Industry
Biodiversity/The Natural Environment
The Client
The National Biodiversity Data Centre was set up to collate and disseminate over a million records relating to Ireland’s diverse natural world.
The Challenge
Ireland’s biodiversity data was scattered across the country and much of it was hidden in little known archives, museums and libraries.
Solution
Compass Informatics proposed and developed a mapping and data management system for the Data Centre. The solution is based on Esri ArcGIS Server technology providing a central platform for presenting data from over 1.6 million observation points around the country.
Benefits
Most significantly, the use of ArcGIS Server has enabled the National Biodiversity Data Centre to make these incredibly valuable datasets accessible to anyone via the web site www.biodiversityireland.ie.
Summary
The interactive maps, served up to the site by ArcGIS, are easy to use and provide a complete view of Ireland’s biodiversity resources. Currently, users can view information on over 10,000 different species, ranging from fungi to mammals and plants, at the touch of a button. Because biodiversity data can now be accessed by anyone on a ‘self-serve’ basis, the Data Centre can work muchmore cost effectively.
Liam Lysaght, Director of the Data Centre, explains: ‘If we didn’t have a vehicle for disseminating information, then much of our time would be absorbed by responding to ad hoc data requests and providing hard copy reporting. I estimate that, if we didn’t have our GIS platform, as much as 50% of our time could be spent serving up data. The use of GIS creates a huge efficiency for our organisation.’
For more information on Compass Informatics and the National Biodiversity Data Centre visit: www.compass.ie