Analysis is all about uncovering patterns. Clean and robust data is essential for generating high-quality insights and addressing complex challenges. However, it’s often through data comparison that hidden or overlooked patterns begin to surface. Analysis can be the lens through which complicated questions can be focused, breaking them down into their components and begin to understand how each part contributes to the whole.
We can work with both spatial and non-spatial data, as analysis often requires inputs from both. By continually investing in advanced technology, we can receive and manipulate data in virtually any format. This approach ensures our ability to handle datasets of any size and respond quickly to any potential challenges.
Removing Noise from eDNA SamplesEOS Ecology
eDNA offers a modern and innovative method for detecting and monitoring biodiversity by analysing genetic material from water samples, making it a powerful tool for conservation, ecosystem management, and species identification. The sheer volume of organisms linked to an aquatic ecosystem can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when contamination introduces unwanted results. Filtering through this noise to extract clear and accurate signals can be both time-consuming and expensive. Our team has developed a robust methodology to not only identify and isolate relevant ecological signals, but also to automate the process to efficiently filter out a wide range of freshwater organisms. This streamlined approach ensures accurate, targeted results for freshwater ecosystems and can be scaled to meet the needs of projects of any size.
Using DEM to Create Drainage Channel NetworksLiving Water (Fonterra & Department of Conservation) & Aqualinc
Publicly available layers often don’t show the full picture of waterways and channels across a rural landscape. This was the case in an area we were creating Catchment Management Plans for, where we needed to identify flow paths that could be a waterway or channel of some sort. We developed a methodology that used a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and aerial photography to create a layer of potential flow paths. This layer was then combined with LINZ and local council layers to provide a single layer of waterways for verification. Field visits were then undertaken using an ArcGIS Field Map loaded on a tablet to confirm, or otherwise, the existence of the waterways and capture information such as channel type, flow permanency, substrate, and the presence of water. This in-field digital workflow efficiently validated the layers and provided a high accuracy model.
Finding Historic River Channel PositionsMinistry for the Environment & Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
Naturalizing a river involves restoring its channel to a more natural state, allowing enough space for it to flood and meander without adversely impacting surrounding agriculture, infrastructure, or livelihoods. Identifying historic river channels is challenging, but high-resolution LiDAR data and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) can reveal small elevation changes that offer clues about past courses. This information is valuable for catchment management and can also help uncover “hidden” land areas, such as wetlands, flood-prone zones, historic sites like Pā, or even old landfills.
