Arctic Coastal and Marine Environmental Monitoring
167
manipulation, analysis, and modelling possibilities, provided by a flexible and userfriendly environment. The software used is the ESRI developed PC Arc View. The work
here concentrated on developing a GIS model to promote the potential advantages of
using GIS for planning new marine and coastal activities. We did not spend time
establishing comprehensive set of resource data for a specific area, nor did we develop
user specific applications. It was envisaged that these phases of system implementation
would be carried under concrete user requirements to a given task or as part of a cooperation project.
One possibility with ArcView is that you can build interactive links to a
number of database platforms. We established a direct link to our SQL database using
SQL connectivity and the appropriate ODBC drivers. Programming in Avenue allowed
us to develop an interactive system where the user is asked a series of questions
designed so that they retrieve only the particular environmental monitoring data they are
interested in. Two different approaches were adopted. The first was designed more for
our own specific needs where the user can select data collected from a particular field
cruise. The second is a more general approach where the user defines the area of interest
by using the mouse to draw a box on a map on the computer screen, from which
coordinates bounding the area are calculated and returned to the database for retrieving
the requested data (Fig. 3). Further questions help direct the user to retrieve specific data
types, and their values stored in the database. Appropriate commands are also available
for displaying these data on the map view with predefined, or user defined legends.
Modelling with GIS
As mentioned earlier the Pechora Sea is of considerable interest to oil companies for
exploring and exploiting new oil resources. There is therefore a need to develop
management strategies for controlling activities in this part of the Arctic, and for
devising contingency plans for dealing with potential oil spills and other accidents
related to increased activity in this area. It is intended to demonstrate how we can use
GIS to predict the risk to environmental habitats under both normal operating
circumstances and in the case of a potential accident.
A number of avenue programs were developed to show some of the spatial
modelling capabilities within ArcView and how we can use the system for decision
analysis and environmental impact assessments in the coastal and marine ecosystems.
For the purpose of this model a number of fictitious datasets were established, including
fish, mammals, birds etc. Each of the polygons defining a particular habitat was
assigned a sensitivity index (0-3) representing the importance, or vulnerability of the
habitat to environmental change. These values in reality would have to be assigned by a
scientific specialist. The INSROP Dynamic Environmental Atlas (Bakken et.al., 1995)
identified and recorded Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs) along the Northern Sea
Route. This information could be included here.
Some of the modules developed here include calculating influence zones
around oil installations and pipelines, demonstrating the potential effects caused by a
hypothetical oil spill, assessing the effects of establishing new ports and terminals.
167
manipulation, analysis, and modelling possibilities, provided by a flexible and userfriendly environment. The software used is the ESRI developed PC Arc View. The work
here concentrated on developing a GIS model to promote the potential advantages of
using GIS for planning new marine and coastal activities. We did not spend time
establishing comprehensive set of resource data for a specific area, nor did we develop
user specific applications. It was envisaged that these phases of system implementation
would be carried under concrete user requirements to a given task or as part of a cooperation project.
One possibility with ArcView is that you can build interactive links to a
number of database platforms. We established a direct link to our SQL database using
SQL connectivity and the appropriate ODBC drivers. Programming in Avenue allowed
us to develop an interactive system where the user is asked a series of questions
designed so that they retrieve only the particular environmental monitoring data they are
interested in. Two different approaches were adopted. The first was designed more for
our own specific needs where the user can select data collected from a particular field
cruise. The second is a more general approach where the user defines the area of interest
by using the mouse to draw a box on a map on the computer screen, from which
coordinates bounding the area are calculated and returned to the database for retrieving
the requested data (Fig. 3). Further questions help direct the user to retrieve specific data
types, and their values stored in the database. Appropriate commands are also available
for displaying these data on the map view with predefined, or user defined legends.
Modelling with GIS
As mentioned earlier the Pechora Sea is of considerable interest to oil companies for
exploring and exploiting new oil resources. There is therefore a need to develop
management strategies for controlling activities in this part of the Arctic, and for
devising contingency plans for dealing with potential oil spills and other accidents
related to increased activity in this area. It is intended to demonstrate how we can use
GIS to predict the risk to environmental habitats under both normal operating
circumstances and in the case of a potential accident.
A number of avenue programs were developed to show some of the spatial
modelling capabilities within ArcView and how we can use the system for decision
analysis and environmental impact assessments in the coastal and marine ecosystems.
For the purpose of this model a number of fictitious datasets were established, including
fish, mammals, birds etc. Each of the polygons defining a particular habitat was
assigned a sensitivity index (0-3) representing the importance, or vulnerability of the
habitat to environmental change. These values in reality would have to be assigned by a
scientific specialist. The INSROP Dynamic Environmental Atlas (Bakken et.al., 1995)
identified and recorded Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs) along the Northern Sea
Route. This information could be included here.
Some of the modules developed here include calculating influence zones
around oil installations and pipelines, demonstrating the potential effects caused by a
hypothetical oil spill, assessing the effects of establishing new ports and terminals.