GIS and Aquaculture: Soft-Shell Clam Site Assessment
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3) GIS permits quick and repeated testing of models which could be used to aid the
decision making process
These characteristics of a GIS can be used to examine issues regarding the development
and management of the soft-shell clam beds. Development issues include water quality
and avoidance of competing landuses. The primary management issue is the
sustainability of the resource in the study area. This can be evaluated by the continual
monitoring of the clam size distributions and water quality whereby the spatial
databases can be updated for analysis and mapping in a GIS.
GIS can also be applied to examine the issue of “competing uses” for the
proposed soft-shell clam aquaculture site. In this situation the decision-makers can take
an active part in structuring a possible solution to a problem. Since many resource
management problems affect more than one group the decision making process needs to
incorporate the participation of the local inhabitants, aquaculture industry and the
appropriate government agencies. Thus any issues regarding “competing uses” can be
evaluated by mapping the various scenarios of conflicts or environmental impacts that a
“use” may have on the soft-shell clam environment.
Spatial Data Structures
A GIS should be capable of:
277
3) GIS permits quick and repeated testing of models which could be used to aid the
decision making process
These characteristics of a GIS can be used to examine issues regarding the development
and management of the soft-shell clam beds. Development issues include water quality
and avoidance of competing landuses. The primary management issue is the
sustainability of the resource in the study area. This can be evaluated by the continual
monitoring of the clam size distributions and water quality whereby the spatial
databases can be updated for analysis and mapping in a GIS.
GIS can also be applied to examine the issue of “competing uses” for the
proposed soft-shell clam aquaculture site. In this situation the decision-makers can take
an active part in structuring a possible solution to a problem. Since many resource
management problems affect more than one group the decision making process needs to
incorporate the participation of the local inhabitants, aquaculture industry and the
appropriate government agencies. Thus any issues regarding “competing uses” can be
evaluated by mapping the various scenarios of conflicts or environmental impacts that a
“use” may have on the soft-shell clam environment.
Spatial Data Structures
A GIS should be capable of: