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Initially engaged to deliver this Biodiversity Standard, we have been extended to work with them across a range of additional areas, including on-site support work for heritage and environmental data management services, data sourcing, analysis and map production. Our team are also assisting in establishing governance and frameworks around imagery management and spatial strategy.

As a multi-disciplinary resources company, Mineral Resources will benefit in coming years from a more streamlined approach to data collection, management and environmental compliance reporting across its operations. We anticipate the Standard and a single point-of-truth for biodiversity information will translate into operational efficiencies around efficient data discovery, self-service and quality. 

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The new submissions portal complements DWER’s existing online repository of land-based biodiversity surveys in Western Australia, known as the Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessments (IBSA).

The objective of IBSA is to capture and consolidate data contained in biodiversity survey reports to support assessments and compliance under the Environmental Protection Act (1986). The survey data and reports are available for everyone to download from the IBSA repository, improving environmental outcomes via improved quality of data for assessment, a broader decision-making base for regulators, an expanded knowledge base of WA’s flora and fauna and improved availability of environmental information for the community.

For the IBSA Submissions portal we developed two web-forms:

• initial form for proponents to enter metadata and upload reports and spatial files,
• subsequent form for an approver to digitally sign-off on the metadata and files to complete the submission.

The initial web-form automatically validates files on upload and immediately alerts the proponent when information or files do not meet the IBSA data standards. This makes completing the process very responsive for the proponent and provides greater consistency in the submissions process. It also provides efficiency gains for the DWER officers, significantly reducing the time they need to spend checking IBSA submissions, which results in time savings for the broader environmental assessment process.

We developed the web-forms using the Angular framework with Material Design for user interface elements and Terradata Covalent for web widgets.

IBSA Submissions Architecture Summary

While the portal workflow is relatively simple at this stage (two forms), it has a flexible design that can be expanded to accommodate more complex workflow steps if required. The project was designed and delivered within a three month period, including significant testing rounds, and is now live at IBSA Submissions.

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The spatial analysts at Gaia Resources extend the Hydrologia team, allowing them to focus on their core work and deliver expert advice around surface water and environmental factors, combined with accurate and aesthetically pleasing map figures. Our knowledge of government data availability and suitability allows our team to work in close partnership on business proposals and project delivery.

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Read more about our work in this space from our ground disturbance and environmental compliance blogs (here, here and here).

The post IGO Disturbance and Rehabilitation Tracking appeared first on Gaia Resources.

Read more about our work in this project in our blogs here and here

The post IGO Spatial Data Management appeared first on Gaia Resources.

Over the following months, we assisted the client to develop a set of technical processes that could take elevation models derived from drones and assess slope, height, erosional features and other compliance conditions for mine site waste dumps, tailing structures and bunds. The technical processes involved step-by-step documentation to allow the consultancy to effectively create report map output and flag compliance issues. The project also involved a knowledge transfer to the client’s environmental scientists so they could understand how to repeat the process and build their internal capability.

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We first helped BPP to establish their core templates in QGIS so they could produce the same informative and professional products they had been creating in another GIS package, and then provided entry level training for their planners. Our support block model was then taken up to help provide a series of recommendations for best practice data management and governance approach (e.g. standards and procedures). Bushfire Prone Mapping are now actively using QGIS for their report maps and analyses, and implementing some of the technical recommendations.  We are looking forward to continuing to help BPP achieve their objectives in moving towards free and open-source technology.

The post Bushfire Planning appeared first on Gaia Resources.

The large area of assessment and historical exploration activities necessitated a semi-automated approach, while accurate area calculations were needed to determine statistics for annual reporting against environmental approvals and the company’s obligations under the Mine Rehabilitation Fund (MRF).

Once the initial delineation of clearing was complete, Gaia Resources worked closely with the Environment team in a final review stage to ensure that the areas were correctly classified against MRF categories, and tabulated by tenement and by category in the required reporting format.

Since its acquisition of the Jaguar project from IGO, Copperchem have also engaged Gaia Resources to continue with ad-hoc support for disturbance mapping.

The post IGO-Copperchem Jaguar disturbance mapping appeared first on Gaia Resources.