A Habitat Condition Assessment System for Australia

This project has provided Australia with its first consistent, repeatable and cost-efficient national biodiversity habitat condition assessment and reporting capability—developed through the Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS).

It is expected that this new system will enhance our capacity to:

identify priority areas for management interventions
undertake national environmental reporting
inform identification of natural and non‐natural influences on habitat condition.

The HCAS approach breaks new ground through its use of remote sensing, spatial ecological modelling and sparse data from on ground condition assessments to generate a national view of condition.

The HCAS is based on the premise that habitat occurring at places with similar abiotic environmental conditions (e.g. soil, landform, water availability) should look similar when viewed using remote sensing, averaged across seasons and years. Where two such places have markedly different remotely-sensed signals, this may indicate a difference in their condition for biodiversity.

This capability considers differences in condition caused by natural and seasonal fluctuations, as well as non-natural disturbances, such as climate change, and offers decision-makers the capacity to respond more rapidly and strategically to changes in habitat condition.

Download the HCAS v2.1 national dataset (first release) and technical report.
The technical report provides a detailed description of the method, an assessment of limitations and recommendations for enhancement.

Project publications

Fact sheets

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D and Williams KJ (2022) The Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS): progress update for stakeholders, August 2022. Publication number EP2022-5952. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. Download this fact sheet (link TBA).

Williams KJ and Lyon P (2019) The Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS): Progress update for stakeholders: June 2019. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. Download this fact sheet.

Lyon P, Williams KJ, Dickson F, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Donohue R, McVicar T, Storey R, White M, Newell G and Ahmad M (2023) A Habitat Condition Assessment System for Australia: Developing a new approach to mapping change in habitat for biodiversity continentally. CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia. Access the project flyer.

Glossary

A list of terms commonly used in HCAS publications and related terms: see the Glossary published in the technical report.

Data

Harwood TD, Williams KJ, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt B, Mokany K, Van Niel TG, Richards AE, Dickson F, McVicar TR and Ferrier S (2021) 9 arcsecond gridded HCAS 2.1 (2001-2018) base model estimation of habitat condition for terrestrial biodiversity, 18-year trend and 2010-2015 epoch change for continental Australia. Data collection. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/nkjf-f088.

Harwood T, Richards A, Schmidt B, Ware C, Prober S, Ferrier S, Lehmann E, McVicar T, Bakar S, Mokany K and Williams KJ (2021) Ecosystem condition for the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site v03.04.2021. Data Collection, v9. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/nw6d-ae40.

Reports

Williams KJ, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Van Niel TG, Richards AE, Dickson F, McVicar TR and Ferrier S (2021) Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS version 2.1): Enhanced method for mapping habitat condition and change across Australia. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/n3c6-7w60.

Lehmann EA, Williams KJ, Harwood TD and Ferrier S (2021) A not-too-technical introduction to the HCAS v2.x mechanics: a revised method for mapping habitat condition across Australia. Publication number EP211609. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/ek91-wj41.

Williams KJ, Donohue RJ, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Lyon P, Dickson F, Ware C, Richards AE, Gallant J, Storey RJL, Pinner L, Ozolins M, Austin J, White M, McVicar TR and Ferrier S (2020) Habitat Condition Assessment System: developing HCAS version 2.0 (beta). A revised method for mapping habitat condition across Australia. Publication number EP21001. CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/85f4-1k65.

Lehmann E, Harwood T, Williams KJ and Ferrier S (2018) HCAS Activity 3a(1): Environmental Space Modelling – Methods Document. CSIRO, Document Number EP184899, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/5b9810b665f04.

Donohue RJ, Harwood TD, Williams KJ, Ferrier S and McVicar TR (2014) Estimating habitat condition using time series remote sensing and ecological survey data. CSIRO Earth Observation and Informatics Transformational Capability Platform Client Report EP1311716. CSIRO, Canberra. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4225/08/58503778590e0.

