CC MRCMRC News News Nuachtlitir an Ionad Acmhainní Cósta is MaraNuachtlitir an Ionad Acmhainní Cósta is Mara

The Quarterly Newsletter of The Quarterly Newsletter of the Coastal & Marine Resources Centrethe Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, , est. 1994est. 1994, housed in , housed in the Lewis Glucksman Marine Research Facthe Lewis Glucksman Marine Research Facilityility

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Issue 6, Autumn 2004Issue 6, Autumn 2004

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are now almost indispensable when working with spatial information, from the collection of spatial data to its dissemination to clients and the public. It is their integration with technologies, such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and web mapping services which make them particularly powerful and useful for collecting, managing, and distributing data.

Inside we report on how detailed coastal inventories or surveys can now be simply and cheaply carried out, using combined GPS and GIS .

Improving access to key marine and coastal datasets is vital for a more efficient use of resources and to meet legal requirements on providing environmental information to the public. Projects such as MAPTURE are meeting this challenge by taking advantage of web-enabled GIS to deliver map-based information.

With these and other activities in the GIS, Remote Sensing, Modelling and Internet Technologies group, CMRC remains a leader in this field in Ireland.

The Power of GIS In This IssueIn This Issue • New Report on Cetaceans and Seabirds • Networking Coastal Communities • Focus on GIS, Remote Sensing, Modelling and Internet

Technologies • Alaska Seal Research • Ag Deanamh Ceangail le Newfoundland • €4m Coastal Management Project for CMRC

New Report on Cetaceans and SeabirdsNew Report on Cetaceans and Seabirds

A three volume report entitled “Cetaceans and Seabirds of Ireland’s Atlantic Margin” was officially launched on July 5th and represents the culmination of five years of work by UCC researchers. The research, which aimed to highlight seasonal variations in offshore concentrations of cetacean and seabird populations in the Atlantic Margin, identified a number of important offshore areas whose conservation is of importance to the protection of European marine biodiversity.

At the launch of the report, Capt. James Robinson of the Irish Naval Service complimented the observer teams on their dedication whilst aboard Irish Naval Service vessels utilised as part of the observation programme. Agnes McLaverty of Shell Ireland spoke of the hard work involved in securing funding to get the project off the ground, while Noel Murphy, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, expressed his pleasure in being associated with the project and said that the Irish Shelf Petroleum Studies Group (ISPSG) were delighted to provide new funding for ongoing research in the area to CMRC.

The research programme was funded by the Petroleum Infrastructure Programme. A full copy of the report can be requested from Mick Mackey (m.mackey@ucc.ie).

Networking Coastal CommunitiesNetworking Coastal Communities

Building on the success of the CoCoNet project, CMRC are pursuing plans to set up a coastal network for Ireland. This network will take on board the actions recommended in the Wexford Declaration which was adopted at the final CoCoNet workshop on June 17th. Recognising community involvement as the cornerstone of the successful stewardship of coastal resources, the declaration urges governments, including local government, to support the empowerment of local communities in local action programmes and policy formulation. The full text of the declaration can be found on http://coconet.ucc.ie/.

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Armed with a sophisticated hand-held DGPS enabled data logger on board a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) in Cork Harbour, Vicki O’Donnell has demonstrated that conducting detailed coastline surveys from the water is a cost effective alternative to traditional terrestrial surveys.

Innovation in the collection, analysis and presentation of geographical data is a hallmark of the GIS, Remote Sensing, Modelling and Internet Technologies group. The articles here give a flavour of how the CMRC applies technologies ranging from hand-held, GPS enabled data collectors to the latest in multi-dimensional visualisation and web-enabled GIS to the resolution of practical problems.

Working with scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), with whom UCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding last year, the GIS group has developed tools to create a comprehensive database of shoreline features. A Geographical Information System (GIS) is used both as an intermediary mechanism to collect shoreline feature data and as a framework to house the Coastal Inventory spatial database.

