irish National Policy in line with its NASCO, International Council
for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and EU Habitats Directive obligations.. Currently the data is
mainly documented rather provided online. The HABITATS pilot is making it available as an online
service.

14


Cooperation/ data sharing:

• La Palma Protected Marine Area (ES)
• Economical activity at marine coastal benthic habitats (LV)
• FAO
• HSRS
• IMCS

Use cases

Use case Wild Salmon Fishing Conservation in Ireland
Actors Fishermen, Anglers, Angling Researchers, Decision Makers, other actors related to
the salmon fishing industry in Ireland.
Task To provide participatory input to the early stages of the formulation of the Irish wild
salmon fishing conservation measures by involving all relevant actors interactively
in the data monitoring process, making their databases more open and widely
available (and INSPIRE complaint), and enable users to engage and provide
feedback on how to make the data and related services more useful for them. For
instance, anglers could provide real-time rod-catch data using a smart phone
application – where catch and release fishing is allowed on rivers.
Assumptions That the proprietary databases can be made INSPIRE-compliant using the
HABITATS Metadata profile to be accessible on the Irish Spatial Data Exchange
(ISDE) using the HABITATS Reference Laboratory tools and portal.
So far, of the 4 HABITATS themes, the Habitats and Biotopes, and Species
Distribution appear to be most relevant using the HABITATS metadata profiles
(from D3.2.1) and the IFI scientist’s salmon conservation process best practice
classification and naming schemas.
Description The Irish Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) on the status of Irish Salmon Stocks
(or Salmon Advisory Group) scientifically analyses all data on wild salmon in
Ireland and issues recommendations every December on the conservation of salmon
stocks in each of the 148 Irish salmon fishing rivers for the coming year. This is a
statutory based process that has a major direct impact on anglers, commercial
fishermen and fishing-related businesses such as guest houses, hotels and lodges,
associated with each of these individual rivers. From discussions with the various
stakeholders it has become clear that the decision makers are concerned that a social
validation pilot could end up doing more harm than good in this very sensitive, legal
and highly political process. So the Salmon CL Portal pilot will aim to involve users
in the collection and monitoring of the data at the early stages to informally feed into
the formal statutory process. This allows the HABITATS social validation approach
to be piloted with the wider process of wild salmon monitoring and conservation that
feeds into the SSC, without upsetting its legal process. But in a broader context it
also provides a useful model and experience to make the regulation process more
participative in the future, and for use by the National Inland Fisheries Forum that is
being established in Ireland and to tie in with IFI’s outreach work to the wider
community, especially schools and school-children later on. The IFI could also use
the HABITATS social validation / INSPIRE open data access approach, with a
similar social networking methodology to address other environmental issues, such
as addressing Invasive Species and water research coordination in Ireland.
Comments The aim is to use the HABITATS INSPIRE Social Validation approach to transform
the data and modes of operation of this community from being mainly “information

15


push” to be being a lot more “User pull” by making the data open and usable online
based on INSPIRE principles, open standards, and social networks to validate the
utility and acceptability of the data. This will enable the development of services
based on economies of scale using spatial information that adheres to a standard
format that is widely adopted.
This fits well into the HABITATS “Management of Natural Resource Management”
cluster, and will engage Citizens (fishermen, anglers, fishing-related business,
researchers and administrators/decision-makers) to be involved, for future
sustainable operation.

Use case Wild Salmon Monitoring and Management Internationally
Actors Researchers, and Decision Makers
Task The International SALSEA Group through collaboration in the FP7 SALSEA-
Merge project is investigating and recording in 2 major databases, the migration and
distribution of salmon in the North-East Atlantic. The Use Case is to make their
extensive data open and accessible using INSPIRE principles. Based on their
existing best-practice, this group is likely to impact on the proposed salmon-related
data, metadata and services that will be input to the INSPIRE TWGs.
Assumptions As the SALSEA Group wish to focus all of their efforts on their scientific work
until the end of the SALSEA Merge project, it will be late 2011 before they will
allow their data to be made available to a HABITATS pilot. They also wish to see
how the Irish National pilot gets on and reuse its learning and approach.
Description This group uses the widely used best-practice ICES WGNAPES database structure.
WGNAPES is a permanent Group that will continue after the SALSEA-Merge
project ends in 2011. ICES/WGNAPES is an Internal database composed of
National databases. With some fields added for SALSEA-Merge and the Genetic
database. So it is good practice and a permanent working group which should lead
to very useful inputs to the 4 HABITATS INSPIRE themes.
Comments This case with SALSEA-Merge is complex, and touches on the potentially high
commercial value of the genetic databases, which is the reason for the reticence of
the scientists involved in opening up their information to be INSPIRE compliant.
On the other hand, interfacing INSPIRE-compliant databases with commercial
services might be the most effective means for them to profit from their research.
These issues will be further explored when MAC is able to more actively engage
with the SALSEA-Merge stakeholders, after their current project work ends.

