Welcome
In this issue of Sphere we look at light pollution mapping for biodiversity planning, the relationship between agri-environment frameworks and the maintenance of SSSIs, mapping grassland by satellite and a new Oil Seed Rape (OSR) analytics product. At this time of year we are under scrutiny ourselves and we report on our latest BS 8555 inspection and how we are aiming to reduce our own impact on the environment. News too of our entry onto the Government’s ‘Digital Marketplace’ and in particular the ‘G-Cloud,’ the special framework for ‘Cloud’ hosting, software and support. Last but not least our regular update on promotions and new starters at Environment Systems.
Contents
Project News
Light Pollution Mapping for Biodiversity Planning
Agri-Environment Monitoring
Mapping Grassland by Satellite
Company News
Oil Seed Rape Analytics
Reducing our Environmental Impact
G-Cloud
Staff News
Project News
Light Pollution Mapping for Biodiversity Planning
Understanding dark skies is important for nocturnal species conservation. For example, certain species of bat, many of which are rare and have declining populations. By having strategic knowledge about dark skies at a regional level, it becomes possible to plan mitigation and development activities to enhance the area for these species. Dark night skies are also an important landscape feature protecting the nocturnal environment, not only for nature, but also for education, cultural heritage, and public enjoyment.
We have recently undertaken a project for Pembrokeshire County Council and Natural Resources Wales, looking at how we can obtain a strategic landscape view of dark skies and bat populations. The project used newly accessible satellite data and available street lamp data to demonstrate dark sky areas throughout Pembrokeshire. The aim was to raise awareness of light pollution and its impact on biodiversity and provide a tool to evidence policy, inform development and land use. Using these data would also enable mitigation in many cases simply by reducing light pollution in the most sensitive areas.
Calibration of the satellite data was necessary to split marine and terrestrial environments due to exceptionally busy shipping lanes around Milford Haven, producing light out at sea. Street lamp data was available from Pembrokeshire County Council. By taking the location of the street lamps and the types of lamp it was possible to match the existing pollution level to the radiance values in the satellite data creating a mapping layer of dark skies and light pollution.
The next stage of the project focused on generating a biodiversity sensitivity layer. For this project, local bat species data, with details on hibernating, maternity, plus day and night roosting sites, was used. Whilst the impacts of artificial light pollution on plants and wildlife are generally understood, it is now being recognised as being more significant to land use planning and development design. Combining the light and bat species data together delivers information that will assist local authorities in providing advice for better land management and development in relation to the effects of light pollution on biodiversity.
Agri-Environment Monitoring
In the Spring 2019 issue of Sphere we covered some of the projects that we, as part of a consortium with CCRI (Countryside and Community Research Institute) and Land Use Consultants, were working on under the Defra/Natural England ESME (Environmental Stewardship Monitoring and Evaluation) framework.
One of these focused on SSSIs (Site of Specific Scientific Interest) and the contribution which agri-environment schemes (AES) make to the maintenance and improvement of their condition. SSSIs represent some of the best of England’s biodiversity sites and it is important to Defra and Natural England to be able to evaluate the contribution that agri-environment schemes make in delivering for biodiversity when they occur on SSSIs. The results of our research were recently presented via a very successful webinar attended by over 65 Defra and Natural England staff.
Whilst there is a great deal of data from both an ecological condition perspective and on the undertaking of different AES programmes, including the various tiers within them, we found that the two areas are not well aligned. There was evidence that AES were improving SSSI habitats in some cases, through the increased likelihood of positive management activity. However the studies do not generally separate SSSI and non-SSSI features in their analyses. There were also large gaps in the evidence. It does suggest that a greater integration of the monitoring of AES and SSSIs is required in order to establish a causal link between AES and SSSI condition. For this, a more targeted approach to sampling would be best suited to both AES and SSSIs.
Mapping Grassland by Satellite
This pilot project is establishing the potential of using satellite remote sensing to inform grassland management and predict grass yield in Welsh pasture systems. Why might you want to do this? Grass is an essential crop in livestock production. Unfortunately, around half of the grass grown in Wales is not utilised efficiently. Grazed grass is the cheapest and most efficient form of feed on farms and when managed well, inputs and production costs can be reduced, therefore boosting profit margins.
