On 9th May 2023, during Data Science & AI Week, The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI), the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) and the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) brought together biodiversity science end users, data scientists, technologists, government, industry and community members, to raise awareness of the value of shared biodiversity data and analytics in Western Australia.
WABSI was fortunate to have Hannah Beazley MLA address the audience, in support of our work. An expert panel inspired the audience with the achievements to date and the possibilities to come, in helping to lift environmental outcomes through data collection, curation and analysis. The panel comprised Professor Owen Nevin, CEO, WABSI, Dr Luke Twomey, CEO, WAMSI and Dr Erica Smyth AC.
Held at Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, the event showcased the WABSI and WAMSI collaboration which, over the past several years, has created an information asset for Western Australia, enabling end users to access environmental data.
First, in 2018, the Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessments (IBSA) was launched, followed by its marine equivalent, the Index of Marine Surveys for Assessment (IMSA) in 2020. Both of these are now hosted by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
Later that year, WABSI guided the development of the Biodiversity Information Office of Western Australia; now hosted by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
In 2021, WABSI released the Shared Analytics Framework for the Environment (SAFE), with an updated framework (SAFE 2.0) now available.
Currently, WABSI and WAMSI are facilitating the establishment of a proposed Shared Environmental Analytics Facility (SEAF) as a government-owned, independent facility to develop analytical capabilities and products, enabling the development of authoritative baseline forecasts for use in cumulative impact assessment.
Read more: Biodiversity Data: Leading the Digital Journey
