Frequently Asked Questions

EMDS (Ecosystem Management Decision Support) is a spatial decision support framework for land managers, researchers, and conservation planners. It connects GIS data with logic-based assessments, multi-criteria prioritization, and reusable workflows. Available engines and integrations vary by platform and release.

Desktop packages are available from the Download page. Review the terms supplied with the EMDS package, GIS host, and any optional analytical components for your intended use. Contact the team for licensing and EMDS Online access questions.

EMDS currently supports:

• EMDS for ArcGIS Pro — a Windows desktop add-in; select a package compatible with your ArcGIS Pro version.
• EMDS for QGIS — a QGIS plugin with operating-system-specific packages; check the download page for availability and requirements.
• EMDS Online — browser-based workspaces; the public beta is coming soon. Contact the team about participation.

The EMDS Consortium is a multi-institutional partnership that has guided EMDS development for over 30 years. Members include Mountain View Business Group, Rules of Thumb, InfoHarvest, LPA, BayesFusion, and the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. Mountain View Business Group develops and maintains the software on behalf of the Consortium.

Visit the Download page for available packages and their version and platform requirements. Use the package for your operating system and GIS host.

1. Download the compatible ArcGIS Pro package from the ArcGIS Pro installation section
2. Extract the ZIP to a local folder
3. Close ArcGIS Pro if it is running
4. Open the extracted .esriAddinX file with the ArcGIS Pro add-in installer
5. Review the add-in publisher and follow the installer prompts
6. Launch ArcGIS Pro and check that EMDS is listed in the Add-In Manager

If the add-in doesn't appear, compare your ArcGIS Pro version with the package requirements. Contact support with the package name, host version, and any error message.

1. Download the package for your operating system from the QGIS installation section
2. If you downloaded a setup bundle, extract it and locate the plugin ZIP inside; leave the plugin ZIP zipped
3. Open QGIS and go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins → Install from ZIP
4. Select the plugin ZIP and click Install
5. Follow the package's dependency-setup instructions, restart QGIS if prompted, and open the EMDS panel

Check the runtime prerequisites for your ArcGIS Pro version and the selected EMDS package. Different releases can target different runtimes. Send the exact error, package name, and host version to support so the requirements can be checked.

1. In ArcGIS Pro, go to Project → Options → Add-In Manager
2. Verify EMDS appears in the list and is not disabled
3. If it shows as blocked, review the publisher and your organization's add-in policy with your GIS administrator or support team
4. Restart ArcGIS Pro

The ArcGIS Pro package currently linked on the Download page targets ArcGIS Pro 3.7. Contact the team to confirm compatibility with another host version or to ask about legacy packages.

You need a valid ArcGIS Pro license for the host application. Required extensions and analytical-component terms depend on the tools used in your workflow. Contact the team to confirm the requirements for your project.

They share a workflow-definition format and support NetWeaver assessments and CDP prioritization. Available engines, authoring tools, connectors, and execution behavior vary by platform and release. Check the product information and package requirements for the workflow you intend to run.

Check the QGIS version range listed with your selected package on the Download page. QGIS can be downloaded from qgis.org.

Operating-system-specific packages have been prepared for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Check the Download page for the builds available in the selected release and confirm your system architecture before installing.

QGIS supports Python script tasks for workflow automation. Custom connectors and integrations depend on the host, EMDS release, and required analytical engines. Explore workflow and scripting guidance, or contact the team about a proposed integration.

Yes. EMDS uses a shared workflow-definition format — a JSON document of tasks, loops, conditions, logging, and error handling. Configure data paths, models, task references, and mappings for the destination host and release. See the Workflows section on the Developer Hub for guidance and a script-task example.

Licensing is specific to the EMDS package and its components. The QGIS plugin package includes its own license information; optional engines and authoring tools may have separate terms. Check the supplied licenses or contact the team about source availability and your intended use.

Yes. EMDS has been used in numerous federal, state, and commercial projects. For large-scale deployments, consulting engagements, or custom connector development, please contact Mountain View Business Group to discuss your project requirements.

Check the terms provided by each component's vendor and the EMDS package you use. Do not assume that a desktop download includes model-authoring or deployment rights for every third-party tool. Contact us for guidance on the components your project requires.