During data collection, comprehensive, high-resolution information is gathered on four categories: shoreline type; shoreline features; shoreline vulnerability; and adjacent land use. An example of the type of information that is collected is shown in the adjacent box.

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FOCUS: GIS, Remote Sensing, Modelling and Internet Technologies

Coastal Inventory: Sample Contents Shoreline Type

• Natural shoreline, e.g. beach, rock , cliff, etc. • Reinforced shoreline, e.g. sea wall, revetments, etc. • Maritime shoreline, e.g. docks, lifeboat stations, etc. Shoreline Features

• Jetty, pier, pontoon, steps, ladder, etc. • Information regarding condition of shoreline type and

features is also collected, e.g.: • Rock revetments – require repair work; • Beach – accreting; • Jetty – require repair work; • Ladder – unusable, etc.

Shoreline Vulnerability

• State of repair • Working condition • Extent of erosion of all of the shoreline types • Shoreline features. Adjacent Land Use

From the Shoreline Type dataset, the land behind the shoreline is classed for usage, e.g. agriculture, residential, industrial, etc.

Numerous other combinations of data can be extracted depending on user requirements.

HandHand--held Data Loggers Revolutionise Coastal Surveysheld Data Loggers Revolutionise Coastal Surveys

If you would like to view the current coastal inventory database for Cork Harbour or are interested in commissioning the collection of new data, contact Vicki O’Donnell (v.odonnell@ucc.ie) or check out http://coastalinventory.ucc.ie.

Above: Integration of the inventory data with other GIS layers, such as these orthophotos, is extremely easy. Right: Shoreline types, such as this sea wall in Cobh, are recorded in each survey along with their vulnerability, features, and adjacent land use.

Post processing of the data is carried out at the CMRC and presentation of the final, GIS-ready information can be tailored to meet end-users’ requirements. Data can be exported in generic formats or viewed and queried using free GIS viewers or proprietary GIS software. For those who do not have access to GIS, colour, print-ready pdf-format maps can be produced either as hard copy or in digital format. The data can also be web-enabled for Intranet or Internet use.

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FOCUS: GIS, Remote Sensing, Modelling and Internet Technologies

The next issue will focus on work being carried out by the Marine Mammals and Seabirds group.

Friendly InternetFriendly Internet--based Access to NATURA 2000 Informationbased Access to NATURA 2000 Information

Harmonisation of access to key datasets in Ireland and Wales is crucial to aid co-operation on planning and conservation measures in the Irish Sea area. The Mapture project, funded by the Irish/Welsh INTERREG IIIA programme, provides a solution to this problem (http://mapture.ucc.ie).

NATURA 2000 sites are habitats for flora and fauna of European importance and encompass Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). Information on these sites is held by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Ireland and the Countryside Council for Wales.

Mapture provides access to maps of NATURA 2000 site boundaries via a web-enabled interface, developed using free, Open Source MapServer software. Information on each site is held in a fully searchable PostgreSQL relational database. Details of the physical and biological characteristics of each site may be viewed. The technical problems that had to be overcome in the project provide valuable lessons relating to issues of data sharing and harmonisation. The final project report can be requested from Declan Dunne (d.dunne@ucc.ie).

Other GIS NewsOther GIS News

• The Internet-enabled Marine Irish Digital Atlas (MIDA) is well advanced in data collection. A list of acquired layers can be viewed on the website (http://mida.ucc.ie). User feedback on the atlas prototype is being incorporated in the development of Version 1.0 of the system, which should go live in early 2005. To advertise your data through the atlas, please contact Ned Dwyer (n.dwyer@ucc.ie) or Liz O’Dea (l.odea@ucc.ie).

