This document describes the user requirements regarding Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS)
in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) based on scientific literature, MSP
handbooks and reports from the MSP projects in the Baltic Sea region
(BSR), and outlines the user requirements for the Baltic Explorer that will be constructed in the BONUS BASMATI project. By SDSS we mean a system designed for facilitating decision making processes based on complex spatial problems,
and it provides an integrating framework for database management,
geospatial analysis, visualisation, and the expert knowledge of decision
makers. A user requirement describes the essential functionality or property that a software must provide in order to meet its users expectations and needs.  

Functional needs describe the functionality that users need in order to complete their tasks by using the system. Based on the reviewed literature, the main reason for not using
decision support tools (DST) in practical MSP is limited functionality.
MSP processes would benefit from supporting integrated assessment of
multiple objectives, conflict analysis including synergies, cumulative
impact assessment (CIA), spatial zoning or management options and
scenario testing, risk assessment tools, as well as forecasting,
modelling,
and simulation tools. From a more practical point of view, needs such
as incorporating data from ecological, economic, and social systems,
transparently assessing management alternatives and trade-offs,
involving stakeholders, and evaluating progress towards management
objectives are identified. In terms of technical implementation, online
data exploration tools are a critical first step in MSP, enabling
visualization of data to experts and non-experts, as well as
cross-border communication of spatial information. While MSP related
issues can be complex, implementations of models and SDSSs are
criticized for lacking support for this complexity. Tools also need to
shift from a multi-objective perspective towards multi-functionality,
for example by integrating CIA with socio-ecological analysis,
dispersion mapping and conflict analysis, and conflict analysis with
socio-ecological analysis. 

Non-functional
user requirements state how the system accomplishes what it does.
Common barriers for access of DSTs are availability, licensing,
and cost, which may be surpassed by providing free access to web
application published as open source. On the other hand, financial
stability is a challenge for developers, who have
to find revenue streams that enable maintenance and updating of the
tools. The importance of tool efficiency is stressed, particularly in
participatory settings. Furthermore, SDSSs in MSP should be simple,
intuitive, and easy to use. Tools that are well-documented and tested
add credibility and trust in decision making processes. For SDSSs to see
widespread use it needs to be applicable to more than one use case, for
which the available data and local conditions are likely to be
different. In terms of temporal aspects, there is a need to shift from
reactive impact analysis to predictive vulnerability analysis. This
includes appropriate handling of time, which is important in MSP because
some activities only occur at certain places at specific time.
Regarding other dimensions
of data, viewing data in three dimensions of space can add value to MSP
processes, for example, it can be helpful when examining bathymetry
layers. 

Among the goals of BONUS BASMATI is to develop the Baltic Explorer, which will be a SDSS for MSP that is planned to support functionalities, such as geospatial data exploration, real-time cumulative impact assessment, co-location of activities, and suitability analysis in a highly interactive web application supporting touch gestures. The development work will follow agile principles and after the end of the project the Baltic Explorer will be published as open source software. Based on the elicitation of requirements through literature review for SDSS in MSP and the workshop organised in 24th Oct 2017 at the Academic Centre
for Natural Sciences of the University of Latvia, Riga, a large number
of user requirements were collected and they are presented at the end of
this document. During the following iterative phases of the Baltic Explorer software development, this document will be used as a roadmap. The system architecture, conceptual model and design of the Baltic Explorer will be based on this document