3.3. LA PALMA PROTECTED MARINE AREA
Partner: TRAGSATEC
Location: The pilot takes place in the La Palma Protected Marine Reserve in the Canary Islands.
Protected Marine Areas (PMA) are areas where it is intended to maintain a high environmental quality
in order to protect and even regenerate the flora and fauna in the area. For the development of this
pilot, the La Palma’s Protected Marine Reserve (Canary Islands) in the Atlantic Sea has been chosen.
The island of La Palma is suffering from a peculiar environmental sea degradation due to the coast
plantations (basically banana plantations).
The objective of this pilot is to develop a system based on ICT to automatically control the
environment. The system will get data based on indicators from the coast area of the PMA, then

16


process them, analysed them and make them available so the authorities can take the best decisions.
Data can be obtained through the use of sensors or, like in the case of the flora and fauna data, with
human intervention.
When using sensors and in order to make it simple for our purpose, the coast area of this PMA has
been divided into two sub-areas that will be defined as open sea (not more than 600 m from the coast)
and border sea. With the same criteria, indicators that we will take into account will be: biological
parameters or physical-chemical parameters and only the three among the most relevant ones will be
taken for each one of the sub-areas.
This division allows us to apply to each of the sub-areas the correct indicators since for example there
is no need to measure pesticides on the open sea. Here there are the indicators that will be measured
for each of the sub-areas.
When human intervention is necessary, the use of images and voice recognition systems will be
studied. All these data will be georeferenced in cartographic maps.
If we want the public administration to accomplish environmental rules and regulations concerning
water, they must know the quality of it and investigate which activities are the main factors in water
degradation. With the data obtained from this pilot, environmental information related to the quality of
the water in the coast should be accessible to the authorities in order to help them to take correct
decisions concerning the environment.
Some of these rules and regulations are the 2008/56/CE DIRECTIVE of JUNE 17th, 2008 where the
environmental management policy for marine areas is mandatory for the member states.

The main stakeholder involved in the development of this pilot is TRAGSATEC. Some other
collaborators are companies manufacturing sensors and developing voice.
Users involved:
In the development of the pilot the users are the La Palma Protected Marine Reserve but in future
exploitation any Public Administration could be involved.
Policy / business model:
Coherent with TRAGSA role towards the Spanish Government.
• Wild Salmon Monitoring (IE)


• FAO

• HSRS

• IMCS

Use cases

Use case Indicators calculation and reporting

Scenario La Palma Protected Marine Area (ES)
Actors • La Palma Public Administration

17


• Tragsa

Task To analyse sensor measurements, and to calculate indicators on everyday basis to
measure the quality of the sea. To publish this information.
Assumptions Sensor data will be made available using standardised interfaces and will be
accessible by analytical tools
Description The data captured from sensors will be analysed on a regular basis and reports about
quality of the sea will be prepared. The results of this analysis will be stored in form
of tables, graphs, etc.
Comments The analysis and indicators will be used by other use cases

Use case Visualisation of results

Scenario La Palma Protected Marine Area (ES)
Actors • La Palma Public Administration

• Tragsa

• Citizens, Scientists

Task Visualise reference data, sensors measurement and calculated indicators
Assumptions Visualisation will help to make different types of data available in a user friendly
form to support visualisation both on computers but also on mobile devices
Description The system will support selection of data, maps and indicators and support
visualisation in right form
Comments On the basis of user access rights different possibilities of visualisation will be
available for users

