## 4 Results
### Establishing the EASY System Characteristics
#### 4.3.2 System Characteristics Based on User Needs and Requirements  
Workshop participants were asked to describe the functions and attributes they required from the EASY system. First, it was envisioned that the web-based system should be applicable to all Australian states at a range of geographic scales and for a wide range of organisational jurisdictions. Further to this, EASY should be highly extensible and customisable, following a modular, component-based design where datasets and functions could be added and configured for specific users, groups and locations. EASY should also suit both non-technical and more sophisticated users. At its core EASY should be a modern, highly interactive web-mapping client with associated content creation tools and social media components to enable collaboration and information sharing. One of the key requirements to emerge from the workshops was that the proposed system should have a \"base package\" that would provide the core spatial datasets, aerial photography and map viewing and printing functions for all users. Additional \"topic packages\" could then be added to enable datasets and related textual information to be linked or packaged, so that these are fit-for-purpose for specific extension-related activities. Topic packages are the mechanism by which single-theme DSSs can be incorporated into the EASY structure. All users of EASY would have access to a base package of data and functions and it would provide context for all other functions in the application. Users would be able to view an aerial image of their property, and view base spatial datasets such as topography, cadastre, hydrology and relief. The base package would also provide sketch tools to allow landholders to define features of interest and property boundaries. The base package would also include a print function to allow landholders to print a map of their property. Additional \"topic packages\" would be designed for a specific agricultural management activity, and optionally for a specific geographic location or organisational jurisdiction. Figure 2 shows a conceptual diagram of the base package and topic packages including their datasets and functions and the two main groups of users (researchers/NRM managers plus extension officers, industry groups and landholders) interacting with those packages. It as proposed that each topic package could be focused on addressing a specific agricultural management issue or extension program. To illustrate this, one of the case study topic packages developed as part of the EASY project addressed the need to monitor land cover change over time. It provided for the viewing and reporting of multi-temporal data. A topic package would consist of a range of information types including existing spatial datasets, time series remotely sensed images and model-derived products, executable computer-based models, web pages and other published documents. For example, the multi-temporal prototype topic package was based on manipulation and summarising of a series of remotely sensed images that were part of the EASY base package, but linked through the topic package created. The intention of a topic package is that all information required by extension officers, agricultural consultants and landholders to address a farm land management issue (e.g., magnitude, location, and type of landcover change) would be available from a single web-accessible location. Modelled and other spatial datasets would be supplied in the context of supporting information within a single topic package customised for specific agricultural industries and would include instructions and guidelines for use. A topic package would be created by a program manager using the content creation tools supplied in EASY to create new web pages, upload documents and images, and create links to existing spatial datasets. It is envisioned that these content creation tools would be easy to use by non-technical users, with functionality similar to existing web content management tools.