T3.1 PARTICIPATORY METHODS

ASCENT in 3D ALL SEVEN ASCENT SITES

Deploying GIS for Decision Making

Deploying GIS Technology to Manage Uplands Sustainably Exploring the applicability of appropriate ICT based tools, is central to the achievement of activity T3.1.1 within the ASCENT project. With geography providing the content and context for understanding our natural European environment, the ASCENT team in Donegal County Council took the lead in adopting Geographical Information Systems (GIS) as the enabling technology to help plan, analyse, measure, design and manage our uplands sustainably.

Donegal County Council initially is/1CTeOT. To enhance the approach and stakeholders regarding the applied and tested GIS technology and ascertain changes over time, increased challenges in managing locally at Errigal Mountain by mapping a visual analysis of historical aerial upland sites, at ASCENT´s afternoon all current access routes to Errigal’s photography from 1995, 2005 and session at the workshop held in summit and overlaying those on a 3D 2015 took place to produce a time November 2017. map, this proved very successful for lapse to depict the significant impact Building upon that approach and stakeholders to view, consider and over time on the natural landscape, in testing GIS technology, Donegal agree on a single path route to the through increased footfall. County Council produced tp://arcg. summit. In collaborating with Newry is/2xjtqxE to display accurate locations Regarding research into the Impact Mourne and Down District Council and and associated imagery for all seven of Unregulated Access, Donegal Mourne Heritage Trust, an interactive project sites. This application allowed County Council liaised with a number 3D application was produced to best users to easily navigate and identify of agencies in collating data layers visualise Slieve Donard, Slieve Gullion all ASCENT sites. The story map was specifically to Errigal, to support the and Errigal Mountain upland paths - shared via social media, enabling an report. Mapping the relevant geology, http://arcg.is/1veOSb, in a user friendly increased reach to the target audience land cover soils and natural heritage way. That 3D application supported in accessing information about data layers produced http://arcg. discussions by all path practitioners ASCENT. Outcome The requirement for T3.1.1 was to The outcome was the development map upland paths and trails for all of a mapping application using seven ASCENT sites and to create an cutting edge 3D GIS technology to app based route planner, with the allow users to explore 3700 vertical data collected informing the overall metres in seven project sites, across management plans developed by five countries, which are visited by each project partner. 500,000 per annum. ‘ASCENT in 3D’ In enhancing the approach applied is accessible at www.ascent-project. to Errigal Mountain, Donegal’s ASCENT eu/ascent-project-map/ and was team liaised with all project partners launched in Reykjavik on November Key Findings & in acquiring and converting the 6th 2018, by the Chair of the Steering path and trail layers to a compatible Committee Mr Liam Ward. Learning Points format using ESRI’s ArcMap. Further A dedicated map portal was classification took place to define established at www.ascent-project.eu/ the path types, with the addition ascent-mapgallery/ to host a suite of of attribute information including ASCENT maps and apps to support ASCENT in 3D lends itself elevation and relevant imagery. A the project objectives, to compliment to the fulfilment of T3.1.1 in demo application was considerated the research undertaken in an effort implementing ICT based tools by project partners with the decision to better understand our uplands and across the partnership. Much taken that the app would create natural environments. co-operation occurred between an awareness and highlight the project partners in progressing landscape sensitivities of each site, in the mapping of upland paths and line with the project’s objectives. trails, in determining its effectiveness and in the dissemination of information with GIS providing the appropriate tools to achieve such. Further applications by Donegal’s project team will use drone technology, at regular intervals, to assess the impact of erosion over time. By collecting high resolution date stamped images which will map the restoration of damaged habitats Using GIS for through a sustainable intervention at Errigal Mountain. Stakeholder Engagement Donegal County Council, through the deployment of GIS technology showcased its effec- FURTHER INFORMATION tiveness as a tool for community

Contact details: Rosita Mahony consultation, decision making, in ASCENT Project Manager undertaking visitor monitoring Donegal County Council surveys and for creating heigh- Ireland tened user awareness for the vul- nerability of ASCENT sites. The e-mail: [email protected] dedicated map portal and ASCENT in 3D creates a resource for a lasting www.ascent-project.eu project legacy in managing and monitoring natural environments sustainably over time.

Date of Publication: January 2019