3.4. NATURAL RESERVE
Partner: TRAGSATEC
Location: This pilot is going to be developed for a small area in Madrid (Spain), El Campo del Moro,
but the strength of the pilot is that if a standardization of the data and metadata modelling for this kind
of environmental tourism is defined, some other standards will appear for the specific hardware that is
needed for its representation, and the idea of environmental tourism could equally be developed in the
whole Europe.
The objective within a Nature Restricted Areas (NRA), as the European Nature 2000 Network defines
it, is the survival of species in danger of extinction, contributing at the same time to soften the impact
of human activities. They are the instrument to nature conservation in the European Union.
For the development of this pilot obviously it is not possible to choose a NRA, but for the purposes of
this pilot an interesting place has been chosen in Madrid.
The objective of this pilot is to develop a system that, using real nature information and adding
metadata to real images (texts, images, sounds, etc.), allows improving environmental tourism with a

18


real nature observation. Introducing interpretation information and augmented reality we will
particularly protect fragile areas.
The base information will be:
• Cartographic information for long distance scenes (landscape)

• Topographic information for short distance scenes (some trees, flowers, rocks…)

On top of this cartographic/topographic information there are a lot of metadata that could be
georeferenced, as for example:
• Nature data: species, flora and fauna, names,

• Historic data: reconstruction of ruins, dates and facts

• Landscape: name of villages, mountains, etc.

Environmental information can be used in a wide range of areas apart from environmental education
or nature interpretation, it can also be used for historical or cultural heritage, evaluation of new
edification impact, etc.
The main company involved in the development of this pilot is TRAGSATEC. Some other
collaborators are hardware manufacturing companies. The National Heritage of Spain is the main
stakeholder for this pilot.
Users involved:
In the development of the pilot the users are the Public Administration and tourists.
Coherent with TRAGSA role towards the Spanish Government.
• Hiking Trip Planner (IT)

• Sheep and Goat Herd Management (IT)

• Czech National Forest Programme (CZ)

• FAO

• HSRS

• IMCS

Use cases
Use case Using augmented reality for educational, research and awareness purposes

Scenario Natural Reserve (ES)
Actors • Public Administration

• Tragsatec

19


• Citizens, Scientists, Students

Task Using augmented reality tools in terrain to combine reality with mapped objects or with
artificial objects.
Assumption To be able to select data on the basis of user position and user preferences from
s existing catalogues. To design methods of visualisation of three dimensional objects on
the basis of available data
Description Users will use tools supporting user reality visualisation for educational or research
purposes. On the basis of his position and user preferences (topic of interest) available
data will be selected for visualisation. It will be necessary to not only design data
models, but also methods of visualisation for concrete types of data. When a person
move around in the terrain, augmented reality will be displayed to him
Comments The task will require additional types of information, like DSM information. It will be
necessary to take not only the position, but also the azimuth of the view of a subject
into consideration.

Use case Using augmented reality for inventory and manage purposes

Scenario Natural Reserve (ES)
Actors • Public Administration

• Tragsatec

• Citizens, Scientists, Students

Task Using augmented reality tools in terrain to add and edit real objects with photo
included.
Assumption To be able to select data on the basis of user position and user preferences from
s existing catalogues. To design methods of visualisation of three dimensional objects on
the basis of available data. To add points and take photos for each of these.
Description Users will use tools supporting user reality visualisation for editing geodata. On the
basis of his position and user preferences (topic of interest) available data will be
selected for visualisation and edition. It will be necessary allow add a photo to each
new point.
Comments The task will require additional types of information, like DSM information. It will be
necessary to take not only the position, but also the azimuth of the view of a subject
into consideration.

3.5. HIKING TRIP PLANNER
Partner: Madonie
Location: Madonie Park, Sicily (IT); widely replicable throughout the Mediterranean

20


The Madonie Park in Sicily attracts thousands of visitors every year, including hikers who explore the
mostly mountainous 35,000 hectares; there are 6 mountains over 1,500m and several others well over
1,000m. The highest, Pizzo Carbonara is 1,979m, second in Sicily only to the mighty Etna (3,323m).
Hikers are attracted, in addition to the landscape, particularly by the park’s flora and wildlife. Indeed,
there are over 2,600 different species of plants, many of which are endemic to the area.
The Park Authority is currently developing a multimedia repertory of many of the park’s main features
– including both natural elements and places of traditional farming and herding – and, in the context of
on-going initiatives, is developing an interactive multimedia map of the area that will allow hikers to
plan visits as a function of the natural elements to see.
The validation pilot in HABITATS will integrate habitats-related data into this map, to allow to view
bio-geographical regions within the park. In addition, use of mobile platforms (where coverage is
available) will also be tested.
Finally, the currently planned facility allowing for users to upload multimedia content and insert
comments and suggestions, will be enhanced to validate the possibility for users to insert content
through the SDI. The possibility to signal sightings of different species (i.e. through digital photos with
time date and location stamp) will also be integrated.
This pilot will make significant use of the information in the regional Carta Natura database, and will
also access databases from other regions in order, for example, to compare habitats in different
geographical contexts.
In order to go toward a system “INSPIRE compliant” is necessary to make people, at Madonie Park,
works in a way useful to realize some INSPIRE instances (such as metadata definition, organized way
to archive data (both spatial and non spatial, use of data located on a remote server accessible by web
services, publication of web service for data locally managed).
The pilot will also explore the organisational issues in validating user-provided data.

