Details:
- Company: WSP
- Client: Falkirk Council
- Year: 2023
- Region: Scotland
- Product: ESRI, FME
Service areas:
- Community engagement
- Geographical information systems (GIS) and mapping
- Environmental and sustainability services
Introduction
The Falkirk Council Spaces for Nature project aimed to guide nature restoration and sustainable management across all Council parks and greenspaces. WSP was engaged to assist Falkirk Council in developing and implementing Part One of their Spaces for Nature Action Plan in 2023.
Challenges
• Environmental Considerations: The project required a comprehensive approach to nature restoration and sustainable management across various parks and greenspaces.
• Data Management: Efficient data collection, analysis, and sharing were crucial for identifying priority sites and developing a robust action plan.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Effective communication and collaboration with Falkirk Council and other stakeholders were essential to ensure the success of the project.
• Data Management: Efficient data collection, analysis, and sharing were crucial for identifying priority sites and developing a robust action plan.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Effective communication and collaboration with Falkirk Council and other stakeholders were essential to ensure the success of the project.
Solutions
WSP employed a suite of innovative and tailored solutions:
• Internal WSP WebGIS Applications: To support environmental specialists in the decision-making processes.
• Data Collection and Analysis: A selection of environmental, ecological, and landscape receptor datasets were collected by Falkirk Council and WSP. A detailed analysis was undertaken, resulting in a UKHab dataset of the study area.
• Heatmapping and Report Figure Production: To aid the identification of suitable enhancement sites and nature networks.
• Site Selector Tool: Using the baseline mapping of green space, priority sites were identified. A heat map was created using the WSP Site Selector tool; a geospatial analysis tool that compares and calculates multiple suitability’s for various target objectives.
• Fieldwork and Workshops: Leveraged digital tools collaboratively, to summarise the opportunities for network creation.
• External WebGIS Application: Developed and shared as an evidence base for the results of priority sites for enhancement.
• Internal WSP WebGIS Applications: To support environmental specialists in the decision-making processes.
• Data Collection and Analysis: A selection of environmental, ecological, and landscape receptor datasets were collected by Falkirk Council and WSP. A detailed analysis was undertaken, resulting in a UKHab dataset of the study area.
• Heatmapping and Report Figure Production: To aid the identification of suitable enhancement sites and nature networks.
• Site Selector Tool: Using the baseline mapping of green space, priority sites were identified. A heat map was created using the WSP Site Selector tool; a geospatial analysis tool that compares and calculates multiple suitability’s for various target objectives.
• Fieldwork and Workshops: Leveraged digital tools collaboratively, to summarise the opportunities for network creation.
• External WebGIS Application: Developed and shared as an evidence base for the results of priority sites for enhancement.
Results
The implementation of these solutions led to several key outcomes:
• Desk-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA): WSP created a UKHab map of Falkirk Council managed land through desk-based MCA.
• Identification of Priority Sites: Heatmapping and the development of selection criteria led to the identification of 10 priority sites for enhancement.
• Nature Network Creation: WSP provided a report on opportunities for nature network creation and recommendations for future mapping and development of nature enhancements.
• Enhanced Data Management: The GIS databases and web application ensured efficient and transparent data management, supporting the sustainable management of parks and greenspaces.
• Desk-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA): WSP created a UKHab map of Falkirk Council managed land through desk-based MCA.
• Identification of Priority Sites: Heatmapping and the development of selection criteria led to the identification of 10 priority sites for enhancement.
• Nature Network Creation: WSP provided a report on opportunities for nature network creation and recommendations for future mapping and development of nature enhancements.
• Enhanced Data Management: The GIS databases and web application ensured efficient and transparent data management, supporting the sustainable management of parks and greenspaces.
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