Refinement and Evaluation Scenarios

In addition to the optimization scenario option for planning new projects, the new scenario options in the Vibrant Planet Platform (VPP) allow you to further refine and evaluate the impacts of previously planned or recently implemented projects. Both options allow users who already have project plans to better utilize the VPP to assess project impacts. Refinement scenarios allow you to bring in your previously identified project areas and utilize the VPP optimization to determine management options. The evaluation scenario allows you to bring in your previously identified project areas and also assign the management option that you selected outside of the platform. You can bring the outputs from any of the three scenario types – optimization, refinement, or evaluation – into the proposal feature to assess predicted outcome focused metrics for your project. 

How to select the right type of scenario:

Depending where you are in your planning efforts, you can select different scenario types for different levels of assistance:

Creating your new scenario:

When you create a new scenario in your PA, you will now see the following dialog box from
which you can select your scenario type. Once you click `Create Scenario`, you can view the
corresponding tutorial for each type for more information. Regardless of scenario type, you can always evaluate potential impacts of your projects with the Proposal feature.

Refine Existing Project Areas:

A refinement scenario is useful when you have already identified project footprints but need help prioritizing or selecting management options. Use Distinct Management AreasManagement Areas (DiMAs) to identify projects or portions of projects that have different requirements or parameters. Use sliders to emphasize objectives for each DiMA or remaining areas. VPP will utilize those objective emphases to assign management options within your project area by selecting the management options that best achieve your objectives. After emphasizing your objectives for each project area DiMA, fine tune management options by selecting only desired options,
or leave them all on to consider all feasible options. When you run a scenario, the platform will assign a management option to all feasible management units within your project area DiMA. After completing your scenario, create a proposal to analyze effects of your proposed scenario. 

Evaluate Management Plans

An evaluation scenario is useful when you already have project areas and management options identified, and you would like to use the VPP to assess predicted outcomes of those projects. With your project areas uploaded as sep
arate DiMAs you can specify and prioritize the associated management options for each project. Using the evaluation scenario you will rebuild your planned or implemented projects to use in the Proposal feature. Drag and drop specific management methods to prioritize them, with the highest priority at the top. The map and acres for each management option will update to reflect how a change in priority or exclusion of management options alters the management included in the scenario. You can visualize how each management option is being assigned to management units in the project DiMA. 

By default, all objectives will be set to a 1. You may choose to fine tune objective emphases
to ensure emphasized risk and other project metrics reflect the priorities on which your project focuses. When you run a scenario, the platform will assign a management option to all feasible management units within your project area DiMA. After completing your scenario, create a proposal to analyze effects of your proposed scenario. 

Considerations for Planning Area design:

Your approach to creating a Planning Area (PA) will vary depending on which scenario option you use.

If you are interested in learning more about how to design and plan scenarios using the existing ‘optimization scenario’ option click here. 

For refinement scenarios, you may want your PA to be the pre-determined project area(s) for which you are optimizing management options. Alternatively, you can select a PA that represents the areas your projects will likely impact and use DiMAs as your pre-deteremined project areas to allow you to filter management options by location. VPP will recommend management options wall-to-wall within your PA or DiMA, depending on the workflow you chose. 

For evaluation scenarios, you may want your PA to be the pre-determined project area(s) you would like to assess, separated into DiMAs according to your pre-determined management option. You may also choose a PA that represents a larger area where your projects are likely to make an impact and utilize DiMAs according to your pre-determined management options. VPP will replicate your chosen projects and management options, allowing you to utilize your existing or completed plans as a scenario in the platform.