Tikta

Tikta is a software to assess impact risks from cumulative pressures onto ecosystem components, environmental status and custom spatial and non-spatial analyses. It includes data/metadata management, a spatial analysis framework and visualization of results (maps and tables), all within a single environment. The software already includes implementations of these assessment methods: (1) CEA: Cumulative Effects Assessment; and (2) NEAT: Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool. More methods and more functionality will be available in Tikta in the near future. 

The GES4SEAS CEA assessment tool integrated in Tikta performs assessments of risks coming from cumulative human activities and pressures on ecosystem components, by combining spatial data of these elements, together with sensitivity information of ecosystem components to pressures. The assessment is based on the method of Halpern et al. (2008, 2009).

The NEAT component integrated in Tikta performs environmental status assessments using indicator results applied to various level of spatial assessment units, habitats and ecosystem components. The assessment aggregates this information at different thematic and spatial levels (e.g. the Marine Reporting Units of the MSFD, or the subregional or regional level). The tool is customizable to assess the environmental status of the seas with respect to different needs such as the MSFD.

Results:
After including spatial data (GIS layers) of pressures and ecosystem components in the GES4SEAS CEA assessment tool, it is possible to analyze the risks associated to cumulative pressures spatially, using different methods of aggregation. Outputs include GIS layers (geographical maps) visualizing the risk of cumulative pressures affecting  ecosystem components. 

Regarding the NEAT component in Tikta, after including indicator values and their association to spatial assessment units, habitats and ecosystem components, as well as the spatial data for the assessment units (a GIS layer), the tool allows to performing an environmental status assessment for the defined study area, using different levels of aggregation. This system can ultimately be used to produce assessments following the MSFD guidelines foreach MSFD descriptor. The outputs help understanding how the various ecosystem components and habitats in the assessment units contribute to the overall status. This can be used for defining measures to maintain or achieve a good environmental status. 

Users & policy relevance:
Tikta is mainly targeted at scientists and technical experts with knowledge of the raw data and especially spatial data, but outputs are to be used by managers, decision-makers and stakeholders. As soon as all data are included and the analyses in Tikta are set up, managers can use the software to view the results and do scenario testing. Tikta is not bound to a specific kind of policy framework. It can be used flexibly but explicitly supports MSFD assessments, as well as the EU Biodiversity Strategy and Nature Restoration Law, and it can also work with other directives, such as the Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive, among others. 

Novelty & added value:
Tikta integrates all steps of the CEA and NEAT workflow – from data management and analysis to visualisation – ultimately supporting the MSFD guidelines to report the environmental status, within a single environment. It uniquely enforces metadata use and offers flexibility for customization and programmability, reducing reliance on multiple external software packages.

Files

The files for download include:

• Tikta operating manual
• Tikta for Windows
• Tikta for Mac (Intel-based)
• Tikta for Mac (Apple Silicon-based)