The WILDSPACE (TM) decision support system

A system architecture was developed for the WILDSPACE decision support system (DSS) to provide a better understanding of complex wildlife and habitat problems. The system makes use of two key concepts, SPECIES and SPACES, to define the study domain. WILDSPACE DSS's flexible user interface allows users to select SPECIES through a number of different approaches, including direct selection and selection using information such as avian life history and project metadata. On the SPACES side, the system uses the RAISON(TM) object system (ROS) for mapping functions and spatial analysis. The key element in WILDSPACE DSS is its knowledge-based database manager that provides intelligent support to various components of the system. It keeps track of all the legitimate databases, provides intelligence within the SPECIES and SPACES selection process and, more importantly, interfaces with the knowledge templates which are sets of operations implementing pre-defined analysis routines used for integrated analysis. This integrated decision support approach allows users to combine a diverse set of tools within a common framework. WILDSPACE DSS is used to study complex wildlife problems involving multiple projects and data that are temporally and spatially heterogeneous. A case study about a relevant wildlife conservation question is presented using a series of queries and analyses performed within WILDSPACE DSS. The system also serves as the repository for all past, current and future wildlife data collected by the Canadian Wildlife Service-Ontario Region. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.