CoastGIS'99: geomatics and coastal environment
Thus, the information received from the real world is complex and
seeing the extensive and varied geographic area covered by the SIGMAZAL
project, the meaning of each new piece of information must be interpreted correctly. On the other hand, we had to increase the number of
fields associated with the seabed element and to reinterpret a part of
the information loaded to the system (fig. 4 E), as new elements or
classes have been identified over time. This has provided better definition of the environment and makes it possible to use the information
for different objectives, as it is broken down further.
Conclusions
The experience with the SIGMAZAL project has shown that:
• Although official institutions and scientific investigation groups carry
out many studies with the purpose of contributing to better marine
resources management, the objectives of the investigations vary greatly,
because:
- the ranges of their areas of interest are very variable;
- they do not have common standards;
- they do not have the same minimum information layers nor the same
classes associated with each level of information.
The regulated marine areas should be well-defined by the law, using
static criteria and indicating the co-ordinates and the reference system.
• The definition should use the information stored in the GIS and the
precision of its tools. The reference elements (isobaths, limit of seagrass
meadows, etc.) will be simplified and they will be described using
simple geometry, close to real features (polygon, line or point), wtth
the points georeferenced in sexagesimal geographical co-ordinates.
• The coastline chosen at this stage has been the most continuous and
detailed. It will be the legal coast in the future, when the coastal modifications are incorporated into the GIS. Therefore, there will be a real
coast and another corresponding to an administrative limit.
• The use of a GIS tool has allowed us to detect errors in the geographical
definition of some project areas, as well as in some of the boundaries
already established by the government law bulletin BOE 234/1977
(1977).
The lack of clear standards in the research ancl monitoring carried out
by the administration in the regulated marine areas hinders their comparison, because the levels of information are clifferent.
• The development of a GIS for coastal management is subject to consecutive changes and to progressive adaptations of its structure, because the
users’ needs and requirements change over time.
The above difficulties should urge the setting up of a special group to
discuss the reference data at national level, as well as to develop standards in the working methodology in studies on coastal areas.
302
Thus, the information received from the real world is complex and
seeing the extensive and varied geographic area covered by the SIGMAZAL
project, the meaning of each new piece of information must be interpreted correctly. On the other hand, we had to increase the number of
fields associated with the seabed element and to reinterpret a part of
the information loaded to the system (fig. 4 E), as new elements or
classes have been identified over time. This has provided better definition of the environment and makes it possible to use the information
for different objectives, as it is broken down further.
Conclusions
The experience with the SIGMAZAL project has shown that:
• Although official institutions and scientific investigation groups carry
out many studies with the purpose of contributing to better marine
resources management, the objectives of the investigations vary greatly,
because:
- the ranges of their areas of interest are very variable;
- they do not have common standards;
- they do not have the same minimum information layers nor the same
classes associated with each level of information.
The regulated marine areas should be well-defined by the law, using
static criteria and indicating the co-ordinates and the reference system.
• The definition should use the information stored in the GIS and the
precision of its tools. The reference elements (isobaths, limit of seagrass
meadows, etc.) will be simplified and they will be described using
simple geometry, close to real features (polygon, line or point), wtth
the points georeferenced in sexagesimal geographical co-ordinates.
• The coastline chosen at this stage has been the most continuous and
detailed. It will be the legal coast in the future, when the coastal modifications are incorporated into the GIS. Therefore, there will be a real
coast and another corresponding to an administrative limit.
• The use of a GIS tool has allowed us to detect errors in the geographical
definition of some project areas, as well as in some of the boundaries
already established by the government law bulletin BOE 234/1977
(1977).
The lack of clear standards in the research ancl monitoring carried out
by the administration in the regulated marine areas hinders their comparison, because the levels of information are clifferent.
• The development of a GIS for coastal management is subject to consecutive changes and to progressive adaptations of its structure, because the
users’ needs and requirements change over time.
The above difficulties should urge the setting up of a special group to
discuss the reference data at national level, as well as to develop standards in the working methodology in studies on coastal areas.
302