SARA RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

Koala survey report – Serenity Close, Noosa Heads
Prepared for Litoria Consulting


of commencing work each day, then a third party (if available an accompanying staff external to
OWAD; if not available then the OWAD field assistant) randomly deposits a target sample,
ensuring the handler does not know when or where an FQC target sample has been placed.
When a target sample is deposited for FQC purposes, the field assistant starts a chronometer
(without the handler knowing) when the dog/handler team is within approximately 50 metres from
the sample, and records the time it takes the dog/handler team to find a target (whether the FQC
sample or naturally occurring target, whichever is found first).

An FQC search enables the assessment of the dog/handler team's ability to find a target in the
specific conditions of a particular site at a particular time, within a maximum time of 5 minutes.
This enables to ensure that there are no exceptional circumstances or factors that may be
disabling the dog/handler team's ability to find targets (e.g. a scent that may be obscuring target
odours for the dog; handler fatigue or distraction which may affect the handler's ability to correctly
handle the dog, etc.). Crucially, the handler is never informed in advance where or when target
samples are deposited for FQC purposes. Not disclosing this information is crucial to ensuring
there is no bias in how the handler handles the dog. At least one FQC search is performed on
any given day of deployment in the field. However, the third party/or field assistant may elect to
perform more than one FQC search on any given day. This additional unknown (i.e. the variation
in the number of FQC searches that may be performed on any given day) is important to ensure
that whichever OWAD staff is handling the dog/s, remains on high alert and focused at all times.

2.3.2       Field Quality Control search interpretation

  • Should the dog/handler team find a deposited FQC sample within 5 minutes, the FQC search
    is marked as successful, the time is recorded for record-keeping purposes and work
    continues. The coordinates of the FQC sample are recorded for QA purposes and presented
    to the client, but clearly labeled as ‘FQC’ on maps included in the report.
  • Should the dog/handler team find a naturally occurring target within 5 minutes after an FQC
    search has started, the FQC search is marked as successful, the time is recorded for record-
    keeping purposes and work continues. The coordinates of the naturally occurring target
    found are included in the report and displayed on maps.
  • Should the dog/handler team fail to find a target within 5 minutes after an FQC search has
    commenced (whether a sample deposited or a naturally occurring target), the field assistant
    would immediately stop the handler and disclose that an FQC search has failed. In the event
    that an FQC search were to fail, the survey team would cease work immediately to try and
    identify the reason for failure. Upon identification of the potential cause, a second controlled
    search would be immediately conducted to confirm correct identification and successful
    remediation of initial failure3. Should the second controlled search also fail4, the study team
    would reassess the site conditions / the environmental conditions / the detection dog(s) / the
    handler(s) / the search protocol, etc. If the cause for failure cannot be quickly identified and
    remediated, the study team would liaise with the client. No further survey work would be
    conducted until the reason(s) for failure is or are identified and remediated.

2.4         FIELD DATA ENTRY

At completion of each survey day, the detection dogs' search tracks and all relevant coordinates
are saved electronically. To eliminate any risk of field data loss, a copy of this data is saved daily
in at least two physical devices and at least one virtual space.



      3
          This instance has occurred once to date.
      4
          This instance has never occurred to date.
OWAD Environment                                                                               Page 5