Communicating biophysical conditions across New Zealand's rivers using an interactive webtool

ABSTRACTScientific research is often targeted towards predicting broad-scale patterns in biophysical variables, with spatial data traditionally communicated using static figures and written descriptions in scientific journals and reports. However, inaccessibility and lack of flexibility mean that these communication methods have often hindered research uptake by resource managers and decision-makers. We used R shiny to develop an interactive webtool that maps estimates of 109 biophysical variables, including hydrology, ecology and water quality metrics across the New Zealand digital river network. NZ River Maps is freely available online and can be used to visualise regional patterns, identify site-specific characteristics and overlay regional planning layers. Interactive webtools improve on traditional communication methods by allowing inspection of predictions for selected sites and plotting of spatial patterns. The ability to quickly visualise and quantify relevant spatial data has enabled better commu...