EcoCommons Australia: A powerful new tool for ecological modeling

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The ecological modeling platform EcoCommons Australia is transforming biodiversity protection and deepening our understanding of how environmental policies advance international biodiversity goals.

A new article published in Environmental Modelling & Software outlines how EcoCommons was created to help researchers and policy decision-makers conduct trusted ecological modeling more efficiently than ever before.

One of the experts behind EcoCommons is Professor Brendan Mackey, Director of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon at Griffith University, and a Coordinating Lead Author on the 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report.

Prof Mackey said, "The EcoCommons platform provides seamless and accessible access to advanced modeling tools and trusted data for biodiversity and climate, with results that can be relied upon by researchers, practitioners and decision makers in academia, business and government."

Ecological modeling, at speed

Dr. Jenna Wraith, senior data scientist for EcoCommons at the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF), explains, "EcoCommons streamlines the labor-intensive aspects of ecological modeling. Instead, researchers may concentrate on choosing, testing and interpreting models to inform decisions about restoring, protecting, and conserving vital habitats for a biodiverse future.

"For example, coding and data preparation previously took days to support analysis and mapping of habitats for Australia's rare Purple Copper Butterfly, found only in New South Wales' Central Tablelands. Now, with EcoCommons, this process can be completed in minutes.

"EcoCommons also enables researchers to easily reproduce and 'tweak' the analyses shared by others, promoting democratized research and ensuring transparency and best practices in science and decision-making," said Dr. Wraith.

Scalable technology for environmental decision-making

EcoCommons leverages years of development from legacy laboratories and programs, such as ecocloud and BCCVL, supported by research infrastructure providers and universities. This technology underpins the success of both EcoCommons and Biosecurity Commons, enhancing capabilities in environmental and biosecurity modeling, respectively.

Together, these platforms provide one of the most comprehensive spaces in Australian digital research technology for researchers to use trusted datasets and models that can directly impact research and policymaking.

End-user needs have always been a paramount concern. The recent article describes how the EcoCommons team adopted a user-centred design approach to redevelop the platform.

They analyzed nearly 400 survey responses from approximately 150 organizations to prioritize improvements and expand functionality, continuing to reduce barriers to using ecological models. Crucial updates ensure the platform adheres to internationally-recognized scientific standards for species distribution modeling.

The re-invigorated platform features close to 60,000 datasets, a direct portal to a further 100,000,and more than 30 integrated algorithms—all freely available to researchers and policymakers thanks to collaborative efforts with its partners.

More information: Elisa Bayraktarov et al, EcoCommons Australia virtual laboratories with cloud computing: Meeting diverse user needs for ecological modeling and decision-making, Environmental Modelling & Software (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106255

Provided by Australian Research Data Commons