ID: 2239
Presenting Author: Ben O'Hickey
Session: 603 - Using global biodiversity data to make past assessments and future projections
Status: pending
A new geospatial platform that unifies site data and global biodiversity datasets, streamlining nature impact assessment and improving risk management for a portfolio of sites.
WSP has undertaken a project with SSE Transmission to develop a hybrid approach to biodiversity data management by combining site-level survey data with global biodiversity datasets in a single AI powered geospatial platform. As a developer with many sites in planning, construction and operation, the challenge for SSE was to use data to manage their biodiversity impacts in an efficient yet accurate way.
WSP developed a platform that utilised the TNFD nature interface methodology to integrate global biodiversity datasets such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, World Database on Protected Areas, and World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas with regional/national alternatives and manually collected survey data.
The platform’s AI-powered engine distilled these fragmented datasets into a single data lakehouse that became the single source of truth for the assessment of 30 assets. This data lake of local species data and global species-at-risk information provided the SSE team with a comprehensive view of the impacts and risks for their assets in construction and in operation across Scotland.
By linking granular site data with broader global biodiversity databases, the project has allowed SSE to manage the ongoing biodiversity risks and impacts more effectively, ensuring compliance with evolving requirements and supporting nature-positive outcomes.
The method is scalable, offering the potential to apply the approach to future impacts assessments. This hybrid model shows how digital innovation can transform biodiversity management for developers.
Ben is a Lead Advisor at WSP with a specialist knowledge in natural capital, biodiversity strategies and impact assessment. Ben's focus is supporting companies reduce their impacts on nature.
Coauthor 1: Julie Pizzutto