• Required type and level of skills (along with time to complete the task) for
staff completing the processing of remotely sensed data to map or monitor the
relevant environmental variable and indicator
The final table (e.g. Table 5) provides a complete assessment of the types of
remotely sensed data suited to monitoring a coastal environmental indicator - seagrass
extent in this context - and its accompanying resource requirements. As several
remotely sensed data types are often considered at this stage, the summary table
provides an effective comparison between the cost:benefit of each data set/approach. In
theory, this provides the basis for selecting a suitable type of remotely senses data.
4.2 PRESENTING REMOTELY SENSED DATA AND DERIVED INFORMATION
FOR USE BY POLICY MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS
A final consideration is that of how to present the derived spatial information on
the state of selected coastal environmental indicators to decision makers and interested
stakeholders. This is a critical consideration and will determine if, and how well, the
data from a monitoring program are used.
In some cases, the management agency conducting the monitoring may have
established reporting mechanisms through formal publications, (e.g. a newsletter series,
and monthly or annual reports), or through on-line static websites or interactive internet
map servers for delivering various themes of spatial data for an area. The main types of
communication products to consider include:
• publications in hardcopy books, reports, newsletters and handouts
• softcopy static information (e.g. PDF files of reports, newsletters and
handouts)
• softcopy interactive information (e.g. internet map servers for delivery of
spatial data on digital base maps) for spatial and tabular data
• communications with print (newspaper) and electronic (television and radio)
media through press release to draw attention to hard or softcopy publications
• posters for public and educational use
An example communication strategy is provided below to indicate how the results
from an on-going coastal waterway monitoring program were presented to decisionmakers and the public. The Moreton Bay Healthy Waterways Catchment Partnership
(MBHWCP) is responsible for monitoring water quality in Moreton Bay, Queensland
Australia. MBHWCP is funded by the 17 local councils with catchments draining into
Moreton Bay, and coordinates the Ecological Health and Monitoring Program (EHMP).
The EHMP monitors water quality parameters in Moreton Bay and its tributaries on a
monthly-annual basis. The communication products used by this program include:
• Quarterly text and graphic reports with maps of key water quality parameters
and explanatory text
• Annual reports presented in a “report card format” where each river and
section of the Bay is given a rating from A to D (good to bad), and an
indication of improving, stable or decreasing water quality
• Web-based access to all reports as PDF files at www.healthywaterways.org
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Integrated Information Acquisition and Management
staff completing the processing of remotely sensed data to map or monitor the
relevant environmental variable and indicator
The final table (e.g. Table 5) provides a complete assessment of the types of
remotely sensed data suited to monitoring a coastal environmental indicator - seagrass
extent in this context - and its accompanying resource requirements. As several
remotely sensed data types are often considered at this stage, the summary table
provides an effective comparison between the cost:benefit of each data set/approach. In
theory, this provides the basis for selecting a suitable type of remotely senses data.
4.2 PRESENTING REMOTELY SENSED DATA AND DERIVED INFORMATION
FOR USE BY POLICY MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS
A final consideration is that of how to present the derived spatial information on
the state of selected coastal environmental indicators to decision makers and interested
stakeholders. This is a critical consideration and will determine if, and how well, the
data from a monitoring program are used.
In some cases, the management agency conducting the monitoring may have
established reporting mechanisms through formal publications, (e.g. a newsletter series,
and monthly or annual reports), or through on-line static websites or interactive internet
map servers for delivering various themes of spatial data for an area. The main types of
communication products to consider include:
• publications in hardcopy books, reports, newsletters and handouts
• softcopy static information (e.g. PDF files of reports, newsletters and
handouts)
• softcopy interactive information (e.g. internet map servers for delivery of
spatial data on digital base maps) for spatial and tabular data
• communications with print (newspaper) and electronic (television and radio)
media through press release to draw attention to hard or softcopy publications
• posters for public and educational use
An example communication strategy is provided below to indicate how the results
from an on-going coastal waterway monitoring program were presented to decisionmakers and the public. The Moreton Bay Healthy Waterways Catchment Partnership
(MBHWCP) is responsible for monitoring water quality in Moreton Bay, Queensland
Australia. MBHWCP is funded by the 17 local councils with catchments draining into
Moreton Bay, and coordinates the Ecological Health and Monitoring Program (EHMP).
The EHMP monitors water quality parameters in Moreton Bay and its tributaries on a
monthly-annual basis. The communication products used by this program include:
• Quarterly text and graphic reports with maps of key water quality parameters
and explanatory text
• Annual reports presented in a “report card format” where each river and
section of the Bay is given a rating from A to D (good to bad), and an
indication of improving, stable or decreasing water quality
• Web-based access to all reports as PDF files at www.healthywaterways.org
227
Integrated Information Acquisition and Management