This pilot is carried out within the Territorial Living Lab-Sicily partnership, which already includes a
range of regional stakeholders including the Sicilian regional government, the CRES research centre,
the University of Palermo, the ARCA innovation incubator, the Confindustria business association,
etc. In addition, the pilot will also be carried out in collaboration with the national research centre
CNR’s ICAR (Istituto di Calcolo e Reti ad Alte Prestazioni).
Users involved:
In the development of the pilot the users are the Public Administration and tourists.
The pilot is coherent with the Park’s mission but is also an element of the TLL-Sicily partnership’s
innovation piloting strategy.
• Natural Reserve (ES)


• ISPRA

• FAO

• HSRS

21


• IMCS

Pilot use cases

Use case Park Management

Scenario Hiking Trip Planner (IT)
Actors Park employers
Task • Planning support
• Operative terrain management
Assumptions New, and mainly mobile, access can bring better and more operational management
into the park
Description The system will offer access to relevant information to park management in office
and terrain. The system will support planning and also realisation of activities in
the park.
Comments

3.6. SHEEP AND GOAT HERDING MANAGEMENT
Partner: Madonie
Location: Madonie Park, Sicily (IT); widely replicable throughout Europe
In the Madonie Park, over 1,500m is dominated by the Madonie Forest while lower down the slopes,
the locals continue to pursue millennial agricultural activities including sheep and cattle farming and
the cultivation of wheat, olives and fruit. This gives rise to specific traditions such as the seasonal
“transumanza” when herds are moved from their summer to winter pastures and back, and contributes
to the Madonie’s gastronomic specialties of meat, sausages, salami, cheese, olives, mushrooms, and
fresh seasonal vegetables.
Grazing, as is well known, has a significant environmental impact and therefore needs to be carefully
managed in order to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the grazing habitat. For this reason, the
Park Authority adopted a grazing plan and releases licences; according to the grazing plan the Park
Authority rotates the assignment and utilization of grazing areas in order to not damage areas of
environmental interest with an excessive pressure due to the presence of herding activities. All this
should be carried out also by adding new layers on the current condition of pastures and other
environmental parameters regarding the same areas. Besides the Park Authority is responsible for
other actions of monitoring, maintaining the necessary fencing and other infrastructures, etc.
This management activity uses the Park’s GIS system, but the decision-making processes, in the past
has been generally based on experience and implicit knowledge. The validation pilot will provide
updated environmental data to support better informed decisions, but it it will also be a starting point
to regulate the production of data according to Inspire recommendations.
The system is important as it is replicable in other Italian mountain parks which have the sane
problem.

22


This pilot will make significant use of the grazing plan imported in the WEBGIS as well as of some
other geospatial layers as the ‘areas assignment plan’ and ‘animals position’ (the position is uploaded
on Park Authority databases by tracking collars mounted on the neck of animal).
Management activity is also based on information contained in the ISPRA Carta Natura-like database
realized by Madonie Park Authority at a more detailed scale and also on recommendations coming
from ISPRA partner itself that could be both partner and user (this last role for using webgis data and
services in order to write recommendations on the use of Madonie grazing areas). Joint management
scenarios are possible through the interconnection with similar habitats management systems in other
countries of Mediterranean area.
The pilot activity is useful not only for Park Authority, which is interested to manage grazing areas in
a sustainable way, but also for different classes of stakeholders as:
- Sheep and goat farmers; they are interested to obtain licence to use some areas inside the park for
grazing of their animals;
- Owners of private areas usable for grazing
- Dairy farming
Users involved:
The information made available in the development of project pilot e pilot activity could be used daily
by Madonie Park Authority personnel which has to manage the area using GIS.
Information could be also useful to sheep and goat farmers that want to know the situation regarding
areas assignment. But the information available as web services will be useful to researchers and in
general to people that could develop an activity based on Dairy farming (allevamento).
Besides, and this is one of the most important aspects, the base data constitute the map on which the
position of animals will be shown thank to geospatial web service deployed by the WEBGIS server.
Other categories indirectly interested are:
- Schools
- Hikers
Policy / Business Model

The data collection, once available through web service is in-line with Sicily Region policy for
building of an SDI, to be realized with contribution of different public body or institutions.


The data are shared with all people interested to know about the use of grazing areas and related
information inside the park.
From other pilots here will be cooperation with
• Natural Reserve (ES)



• ISPRA

• FAO

• HSRS

23


• IMCS

Pilot use cases

There are many different use cases, two of which are here reported.

Use case 1 Sheep and Goat Herding Management
Actors Personnel at Madonie Park Authority
Task This is mostly an internal but fundamental task at Madonie Park Authority the
requires the availability of geospatial data inside the whole Office and for external
consultants (mainly researchers) that must help internal staff in managing the areas
of the park.
All this people access data by their GIS software or the WEBGIS platform, through
geospatial web services INSPIRE compliant.
Assumptions The proprietary databases can be made INSPIRE-compliant using the HABITATS
Metadata profile in order to be accessed through the Sicily Region Portal using GIS
or WEBGIS software compliant to OGC web services.

Description
People at Madonie Park Authority deal with the management of grazing areas in a
sustainable way allowing shepherds to access to areas, assigned to each of them, for
grazing of sheep and goats.
The control of the impact of grazing on assigned areas is carried out by Park
Authority Personnel and external experts. This requires also the production of new
layers on the state of areas the must be in a format compliant to ISPIRE directive in
order to be used in an appropriate way.
Comments
Data used for this task are:
1. Grazing plan;
2. Animals position distributed over the whole period of grazing;
3. State of conservation of areas (this includes some information such as level
of pressure caused by animals).

Use case 2 Tracking position of animals on a grazing area inside the park
Actors Sheep and goat farmers
Task To know, when necessary, the position of animals inside the grazing areas in order
to retrieve them.
Assumptions There is a server that, on demand by Sheep and goat farmers or shepherds, answers
with the position of animals shown on a map of the area surrounding them, whose
position is uploaded to the server, periodically, by gps-gprs tracking collars
mounted on the neck of some animals.
Description The system is composed by different segments or parts.
The first one is a tracking collar that is mounted on the neck of each animal (shep or
goat) whose position must be tracked; the collar contains a gps receiver and a gprs

24


transmitter through which the position of the animal is sent at predefined time
interval to a server in which position of animals is saved.
The second one is the server on which the position of animals is saved: The server
makes available web services which allow to show on a map the position of animals
when this is requested by shepherds by their mobile smart-phone.
The third one is the mobile phone by which is possible to call the phone number
which corresponds to a specific collar or animal; this mobile phone should be
equipped with an internet browser by which the position of animals is shown on a
map downloadable from the server at Madonie Park Authority.

.
Comments

.

3.7. ECONOMICAL ACTIVITY AT MARINE COASTAL BENTHIC HABITATS
Partner: IMCS
Location: Marine coastal areas of Latvia; replicable in other sites of the Baltic Sea
IMCS will cooperate with the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology using the monitoring data of
coastal benthic communities and related environmental parameters. The needs and requirements of
various stakeholders will be researched and afterwards IMCS will pilot the use of advanced interfaces
to improve presentation, accessibility and use of the data. It will help in decision making for port
construction measures, fisheries policy, wind mill development actions in order to use the benthic
habitats in a sustainable way. The benthic habitats in Latvian coastal waters are the areas with the
highest biological diversity and partly covered by NATURA 2000 territories.
The data on composition, abundance and dynamics of the benthic communities together with the
related environmental parameters (physico-chemical measurements) collected by the Institute of
Aquatic Ecology, will be made accessible to provide scientifically based information to various
stakeholders carrying out different types of economical activity at the coastal areas of Latvian marine
waters.
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE) collects and owns the data, but reports it to the national
environmental authorities and international data base of ICES. The data are used also in HELCOM
environmental assessments. LIAE collaborates with several marine research institutes around the
Baltic Sea. The service to be piloted will provide that data as high quality information to different
groups involved in economical activities at the coastal areas.
Users involved:
The Pilot Service will enable citizens (fishermen) and institutions (ports, environmental boards) to be
involved, for future exploitation.