Journal papers

Conference and workshop presentations

Lyon P, Williams KJ, Deb D, Pinner L, Malley C, Carlile P, Judith R, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Eric A. L and Donohue R (2022) Harnessing remote sensing for environmental understanding: the new Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS). CSIRO space tech lunch talk series, Adelaide, 8 December 2022. CSIRO. DOI: TBA

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D and Williams K (2022) Estimating habitat condition using satellite-based remote sensing and reference sites. Advancing Earth Observation Forum 2022, Brisbane, 22-26 Aug 2022. CSIRO. DOI: TBA

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D, Pinner L and Williams KJ (2022) Using national condition and connectivity metrics for environmental decision-making and reporting. ESA-SCBO 2022: Reconnecting with Nature; Reconnecting with Each Other, Wollongong, 28 Nov 2022 to 02 Dec 2022. Ecological Society of Australia. DOI: TBA [Watch the recorded presentation in the Open Forum – Data Synthesis and Decision Making, at 1:08-1:14 minutes.]

Williams KJ, Richards A and Metternicht G (2022) Australia’s requirements for information on biomass change: a video presentation. European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative – Biomass 1st User Workshop, online, 28-30 June 2022. DOI: TBA

Williams KJ, Lyon P, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Donohue R, Ware C, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Niel TGV, Richards AE, McVicar TR, Malley C, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2021) Using satellite-based remote sensing and modelling to estimate habitat condition, change and trends (Symposium: Remote Sensing in Ecology). 61st Annual Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia, online and Darwin, 22-26 November 2021, Theme: Renewal. Ecological Society of Australia. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/433695.

Williams KJ, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Donohue R, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Niel TGV, Richards AE, McVicar TR, Malley C, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2021) Using TERN products to predict habitat condition nationally: A spoken presentation TERN Science Symposium 2021, online, 5-6 July 2021. TERN, Brisbane, Australia. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/435068. Watch the presentation.

Williams KJ, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Donohue R, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Van Niel TG, Richards AE, McVicar TR, Malley C, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2021) Using TERN products to predict habitat condition nationally: A symposium paper. In: Gackle A (ed.) Proceedings of the TERN Science Symposium 2021, online, 5-6 July 2021. TERN Australia at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 45-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14264/2f0d5bf.

Williams K (2021) Habitat condition assessment system: a general framework for monitoring ecosystem condition from space. In: A Cutting-Edge Science Symposium Developing a national ecosystem assessment and forecasting system for Australia, 1-5 February 2021. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. Access: https://research.csiro.au/biodiversity-knowledge/dynamic-ecosystem-assessment-system/. Watch the spoken presentation (Session 2, between 32-46 mins): https://webcast.csiro.au/#/videos/2383e97f-2a81-448d-9184-3fbd4c21cdc3.

Lyon P, Harwood T, Donohue R, Lehmann E, Williams K, Ferrier S, McVicar T, White M, Dickson F, Pinner L, Ozolins M and Galway K (2019) The Habitat Condition Assessment System: Big data analytics for the state of Australia’s ecosystems (Symposium: Vegetation science for decision-making). Annual Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA19): Ecology: science for practical solutions. 25-29 November, Launceston. Ecological Society of Australia. DOI: TBA

Lehmann E, Harwood T, Donohue R, Williams KJ, Dickson F, Lyon P, Macfarlane C, McVicar T, Storey R, White M and Ferrier S (2018) National mapping of biodiversity habitat condition for comparative assessments across regions. Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference 2018: Ecology in the Anthropocene, 25-29 November 2018, Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Ecological Society of Australia. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/86222.

Williams KJ, Dickson F, Donohue R, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Lehmann E, Lyon P, Macfarlane C, McVicar T, Ozolins M, Pirzl R, Pinner L, Storey R and White M (2018) National mapping of biodiversity habitat condition for comparative assessments across regions. In: Dijk AV (ed.) Expert workshop: Environmental‐economic accounts with Earth observation data. Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

Williams KJ, Dickson F, Donohue R, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Lehmann E, Lyon P, Macfarlane C, McVicar T, Ozolins M, Pirzl R, Pinner L, Storey R and White M (2018) National mapping of biodiversity habitat condition for comparative assessments across regions. Ecosystem Surprises and Rapid Collapse, Boden Research Conference, Australian Academy of Science, 8-9 May 2018. Book of abstracts, page 53.

Williams KJ, Harwood T, Lehmann E, Donohue R, Lyon P, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2017) HCAS-2 – a remote sensing application of condition assessment evenly across whole regions. In: Hyland E (ed.) Essential Environmental Measures for Australia: Native Vegetation Workshop. Pavilion Hotel, 19-20 June 2017. Canberra, Australia.

