Natural Resource Mapping and GIS
Chenoweth EPLA provides specialist services in Mapping & Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a basis for environmental planning. Our team of botanists, ecologists and landscape architects have considerable expertise in field identification and mapping of vegetation and regional ecosystems, landscape sensitivity, habitat areas, wetlands and disturbance categories, and in preparing accurate resource mapping. The Common Nature Conservation Classification System, developed by Chenoweth EPLA for use by local governments in South East Queensland, is a GIS based system for interpreting the relative significance of remnant vegetation and faunal habitat, based on available data and the principles of conservation biology. The Common System has been adopted by SEQROC for conservation planning in the region, it has formed the basis for the SEQ Regional Nature Conservation Strategy, and has been adapted by EPA (as BAMM: the Biodiversity Assessment Mapping Methodology) for use throughout Queensland.
Our Vegetation and Regional Ecosystem maps are used as a basis for nature conservation and open space planning, Property Maps of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV's), bushfire hazard maps, site development constraint/opportunity assessment and strategic land use planning. GIS allows the interrogation and presentation of mapped data in multiple layers of information which can be integrated with existing or imported site data, combined for various purposes, and updated as necessary. It is a highly flexible tool which can be applied at strategic level down to a site based scale, and can be presented as simple legible categories or as multiple information-rich overlays. The technology and processes involved are repeatable and transparent. | Vegetation and Regional Ecosystems
Using a combination of available topographic and geological data, existing broadscale ecosystem mapping and remote sensing (air photo & satellite imagery interpretation), our experienced botanists undertake predictive modelling of likely vegetation and habitat patterns then upload the mapped information to a Global Positioning System (GPS) together with cadastral data for ground truthing. This approach provides cadastrally accurate mapping of remnant vegetation and Regional Ecosystems, with development constraints or options as overlays. Several of our mapped outputs are currently being incorporated into SEQ mapping by the Queensland Herbarium. Analysis
GIS data is used for slope analysis, Digital Elevation Modelling, Common Conservation Classification, Bushfire Hazard, Environmental Constraints Mapping, Wilderness (Remote Area) and Recreation Opportunity Spectrum Mapping, Open Space Mapping, Terrain Analysis and Visual Impact Assessment. Modelling provides an ideal tool to assess visual impacts of proposed infrastructure such as mobile phone towers, taking into account screening by topography and forests.
Global Positioning System
GPS is a basic tool for locating and 'flagging' significant features such as the location of rare and threatened species, botanical transects, fauna trap lines, viewpoints and significant trees. Our systems can upload cadastral and resource mapping data and is adaptable for use at varying levels of accuracy.
Conservation and Open Space Strategies
Using mapped vegetation, habitat, terrain and park data, GIS is used to develop and prepare conservation strategies (core habitat, priority conservation areas, corridors, links and buffers) and open space strategies, with the capacity to test options, analyses associated data and present attractive legible maps.
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