Improved mapping on the NBN Gateway
On the 4th April 2011, version 4 of the NBN Gateway was released. The major feature in this release is a new Interactive Map system, initially to run alongside the existing functionality. This is a completely new exploration tool for NBN Gateway data based on cutting edge GIS technology and tools.
As part of a technology upgrade program, the new interactive map will be using the latest version of ArcGIS Server (software that simplifies access to GIS services) to power fast map tile generation and to enable new ways to visualise the NBN Gateway data. This will also allow the unsupported ArcIMS technology, currently powering the site, to be gradually replaced with this new technology.
The mapping tool gives you several different ways of viewing NBN Gateway data. For the first time, you can visualise the species density of a species designation (eg Habitats Directive Species) and view these against a backdrop of BAP priority habitats or known boundaries. This allows easy identification of biodiversity (or recording) hot spots of protected species within a chosen area.
An additional function provided by this new interface is single dataset mapping, providing a quick way to explore whole datasets. This maps the species density per recorded square for each dataset, so maps can now be produced showing the species density per recorded square for a single dataset. All single dataset layers use the same colour ramp to allow easy comparison of the coverage between datasets. Left clicking on a square brings up details of the species recorded and datasets used. It also allows access to records (where permitted) for feedback and study.
The new version, in common with the current interactive mapper, also allows the mapping of a single species. Dataset and year filtering functionality has been integrated into all species layers (including single dataset and designation layers), so that users can perform targeted searches for data.
There are a number of backdrops against which species and habitat data can be plotted. These are provided by Microsoft’s Bing Maps and include road maps and aerial photographs. The aerial photographs provide an especially powerful visual context for 100m records.
During development the performance of this new mapping system has been maximised so that species layers are generated faster than the Grid Map page or Grid Map web service. For example, displaying the distribution of Dryopteris filix-mas (Male-fern) takes an average of 2.5 seconds in the new map and 4 seconds in the old Grid Map. However, some of the new functionality, such as the hot spot mapping, is quite intensive and some delays may be encountered when these maps are initially viewed.
No current functionality of the NBN Gateway is being removed at this stage, and performance of the new Interactive Map will be monitored. Over the coming months we hope to provide more performance increases and more functionality within this new Interactive Map.
The improved mapping is a result of ongoing development work and also feedback received from our users. We hope you find it a powerful and rewarding tool, and look forward to your comments and how you are putting it to use!
The following screenshots show how the new mapping will look:
The above map shows a single species – Danish Scurvy Grass (Cochlearia danica). The data have been further filtered to show only records from 1990 onwards, and also to show only records supplied by two Local Record Centres (Greenspace information for Greater London and the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes). Note how this species follows major trunk roads.
The above map shows an individual moth species on the UK BAP list – the white-spotted pinion (cosmia diffinus) with records supplied by Butterfly Conservation’s National Moth Recording Scheme. SSSI boundaries have also been selected for comparison.
The new interactive mapper allows users to select individual designations – eg in this case the Wales list of species of Principal Importance. This show the number of these species in each 2km in North Wales.
Threatened moths in South Wales. This map is a refinement of the map based on the Wales list of species of Principal Importance, and shows South West Wales. It has been further filtered according to a single dataset – Butterfly Conservation’s “Macro-moth provisional distribution for the British Isles (excluding the Republic of Ireland) from the National Moth Recording Scheme”, and also to exclude records prior to 1985. The user can left click on any 2km grid square to find the list of species that have been recorded there.
These records have come from the RSPB’s 2009 Big Garden Birdwatch Winter Survey, and shows the density of records in each 2km square recorded in South West England.
The previous map has now been zoomed in to show the density of Big Garden Birdwatch records in each 100m square recorded in the Exeter area. The species list for each square can be investigated by left clicking on an individual square.
With the use of the picker, metadata can be obtained regarding a specific polygon. In this map we can see picking being performed on the Blanket Bog BAP Priority Habitat polygon near Widdop.
Multiple Habitats can be visualised simultaneously with the use of the ‘Habitat Selection’ screen.
Habitat, Boundary and Species Layers can be reordered to suit your needs thanks to the ability to reorder layers with a simple click and drag. Here we can see the Boundary Layer which represents Character Areas for England being moved around a Single Dataset map of Bryophyte data for Great Britain from the British Bryological Society held by BRC