25


The data collection is part of the Latvian National environmental policy, according to EU Water
Framework Directive and Habitats Directive. It is vaguely represented online and therefore the
HABITATS pilot will explore making it available as an online service.
• Wild Salmon Monitoring (IE)

• La Palma Protected Marine Area (ES)

• Sheep and Goat Herd Management (IT)

• FAO

• HSRS

• IMCS

Use cases

Use case Marine coastal habitat data for construction activities and maritime spatial
planning

Scenario Economical Activities (LV)
Actors • Latvia Institute of Aquatic Ecology

• IMCS

• Citizens, Scientists, Students, Businessman’s

Task Using WEB tools provide in well understandable way information about allowed
activities in selected sea areas. Give information about limitations and information
about involved/responsible organizations where to contact for more detailed
information.
Assumptions User to be able select interested area, choose interested activity and receive
information about possibilities, rejection or acceptance of activity. To design solution
for allowed restricted area identification and representation.
Description Users will use tool to identify interested area for business or research purposes. On the
basis of selected/drawn area (polygon of interest) using all available data will be
calculated and returned information about limitations in selected area and list of
recommended organizations to visit for more detailed clarifications.
Comments The task will require additional types of information, like methodology of different
factor combination results from GORWND project, and also additional data, like wind
maps for best wind turbine locations.

26


Use case Data access, management and maintenance

Scenario Economical Activities (LV)
Actors • Latvia Institute of Aquatic Ecology

• IMCS

• Scientists, students

Task Using tools users are able to find and access collected data and data sets, view and
download data, users with rights are able to edit and add new data to defined layers.
Assumptions To be able search and find data on the basis of selected area or selected theme from
existing catalogue. To be possible to view or download found data. To be possible to
add new spatial objects and to existing objects load new measurement and analysis
records, add documents and pictures.
Description All user will be able to search in existing catalogue and after that view and download
data.
Users with rights will be able to edit existing data and add new records. User will be
able to load new survey and measurement and analysis result tables and link to
existing spatial objects (e.g. monitoring stations), possibility to add any type remarks
and documents to selected record/object in database.
Comments

3.8. NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMME
Partner: FMI
Location: Czech Republic
The purpose of this use case to deliver and share the harmonised forest site data to be used as basis for
the definition of the suitable forest management practices. The geographic data of the forest site
classification describe the permanent ecological conditions, ie. division of forests into segments with
similar growth conditions. The outputs of forest site classification serves as a basis for determining the
economic measures, and operational and production goals (Forest management plans, forest
management scheme). The importance of the outputs of forest typology was further strengthened in
the new political-economic-environmental conditions, which has also become the basis for the
evaluation functions of forest ecosystems, forest valuation, or the creation of management plans for
specially protected areas.
Tool for the classification of environmental conditions is the Forest site classification system that
describes the ecosystems with the potential vegetation. The major differentiation within the ecological
conditions are:
1. Vegetation tiers (altitudinal vegetation zones) - taking into account the gradient of vertical zoning
of vegetation (LVS)
2. Edaphic categories - reflecting a gradient of trophic conditions and hydricity
3. Forest type complex - combination of vegetation tier and the edaphic category is means unit (SLT)

27


Vegetation tier represents biocenological (geobiocenological) building unit, which reflects the
influence of climate on the composition of biota of chtonophytic synusia (geobiocenoses) and which is
determined by this composition. Vegetation tiers are differentiated by species that are in the first place
trees, or. shrub determinants of main canopy level of indigenous forest and shrubs communities and
all chtonophytes, that react decisively to the length of the growing season and the negative effects of
climate. This means that vegetation tiers are determinated according to presence and expressions of
living trees. There are 10 vegetation zones
1. Oak
2. Beech-oak
3. Oak-beech
4. Beech
5. Fir-beech
6. Spruce-beech
7. Beech-spruce
8. Spruce
9. dwarf pine
10. alpine

Forest type complex is a basic unit, which involves similar elementary units (Forest type) according to
ecological affinity, according to their phytosociological similarity undergrowth and site conditions.
Forest type complex is given by the combination of Vegetation tier and edaphic category. Forest type
complex represent a natural forest ecosystems and all managed forests with same ecological
conditions. Forest type complex are mapping units in the reconstruction maps.

