With increased offshore energy exploration and development activities in the eastern Mediterranean, shorelines in this region are increasingly at risk of exposure to oil spills and other incidents. The challenges of security and accessibility in these countries makes traditional approaches of aerial and ground surveys difficult, particularly for the considerable length of these Mediterranean shorelines. CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. GeoSpatial Services has developed a technique to acquire, examine, and interpret high-resolution, georeferenced satellite imagery and assign ESI Shore Types to digital shoreline segments in GIS. The technique can be applied to any shoreline in the world for which an understanding of coastal environments is of interest.
Because the work occurs within the spatial framework of GIS, it enables the integration of other layers of spatial data such as sensitive resources, oil spill model trajectories, environmental sampling designs, and oil spill response plans. Once integrated into GIS, the shoreline classifications can also be made available online through a secure, web-accessible GeoPortal that is designed and operated by CSA Ocean Sciences Inc., without the need for third-party web publishing.
Jodi Harney, Director of the CSA GeoSpatial Services business line, offers, “CSA Ocean Sciences has previously completed ESI Shore Type mapping in the eastern Mediterranean as part of an Environmental Baseline Survey and Environmental Impact Assessment conducted for oil and gas interests. CSA GeoSpatial Services has plans to expand the analysis to benefit other countries in the region, and potentially in other parts of the world.”
This application is part of CSA Ocean Science Inc’s Marine Environmental Services for Spill Response, in which CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. assists energy sector clients in preparing for and responding to oil and gas releases and associated damage assessments. For more information on CSA Ocean Science Inc’s capabilities and marine environmental services for spill response, please call 772-219-3000 or send us a message.