Ruru, Auckland Council’s conservation information system has again won national recognition for use of geospatial technology, this time at the 2021 ALGIM awards (Association for Local Government Information Management).
Ruru won the Geospatial Project of the Year Award.
The project team, which includes the Environmental Services Bio Information team and staff from ICTs Geospatial team along with external contractors have continued to build and grow the system over the last two years.
Ruru allows staff and contractors to update datasets in real time as pest control work and ecological surveys are undertaken, using field apps and desktop tools. This has been a game-changer in shifting our data capture and reporting from spreadsheets to a comprehensive, up-to-date database with dashboards thereby enabling improved reporting on conservation efforts funded via the Natural Environment Targeted Rate.
Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau, our conservation website was finalist in two categories at the same ALGIM awards – Web/Digital and Customer Experience.
The website serves as an outward facing portal for the conservation community, providing a link to Tāmaki focussed datasets, a community directory, restoration resources and importantly Pest Search which helps explain and guide the public around Regional Pest Management Plan requirements. Work is currently underway to realise Ngā Iwi Mana Whenua ō Tāmaki Makaurau aspirations for Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau.
Both projects have been driven out of the Bio Information Team and the Enabling Tools Programme in NETR.