Timber transport technologies have the direct connection (link) with natural conditions of the site.
According to the forest road network can be constructed the basic infrastructure for access to forest
site and is important for forest management. Based on transport accessing forestry harvesting
technologies, silvicultural treatment and forest road network are constructed. Background of Joint
rescue service aimed at navigation improvement for rescue service access in the forest complex (e.g.
fire) is another significant area of model analysis in terms of Habitats project.

The information from the FMI forest road network database serve the integrated rescue system to
localize and reach the event of forest fire in short time. The further information derived from the forest
site maps (SLT) and digital terrain model (DTM) enhances the driver’s orientation and time
estimations. As there are similar activities in other the neighbouring countries (Slovakia, Austria), this
pilot scenario can be used for the cross-border cooperation within the Habitats project.
The biomass estimation from NFI data - The purpose of the use case is to test the Habitats technology
(data models, metadata profiles, geoportal technology,…) for the presentation of the stand volume
estimates from the National Forest Inventory (NFI). This is the key estimate in several issues of the
Czech National Forest Programme such as permanent forest monitoring, and the biomass estimation
for energetic purposes. Stand volume estimates can be also used in forest valuation processes, carbon
stock reporting on both national and European level.

The development of the forest scenario is focused on harmonisation of metadata, coordinate system,
geometry, data models and sensor standardisation. For harmonisation tasks the following software

28


tools and modules will be used: MIcKA, UMN MapServer, Intergraph platform, Geoserver, MapMan
etc. Several meeting and discussions with different stakeholders were organised to describe the
Habitats Forest management pilot. The main purpose was to receive the feedback for the particular
user scenarios and to find out about their requirements. The questioners were structured according to
the stakeholder categories.
The stand volume estimates from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) estimated for the district
(regional) level, serve to identify the suitable candidate areas for wood and biomass energy industry
(e.g. sites for building biomass power plants). Stand volume estimates can be also used in forest
valuation processes, carbon stock reporting, etc.
NFP KA4 expert group, large variety of stakeholders is keen for using well-structured data of biomass
potentials from forests. The data of NFI will provide basic information on forests needed not only at
the national level. The problem is also assessed from the EU level.

The Standing Forestry Committee ad hoc Working Group on mobilisation and efficient use of wood
and wood residues for energy generation emphasized that:
1.
Better understanding of the resource is only possible with sound basic data, which are
often lacking in the context of predicting wood potential for mobilisation. There is a
crucial need to analyse in greater detail the potential of wood supply on MS and regional
level taking into account local conditions such as costs, ownerships patterns, quality
requirements, infrastructure and environmental considerations. MS and regions should
also conduct surveys on household consumption of wood for energy to gain a clear picture
on energy usage. The Commission can facilitate the efforts through information exchange.
Short to mid-term action required.

2. Monitoring and evaluation data are continuously needed in order to follow the
developments in wood potential, supply and demand and to evaluate mobilisation efforts.
The current levels of activity need to continue and be developed further. The
Commission, MS and relevant international bodies need to periodically (3 – 5 years)
update wood supply and wood use information, including wood for energy, processed
wood fuels, post consumer recycled wood and wood waste streams. MS should also
undertake wood fuel market reviews based on standardised nomenclature for trade
statistics and conversion factors (e.g. MWh/GJ into cbm solid wood) to increase market
transparency. The Commission and the MS should continue to cooperate on renewable
energy statistics. Short-term and continuous action required.

The forest owners can be divided in 3 main categories:
• Small forest owner - area up to 50 ha
• Medium forest owner - area 50-500 ha
• Large forest owner - area more then 500 ha

The small forest owners need the information about the forest management scheme (LHO), where they
find the basic information and claims for the management practices. Further, the information about the
subsidies and subsidy programmes in forestry.
Data updates are performed online via a secure channel. All databases have mirror backup on the
different location due to safety. FMI began discussions with representatives of the firefighters, because
of need to integrate data of forest road network for the system used. These steps require the design of
an interoperable data model, so that every data transfer can be carried out periodically. Both

29

Habitats d4.2.2 final

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Karel Charvat

More from Karel Charvat (20)

Habitats d4.2.2 final