Geospatial Tools
ECHO has used maps and geospatial tools to profile and share information about cumulative environmental, community and health impacts for ECHO Member and partner groups. This includes refinement of anthropogenic disturbance maps, linkages with the expanded BC LEO Network, developed by FNHA, and partnering to develop the Nechako Watershed Portal and ECHO Network Portal.
ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCE INDEX
The anthropogenic disturbance index was created by Jordan Brubacher and the ECHO Network to quantify cumulative impacts of resource development in BC. Twenty-one datasets were used to create the index that include roads, railway tracks, forest cutblocks, agricultural land, industrial sites, reservoirs, contaminated sites, mines, oil wells, geophysical lines, pipelines, sumps, alpine ski areas and transmission lines. A weights matrix was used to derive weights for each of the 21 datasets before they were added together using GIS software to create the final anthropogenic index. The watersheds layer was overlaid with the index and a mean disturbance value was calculated for each watershed. The methods used to generate this index have been submitted for peer review as of March 2022.
To access high-resolution regional disturbance images across the entire province of BC, as well as the raw underlying data and methods used to generate them, follow this link: Anthropogenic Disturbance Index of British Columbia
UNBC / NECHAKO WATERSHED PORTAL
Building on existing research and collaboration in the Nechako watershed and across Canada, we are developing a web-based, geospatial tool built on open source software designed in northern BC and adapted to the Nechako context /users to inform land and water decision-making in the Nechako River Basin (NRB). The proposed portal builds upon web-based data management interfaces being used by other land use planning groups in BC (e.g., Tsilhqot'in National Government ). Our goal is to create a web-based tool that can provide a single point of access to information that is relevant to the NRB. This project will have the ability to surface otherwise hidden information about local natural, human and cultural resources. It will be able to archive, profile and share information relating to land/water use and health in innovative and novel ways (e.g., pictures and videos). In so doing, it will help create a focal point for discussions on watershed issues that will engage different communities and interest groups in the Nechako River Basin and beyond.
See the Nechako Watershed Portal user guide: Click here
See YouTube training videos to learn how to use the Nechako Watershed Portal: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCITvn4za7JkSVrdcC1FNnvg
ECHO Network Portal
The ECHO Network Portal is a virtual file cabinet. Within the ECHO Portal, ECHO resources such as presentations, slide decks, video recordings, photos from ECHO events, to list a few, are archived and can be accessed through a search function after logging in.
