eHabitat - web processing service - prototype
Introduction
With the scenario of climate change impacts on protected areas in mind, we have developed a web based tool for assessing potential environmental changes due to anthropogenic activities. In particular, the development of eHabitat as a modeling web service allows end-users to assess the likelihood to find equivalent habitats today or in the future, considering a virtual infinity of possible ingredients defining these habitats. The results can provide decision makers with useful information on the irreplaceability of the modeled habitats (Hartley et al., 2007).
The ability of eHabitat, as an open source Web Processing Service (WPS), to be a component of any processing chain, combined with the possibility to use any thematic map to define a model of the habitat, requires the architecture to be interoperable with an advanced modeling capability to be able to cope with multi-scale heterogeneous data sources. The use of open standards for spatial data and of open source tools for the development of the core functionalities of the system are further expected to encourage the participation of the scientific community beyond the current partnerships.
Proceed to the demonstration web interface
Demonstration user interface
Following the link below you proceed to the eHabitat demonstration client prototype, which will let you test and visualize the results of the eHabitat web processing service (WPS). Please note that this service is under development and not all resources are allocated accordinlgy, therefore we can allow only 10 input coverages each of 1mb size maximum. The WPS will compute the probability of habitat similarity to the selected protected area (PA) with respect to the chosen input variables. The probability is calculated using a mahalanobis distance algorithm, which result in values ranging from 0 (low similarity) to 1 (high similarity). To start a computation use this stepwise procedure:
- Adjust the extent of the map window to the area of interest around the protected area for which you want to find equivalent habitats.
- Select the protected area by left clicking on one of the red polygons (after selection you will see details of the protected area in the top right table).
- Choose your model input parameters on the right hand-side. N.B.: Not all climate scenarios are available for each resolution, you will warned about non available selections after an attempt to start the computation.
- If all parameters are set, the [Start] button will be activated, once pressed the process is initiated and after the processing the result will be displayed as a WPS result layer in the map window and the layer tree.
The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.