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Environmental Sensitivity Mapping

The increased use of our coastal areas and sensitive natural features make them susceptible to environmental impacts. Innovative solutions are required to mitigate these impacts.

AXYS has developed a software application for oil spill crisis management personnel which identifies resources at risk, establishes protection priorities and identifies appropriate response and clean-up strategies. The application stores inventories concerning the sensitivity of shoreline and offshore areas to the effects of oil spills. It integrates digital maps, attributes tables, text files, digital photographs and video imagery together with a model that calculates the environmental sensitivity 'on-the-fly'.

Mapping System Overview

The environmental sensitivity mapping application synthesizes environmental information relevant to the planning and implementation of year-round oil spill countermeasures in both coastal and offshore areas. It provides information concerning the biological resources, human use, special status areas (e.g., parks, marine reserves), coastal morphology, climate conditions, tides and currents, and shoreline access and recommends oil spill countermeasures based on these environmental characteristics.

In addition, the system numerically describes the relative sensitivity of the coastal and offshore areas of the region through a sensitivity ranking system. The ranking system evaluates the environmental characteristics associated with each area to determine the relative sensitivity of the area to the effects of an oil spill.

The ranking, or index, allows users to assign priorities to specific areas for protection or cleanup in the event of a spill for contingency planning. Information on the seasonal use of the area by humans and biological resources is mapped within the application. The application also contains information describing the various resources (e.g., population, activities) and the environment. An environmental sensitivity index is assigned to each section of the coastline and represented by a colour coding (e.g., red = extreme, orange = high, yellow = moderate, green = low).

In addition to the development of the computer application, AXYS has developed numerous environmental atlases. Preparation of these atlases involves:

• data compilation
• community consultation
• data assessment
• sensitivity analysis
• development of a Geographic Information System
• preparation of hard copy atlases
• development of interactive computer systems

The application allows users to select a segment of the coastline and view detailed information concerning shoreline geomorphology, access, recommended oil spill countermeasures, anchorages. In addition, the software displays a video image of the coastline to allow environmental planners and spill response teams to view the area prior to visiting the site.

Case Studies

Environmental Sensitivity Mapping Application, Greenland

Arctic Environmental Sensitivity Atlas System