Table of Contents
The GeoIKP Platform
What is this platform about?
GeoIKP stands for Geospatial Information Knowledge Platform and serves as a hub for sharing knowledge on Nature-based Solutions (NBS). The GeoIKP provides data and assessment tools to support effective implementation of Nature-based Solutions and guides stakeholders through the Nature-based Solution life cycle. The GeoIKP is designed to address needs of various users (whether citizens, scientists, or others).
The GeoIKP is an output of the H2020 OPERANDUM project presenting inter alia the results of the project.
First Navigation
From the home page you can access all informative pages, tools, and catalogues that the platform has to offer. The image below provides you a first overview on what you can find where.
Use Cases
Why is the platform useful to me? Below, you can find some use cases that explain which parts of the platform can support you in answering the following questions. Throughout the user guide, you will find exemplified use cases for different tools.
Register & Sign-in
The platform is openly available for every user. However, if you register you can access more functions. Use the 'Sign in' button on the top menu for logging in. Click on the arrow next to ‘Sign in’ to register.
Actions:
Sign in with your email address and password.
If you are not registered yet: click on ‘sign up’ underneath the ‘Sign in’ button to create an account.
Sign up by entering your details and click on the ‘Register’ button.
NBS Catalogue
The NBS Catalogue serves as a global collection of Nature-based Solutions for disaster risk reduction and other global challenges.
Browse all Nature-based Solutions. At first glance, the locations of Nature-based Solutions (indicated with different colored icons) are displayed on the map. It is possible to filter by one or multiple key elements in the blue bar. The (filter) results are shown on the map and listed below the map. In order to learn more about a Nature-based Solution, click on either the icon or the preview below the map.
Note: OPERANDUM’s Nature-based Solution crowdsourcing application supports a continuous collection (crowdsourcing) of case studies. The NBS Catalogue presents all Nature-based Solutions collected via the crowdsourcing application. Add Nature-based Solutions yourself via Add your NBS.
Actions:
The blue search bar offers to search for and filter Nature-based Solutions. Type your keywords in the search field or select filters for a specific Nature-based Solution Type or Hazard. Click on the two arrows to see more filter options (Policy Level, Ecosystem, Nature-based Solutions Approach and Type). Select your choice and press the search button. The results will be shown on the map and listed underneath the map.
Hazard: hydrometeorological hazards (e.g., flood & drought).
Global Challenge: the SDG targets the NBS is tackling (e.g., water management).
Policy Level: the level where policies influence the implementation (e.g., local or global).
Ecosystem: local landscapes (e.g., forest).
NBS Approach: the degree of intervention in nature (e.g., conservation, management).
NBS Type: The actual NBS that was chosen to be implemented (e.g., green roof).
Click on one Nature-based Solution from the list or from the map and the detailed view (see below) will open on the right side of the interface. From the detailed view, you can access the information source, find similar Nature-based Solutions/policies/data, add your own Nature-based Solution, or explore the environment of the Nature-based Solution in the interactive map. By clicking on the print button, you can download the Nature-based Solution information.
OPERANDUM Best Practices
OPERANDUM’s Open-air Laboratories (OALs) serve as good practice examples for implementing, upscaling and replicating Nature-based Solutions - discover each of the nine OPERANDUM OALs. The OALs are listed by country. Explore each of them by first selecting the country and then scrolling down.
Action:
You can either scroll through the stories or jump directly to one chapter by selecting it from the Table of Content. You can also switch between stories by selecting another country.
Get Involved
Do you want to start a Nature-based Solution project yourself? Are you part of an action group that is planning on taking action to ensure your community’s resilience to in current and future climate impacts?
Get Involved encompasses stories of citizens who implemented Nature-based Solutions. Get inspired on how to start your own project or share your story to help others!
Actions:
Simply select one story that interests you and scroll down. To go back to see all stories click on ‘Back to stories’.
Help other citizens to get started with their own NBS projects by sharing your experiences on success, challenges, and drawbacks.
Add your story by filling in the questionnaire and uploading images. Click on ‘add your story’ to submit it.
Interactive Map
The Interactive Map offers the opportunity to explore, compare, and analyze Nature-based Solutions and local characteristics on the map. The map offers a large set of Nature-based Solutions related maps. Explore the maps, analyze Nature-based Solutions environments and more. Additionally, the tool allows to download the current map interface and to get values for an place of interest.
Actions:
From this box, you can organize your maps. You can make maps invisible, add maps from our catalogue or add your own map. Click on the arrow and hold it for moving maps above or below another map. Click on the tool wheel to get more management options and information on the map.
By clicking on the tool wheel, you get more information and tools for managing one map. Here, you can change the transparency of a map to see two overlaying maps at a time, you can remove maps, you can get more information on the map and see the legend.
To get information about a point of your interest (e.g., to know what the exact population number in the area of a Nature-based Solution is), click on the map icon on the top right corner of the map and then click on the map (the place that interests you).
After selecting a point, a window will pop up presenting the number of the population.