Measuring and monitoring grass growth enables farmers to improve quality and maximise yield. As part of the ongoing Welsh Pasture Project, a number of farms are using a plate meter to measure growth and quantity of available Dry Matter per hectare (DM/ha) across their farm, to monitor growth during the season. There are varying degrees of enthusiasm for this activity as it is labour intensive and very time consuming. There is an opportunity to use satellite data, with Environment Systems developing algorithms that can predict average grass cover (Kg DMA/Ha) with the eventual aim of developing a ‘hands free’ online tool to help farmers estimate average grass cover and reduce the need to go out into the field and collect data.
The project utilised farmers plate meter data collected across nine cross-sector farms, located throughout Wales. To date, we have achieved positive correlations with the satellite radar data. The image (above) shows field parcels with grass cover modelled from satellite imagery, for 15th September 2019. The chart on the left shows how well our grass cover model (orange) matches actual data (blue) over time.
“The technology has the potential to support farmers across Wales to make informed decisions on grass management based on actual grass growth and data. Additionally, this information will be able to provide trends on individual field performance over a number of years therefore allowing farmers to compare against previous years and other fields on the farm. This information could help in deciding which fields to reseed based on performance, therefore avoiding unnecessary reseeding expense,” said Dewi Hughes, Technical Development Manager for Farming Connect.
The Welsh Pasture Project is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. The Farming Connect Knowledge Transfer Programme and Advisory Service are delivered by Menter a Busnes on behalf of Welsh Government. Environment Systems has been working with Menter a Busnes and IBERS (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences)at Aberystwyth University. The project featured on the BBC’s S4C programme, Ffermio in July.
Company News
Oil Seed Rape Analytics
Having worked with Sentinel satellite data for a number of years, facilitated by our own Environment Systems Data Services, a number of new product development opportunities have come to light. This has enabled us to provide customers with regular insights and data over time, one of which is our oil seed rape (OSR) analytics product.
For many farmers, particularly on heavier soils, black-grass is an increasing problem and the widespread use of metaldehyde slug pellets and residual herbicides, particularly in OSR, can lead to a higher risk of water pollution in many drinking water catchment areas. Phosphate from agriculture enters water primarily through soil erosion and surface run-off. A water company, for example, needs to know precisely where OSR is being grown in order to understand where there might be a problem and in order to engage with farmers and incentivise them to change some of their farming practices.
Our OSR analytics product provides information on the percentage cover of OSR by water catchment, location of fields, rotation over time, and proximity to the river network. Underlying this is a map detailing field- by-field, the location of all the OSR growing in Great Britain during June 2019. This is derived directly from Sentinel satellite data using algorithms developed in house and delivered through Business Intelligence software.
Reducing our Environmental Impact
We have been monitoring our own impact on the environment for over five years employing an Environmental Management System (EMS) to BS 8555. The EMS enables us to control, monitor and improve our environmental performance. Accreditation also improves our credibility as environmental consultants.
Over the past year we have made significant strides by:
- Reducing the number of flights and increasing our use of public transport
- Reducing our CO2 by 16%, (13,400 kg of carbon)
- Monitoring our utility meters to stop wastage
- Stabilising our consumption of electricity
- Cutting our consumption of gas for heating
- Reducing the amount of waste we sent to landfill by 23%
We are now focusing on all the things individuals, in the business, can do to reduce our environmental impact.
G-Cloud
The Digital Marketplace is an online service provided by the Government for public sector organisations to find people and technology for digital projects. Within the Digital Marketplace is a special framework for ‘Cloud’ hosting, software and support which is called the G-Cloud.
We have embraced the opportunity that the G-Cloud offers to give our government customers access to our Data Services providing on-demand analysis-ready satellite data, environment, and agricultural metrics. Any public sector organisation can buy from us through the G-Cloud. You can search for us here.
Staff News
Laura Cottrell
Laura has been working with us since 2015 and has just been promoted to head up our Ecology Services. Over the last four years she has been involved in the full range of our work in renewable energy, artisanal mining and Book-a- Bat services. Laura has a 1st in Environmental Biology and an MSc in Environmental Consultancy.
Maximilian Friedersdorff
Max has joined us as a Software Developerfor Environment Systems Data Services working particularly on the automation of data product feeds to our customers. Before joining us, Max worked as a System Administrator and Software Developer for The Institute ofBiological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS).
Stevan Howe
Stevan has recently joined us and is working on remote sensing products for the agricultural sector in Peru and Colombia as part of the EO4cultivar project team. Being able to speak Spanish is proving invaluable, linking the team here in the UK with Spanish speaking partners in Latin America.
Carys Selman
Carys is a Physical Geography graduate from the University of Reading, who completed work experience with us in the summer of 2018 and has now returned as a full time GIS and Mapping Analyst.