Harwood TD, Donohue RJ, Williams KJ, Ferrier S, McVicar TR, Newell G and White M (2016) HCAS: A new way to assess the condition of natural habitats for terrestrial biodiversity across whole regions using remote sensing data. 2016 GEO BON Open Science Conference & All Hands Meeting. GEO Biodiversity Observation Network, Leipzig, Germany, 4th – 8th July 2016. Access the published book of abstracts, page 26-27. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/90097.

Ferrier S, Harwood T, Donohue R, Williams KJ and McVicar T (2014) Estimating habitat condition using time-series remote sensing and ecological survey data. National Condition Workshop. TERN Eco-Informatics. Adelaide, Australia.

Other media

Harwood T, Donohue R, Ferrier S, McVicar T, Newell G, White M and Williams K (2016) Can We Really Measure Habitat Condition From Space? methods.blog. Available online: https://methodsblog.wordpress.com/2016/2011/2029/habitat-condition-from-space/.

Published applications using HCAS

Butler D and Elmer C (2022) Regional-scale method to monitor vegetation condition using condition models and expert elicitation: Accounting for Nature Accredited Method (AfN-METHOD-NV-09). Accounting for Nature, https://www.accountingfornature.org/native-vegetation-methods. Download PDF.

Giljohann KM, Drielsma M, Love J, Pinner L, Lyon P, Harwood TD, Williams KJ and Ferrier S (2022) Technical description for a National Connectivity Index version 2.0 based on HCAS version 2.1. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/rwke-j939.

Mokany K, Ware C, Harwood TD, Schmidt RK, Tetreault-Campbell S and Ferrier S (2022) Habitat-based biodiversity assessment for ecosystem accounting in the Murray-Darling Basin. Conservation Biology 36 (5): e13915. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13915.

Clemens RS, Laffan SW, Low-Choy S, Mackey BG, Williams KJ and Wraith J (2021) How Australian mega-fires impacted the Superb Lyrebird and Greater Sooty Owl: A demonstration of the functionality coming to EcoCommons, and the utility of HCAS. EcoCommons. Viewed 25/2/2022, https://www.ecocommons.org.au/how-australian-mega-fires-impacted-the-superb-lyrebird-and-greater-sooty-owl/.

Clemens RS, Laffan SW, Low-Choy S, Mackey BG, Williams KJ and Wraith J (2021) Digital platforms deliver rapid assessments of Australian mega-fires on two bird species. In: Vervoort RW, Voinov AA, Evans JP and Marshall L (eds) 24th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation: Modelling for action with a flood of data and could of uncertainty: Abstracts. The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MODSIM), Canberra, Australia. Page 194. https://www.mssanz.org.au/modsim2021/documents/MODSIM2021_BookofAbstracts.pdf.

DAWE (2021) Annual Report 2020–21. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia. Access: https://www.awe.gov.au/about/reporting/annual-report, page 46.

Forbes O, Hosking R, Mokany K and Lal A (2021) Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling to assess the role of extreme weather, land use change and socio-economic trends on cryptosporidiosis in Australia, 2001–2018. Science of The Total Environment 791, 148243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148243.

Harwood TD, Richards AE, Williams KJ, Mokany K, Schmidt RK, Ware C, Ferrier S and Prober SM (2021) Assessing condition of ecosystem types at Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site. A technical report for the Land and Ecosystem Accounts Project. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/a9b7-9y54.

Mokany K, Ware C, Harwood TD, Schmidt RK, Tetreault-Campbell S and Ferrier S (2021) Biodiversity in the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site and the Murray-Darling Basin. A technical report for the Land and Ecosystem Accounts Project. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/nzg6-0819.

Williams K, Hunter B, Schmidt B, Woodward E and Cresswell I (2021) Australia State of the Environment 2021 – Land. Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment, Commonwealth of Australia. DOI: 10.26194/6EAM-6G50. Download the report.

Nowrouzi S, Bush A, Harwood T, Staunton KM, Robson SKA and Andersen AN (2019) Incorporating habitat suitability into community projections: Ant responses to climate change in the Australian Wet Tropics. Diversity and Distributions 25(8), 1273-1288. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12935.