Note: that this tool provides you information on all visible maps. (In the above example, only the population density map is visible.
To print the map you created in this interface, use the upper button on the right side.
Note: this function is under development but will be available soon.
Use case example:
Open the Interactive Map. At first glance, you can see a map and on the left side you can see which layers are opened at the moment. You want to identify areas with flood potential that are close to your home to find a suitable location for your retention pond.
Step 1: Add maps
At the moment, there are only an NBS and OAL map visible. To add more layers, you can click on the icon in the middle of the layer box and browse the catalogue.
Navigate through the catalogue and add the following layers:
Uncategorized > Global Hydrological Soil Groups
The map global hydrological soil groups describes the characteristics of the soil to take in water (from rainfall). For instance, urban areas with surfaces like roads are able to let water into the soil. If the water cannot infiltrate into the soil it will flow on e.g., the road to lower areas. This process is called surface runoff. On this map you can see which areas are good for infiltrating water and which not.
Risk > Flood > Flood Hazard Map (RP10y)
The flood hazard map presents area that are potentially affected by rivers exceeding their banks. The map you added presents the potential flood water depth for a flooding event that may happens once in 10 years (= RP10y).
Once a layer was added to the interface, the font turns light blue and the layer will be visible on the interface.
To go back to the overview, click on the button ‘Back to layer and settings’.
Step 2: Remove unnecessary maps
Now, you can organize the layers: remove the layers Open-Air Laboratories and the NBS layer by clicking, firstly, on the wheel next to the layer name and then on the remove button.
Step 3: Zoom in to the location of your interest
Zoom in to the city Leichlingen (where you live) by typing the city name in the search bar.
Step 4: Get familiar with the maps
Click on the wheel of each map to learn more about the maps.
Now you can see the legend of the flood hazard map. By clicking on the information button on the bottom, a box will pop up with more information on the map.
Step 5: Analyze the maps
After familiarizing yourself with the maps, you can change the opacity of the global hydrological soil group map so that you can see the map below presenting the roads and so on.
From the hydrological soil map, you can see that not the entire city has a high surface runoff potential but mostly the center of the city through which a river flows.
From the flood map, you can see the river flood potential for the city.
You know that the River Wupper flows from north to south in this view. Next to the icon, you see that there is a minor flooding potential. To examine this area better, you can hide the hydrological soil map for a moment by clicking on the eye button next to the wheel button.
You can see that the area with the minor flooding potential is close to the green area which can function as water storage area.
Step 6: Identify a suitable area for your Nature-based Solution
Since the north of the city is very rural with water storage areas, you suggest to build the retention pond rather in the center of the city where there is a high runoff and river flood potential. By hiding all layers, you can see that this area is densely built but there area some parks which could gain a retention pond. Adding a retention pond to the park will simultaneously increase the attractiveness of the park.
Step 7: Get more insights with additional maps
Now, you identified a potential location and can continue with an in-depth analysis.
Policy Finder
The Policy Finder provides an overview on existing policies regulating the implementation of a Nature-based Solution. Browse or inspect the collected legislations and policies. Filtering is possible by:
location (local, regional, national) from the map - simply click on the country of your interest;
free text search by typing your key words; or
topic from the mind map.
The results will be shown below the map and mind map. The document can be accessed directly from the window, or it can be explored at the source of information.
Action:
The result list is underneath the map. Each result provides a brief description of the content of the policy, offers the link to metadata (e.g., date of preparation, or which countries it is applicable for). Also, you can download the original document from here and get suggestions for similar policies, related data, and Nature-based Solutions.
Use case example:
You have decided on the most suitable Nature-based Solution to lower the risk of flooding in your village but which legislation do you need to consider? You checked from the example Permitting Paths and read about the European Floods Directive.
Step 1: Filter policy documents
Now, you want to know more about it. Open the Policy Finder and search for ‘directive’.
The results are shown below the map. The Floods Directive is presented with a brief summary. You can click on the file button to download and read the document.
Step 2: Find similar policies for Germany
Click on ‘Show similar policies’ to explore other important EU level policies.
You want to explore more flood related policies for Germany? Remove your directive search and make a new one: Hazar: click on Germany on the map and from the mind map select hazard, (zoom out a bit) and then flood.
Step 3: Study the policies
Now, you can browse the policies that might affect your Nature-based Solution implementation.
Permitting Paths
A Permitting Path is a path from planning a Nature-based Solution and reviewing all policies and legislations that need to be taken into account until the official permission to implement the planned Nature-based Solution. The permitting path may affect the creation and design process of the Nature-based Solution and cause delays and financial issues leading to critical consequences.
Here, you find information on permitting paths and how they vary depending on different aspects of the project (e.g., location, the hazard, and country). Guidance through potential legislation is provided with an example ‘overall’ path. Not all legislation needs to be considered for every case, therefore, here, you can explore and learn from OPERANDUM’s permitting paths to simplify your path to permission of your Nature-based Solution project.
