Enhancing coastal planning

By Ed Saade

Geospatial technology is critical to better understanding our coastal environments for more efficient infrastructure planning, explains Ed Saade.

Recent events in the Gulf of Mexico have drawn coastal management issues into the spotlight. What role can geospatial technology play in managing coastal infrastructure projects?

Ed Saade. Human activity and awareness along our coasts clearly continues to accelerate. Coastal and marine waters support millions of jobs in the US while more than 95 percent of US overseas trade by volume transits through US ports. This trend has driven the need for new infrastructure and the need for smart planning. Yet here in the US, as in most other nations, most maps of the coastal zone that are key to planning activities are outdated or inaccurate.

Building an accurate and up-to-date base map of the coast allows private and public stakeholders to make informed and effective decisions related to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure, from ports and harbors to offshore wind farms. It also provides critical information for a broad range of other applications from navigation safety to disaster preparedness and response. That’s why we support initiatives such as the Digital Coast.

Recent advances in geospatial technology now allow us to develop comprehensive baseline maps over large portions of coastline in a cost-effective and timely manner.

What changes have driven the way geospatial technology is used today in coastal environments?   

ES. There have been changes both from a policy and a technology standpoint. On the policy side, governments are under increasing pressure to implement strategies in the interest of long-term sustainability. In the US, for example, there are a growing number of coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) initiatives being implemented to study coastal environments and identify areas best suited for various types of human use. CMSP requires accurate, up-to-date geospatial information in order to be effective.

On the technology side, new advances in remote sensing and data processing technology have made it possible to develop accurate, seamless geospatial data across the land-sea interface, including topography, natural habitats and geology. In the case of infrastructure projects, this provides valuable data for many planning activities such as modeling, site selection and engineering design, among others. At Fugro, for example, we have pioneered the use of geospatial, geotechnical and met-ocean services to support offshore wind farm siting and development activities.

What is so unique about this new coastal mapping approach?

ES. Previously, mapping the seabed and mapping the land topography were separate activities handled by separate agencies or firms. Fugro is one of the only firms in the world to own and operate the technology required to make this type of mapping possible. Our approach uses a unique combination of airborne laser-based mapping, digital imagery and marine and terrestrial surveying technologies. Because data acquisition occurs simultaneously and must coincide with the appropriate weather and water conditions, careful planning and coordination is required. Having all the equipment, resources and technical expertise under one roof greatly facilitates this process. This approach also makes it possible now not just to acquire the data, but also to deliver the maps in a matter of months rather than years.

How do you see geospatial technology evolving in the future and how will it benefit infrastructure developers and managers?

ES. Geospatial technology has witnessed tremendous growth in the last few years and delivered immense benefits to public and private organizations alike. It will continue to evolve to provide ever more relevant data that will increase efficiencies for a broad range of onshore and offshore infrastructure projects. As an example, Fugro recently developed a new airborne panoramic mapping sensor that delivers both standard and oblique imagery in an easy-to-use desktop mapping software. It allows non-specialists to develop accurate three-dimensional information of the topography and man-made structures. We will see more of this trend in the near future, where geospatial data and tools are increasingly put into the hands of end users allowing them more control over how the data is collected and used.

Biography

Edward J. Saade is President and Managing Director of Fugro EarthData. He brings over 30 years of experience in marine- and land-based geospatial and geophysics applications. Saade previously served as President and Managing Director of Fugro Pelagos, and under his leadership propelled them to becoming a world leader in hydrographic multi-beam and backscatter techniques.