SVWebsite

Client: Department of Sustainability and Environment  (DSE)

The Victorian Government is committed to protecting and restoring our rivers and catchments and safeguarding the regional economies that are dependent on them. Victoria has around 85,000 kilometers of streams, rivers and creeks. These living resources play an essential role in supplying water for towns, farms and businesses; providing places to relax; helping absorb floodwaters and protect against fires and contribute to local economies. Healthy river systems are also diverse and complex ecosystems that sustain diverse species of native plants, fish and animals.

To monitor the health of river systems, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) conducts assessments of index of condition of streams, wetlands and estuaries. DSE is committed to make these indices of condition available to the public and researchers through their new Water Measurement Information System (WMIS).

There are three indices of condition: Index of Stream Condition (ISC), Index of Estuary Condition (IEC) and of Wetland Condition (IWC).  Index of Condition data is used by stakeholders to set management objectives and measure the effectiveness of long term programs for managing rivers, wetlands and estuaries. Index of Condition data is also of interest to many diverse groups and individuals who have an interest in the health of rivers, wetland and estuaries. Each Index is derived from a large array of attributes used to determine the overall condition of an aquatic asset (river reach, wetland and estuary). In order to make condition data more readily available, DSE required an easy to use public focused portal that will allow users to discover and query Index of Condition data via an intuitive web mapping interface.

DSE engaged Spatial Vision to develop a Design Specification for the Indices of Condition System (IoC) that would be used to seek quotations to build and deploy the IoC application. The Design Specifications encompassed functional requirements, data model, system architecture and user interface design parameters.

Spatial Vision’s track record of developing design specifications and requirements definitions, together with our expertise in natural resource management meant the company was well positioned to deliver this critical body of work.