Use case example:
Step 1: Browse permitting paths
Firstly, you can have a look at Permitting Paths to get an overview on which steps you might have to take into account for getting the permission.
Here, you can see several categories with text and graphs. Environmental legislation explains the procedure of environmental impact assessments that (usually) need to be done before implementing a Nature-based Solution if the NBS changes the surrounding environment significantly. Other legislation such as building legislation might not be applicable if nothing is specifically built (e.g., a measure station). Go through the sections and understand which legislation might need to be taken into account to get permission for your case. If you select a country from the drop down menu you can explore NBS example paths from different countries.
Note: that permitting paths vary greatly depending on the country, the Nature-based Solution to be implemented and the area you want to implement it. Therefore, the examples cannot provide you a step by step guide but rather provide you an overview on what needs to be considered.
Step 2: Find related policy documents
From the permitting paths you understand that for flooding the European Flood Directive is fundamental. Go to the Policy Finder to learn more about this.
NBS Toolkit
Find suitable Nature-based Solutions for an area of your interest. Finding the right Nature-based Solution can be challenging because a lot of different factors need to be taken into consideration. The NBS Toolkit will assist you in identifying the most suitable Nature-based Solution for your challenge.
To get recommendations:
select an area (drawing a rectangular on the map);
a hazard; and
click the ‘analysis’ button.
The toolkit will compute an analysis for the selected area. Based on this analysis, it will recommend suitable Nature-based Solutions. In addition, the system will provide information about the location characteristics, present hazards, and associated socio-ecological risks. All the indicators will be presented as results of the analysis in easy-to-understand graphics. It will also provide detailed information on the Nature-based Solution itself, including a description, benefits, and possible drawbacks.
This tool is a prototype and will experience further development in the near future.
Add your NBS
This crowdsourcing app aims at collecting Nature-based Solutions case studies (which are displayed in the NBS Catalogue). Crowdsourcing means that everyone can contribute and add Nature-based Solution case studies. By now, as part of OPERANDUM, more than 600 Nature-based Solutions around the world were collected. Here, you can add Nature-based Solutions to the catalogue by filling in the form.
You can add Nature-based Solutions without being logged in on the platform. However, only if you register you can edit your added Nature-based Solutions after saving.
Fill in the information page by page.
Click on ‘Next’ to get to the next page.
Click on ‘Back’ to go to the previous page.
On ‘Cancel’ you can delete the entire draft.
‘Save & Exit’ allows you to save the draft and continue it at a later point.
Once you have filled in all required information, you can
Save your NBS;
Save your NBS and add policies that were influencing the implementation of the NBS; or
Save and add datasets presenting the NBS or that you used/produced for pre-assessment, monitoring, or evaluation.
After saving your NBS, the NBS will be reviewed before publishing it in the collection. This process can take several days.
Actions:
Data Catalogue
The Data Catalogue encompasses data that are related to Nature-based Solutions, such as hazard and risk data, Nature-based Solution monitoring data and local characteristics (e.g., land cover). Available data ranges from local to global level and any type of data (e.g., observation, spatial data or pdf). Here, you can browse through all collected datasets. It is possible to search by key word or to filter on the left-hand side. Click on a dataset of your interest and explore or download it.
You can add and share your own data which will enable others to find relevant data and support their Nature-based Solution project.
Actions:
Register
You can register by clicking on ‘Register’ in the top menu. Registration is necessary to upload, store, organize, and share data. After registration you will be allocated to your organization (which can take a few hours). This allows to share datasets within your organization. To create a user ID, the following information will be asked for:
Username: a username can contain only letters, numbers, - and _ characters. For example, “operandumuser” or “operandum_user123”;
Full name: to be displayed on the user profile;
Email address: this will not be visible to other users;
Password: the same password has to be entered in both boxes (password and confirm).
Login
The login can be reached from the top menu. Enter your username and password to login.
Uploaded Datasets can be browsed in different ways:
Browse all: by clicking on ‘Datasets’ all publicly available data will be listed. After logging in, also data of your organization will be listed.
Search datasets by free text search.
Browse by groups: main groups are listed on the bottom of the website and can be also accessed from the top menu.
Browse by organizations: by clicking on Organizations on the top menu all organizations will be listed. By clicking on one of them, all openly accessible datasets will be listed.
Filter datasets: In the dataset menu, it is possible to filter datasets by location (from the map), organizations, groups, tags, format, licenses, others (based on available metadata).
Data can be added via the ‘Datasets’ page by clicking on ‘Add Dataset’. Adding datasets encompasses filling all relevant metadata information which are based on European legislations and principles.
To add your data:
Log in;
complete the list of metadata;
click on save dataset and add data;
add the actual dataset by clicking the button add data and either upload a file or provide the link to the dataset; and
save.
You can edit the dataset that you or a member of your organization have created. In order to edit existing datasets:
select the dataset;
click on the ‘Manage’ button, which is placed above the dataset title;
then the ‘Edit dataset’ view is displayed where you can edit any metadata field or you can manage (add, delete) files within the dataset; and
save your edits.
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