• DISPRO-1, the first prototype for the DISMAR project (Data Integration System for Marine Pollution and Water Quality; see http://cmrc.ucc.ie/pages/projects/dismar.htm) is nearing completion. This innovative, metadata-driven system, built mainly with Open Source software, features a network of OpenGIS Web Map Servers from around Europe, integrated through a portal in the CMRC. For more information, contact Éamonn Ó Tuama (e.otuama@ucc.ie).

• Visualisation of large, multidimensional datasets via an interactive, web-based GIS using Open Source technology is a step closer thanks to work at CMRC as part of the Marine Grid Initiative. This project is using high performance computing to utilize extremely large datasets, such as that being gathered as part of the Irish National Seabed Survey. For further information, contact Declan Dunne (d.dunne@ucc.ie).

Short Course in Short Course in GIS ApplicationsGIS Applications

CMRC is offering a 3-day short course on GIS Applications for Riparian, Coastal & Marine Management. The course will focus on practical GIS applications, such as resource assessment, marine transportation, coastal hazards, fisheries, etc. It will also give hands-on instruction in GIS, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) & Remote Sensing (RS) generic and specialised software, creation of new datasets and use of existing GIS data available in Ireland. Contact Grainne Lynch (grainne.lynch@ucc.ie) or check out http://cmrc.ucc.ie/pages/Short_Course.pdf for further details.

After months of around the clock data processing, a hindcast wind and wave atlas for Irish waters from 1958 to 1997 is complete. It is now hoped to develop an o n l i n e w e b - G I S service to provide i n t e r a c t i v e visual isat ion and access to the datasets. This service would be of value to port

authorities, city planners, naval authorities, and academic researchers. More information on the EU-funded HIPOCAS project can be requested from N.L. ‘Vijay’ Vijaykumar (n.vijaykumar@ucc.ie).

4040--Year Wind and Wave Atlas CompleteYear Wind and Wave Atlas Complete

NATURA 2000 sites are shown in light green for the INTERREG IIIA area.

Wave conditons for the Irish Sea on January 1st, 1987.

CMRC to Lead New 4mCMRC to Lead New 4m Coastal Management Project Coastal Management Project

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Other News

CMRC News is published quarterly by the CMRC. A pdf version can be found at: http://cmrc.ucc.ie/news.

Editor: Ned Dwyer, n.dwyer@ucc.ie Layout and Design: Liz O’Dea, l.odea@ucc.ie Additional Photos: Declan Dunne, Mick Mackey, Liz O’Dea, Vicki O’Donnell, N.L. Vijaykumar

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the CMRC are not necessarily those of either the ERI or UCC.

Coastal and Marine Resources Centre ERI, University College Cork

Naval Base, Haulbowline Cobh, County Cork

Ireland Tel: +353 21 4703100 Fax: +353 21 4703132

http://cmrc.ucc.ie University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

Éire agus Talamh an Éisc a NascadhÉire agus Talamh an Éisc a Nascadh

Tá ceangal cultúrtha is mara ag dul i bhfad siar idir Éire agus Talamh an Éisc. Bhí Valerie Cummins agus Julie McGuire ag leanúint an traidisiúin seo nuair a thug siad cuairt ar Ollscoil Memorial i gCathair St. John's le d e a n a í . O l l s c o i l thábhachtach i dtaighde na m ara is ea Memorial. Cuairt chomhair a bhí ann ar Dr. Axel Meisen, uachtarán na hOllscoile, agus Barbara Girard, ceannaire an Biosciences Partnership, a thug cuairt ar Choláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh i Mí Iúil. Sé an ábhar a bhí á phlé ag an gcruinniú ná páirtíocht idir Ollscoileanna Corcaigh, Memorial agus cumainn eile sa reigiún go háirithe ar mhíniú sonraí a bhaineann le mapáil ghrinneall na mara, ar fhorbairt nuálach ar chothú an uiscshaothraithe, agus ar chláracha oideachais mara i gcomhpháirtiocht.

Building Links with NewfoundlandBuilding Links with Newfoundland Ireland’s maritime links with Newfoundland go back centuries. Following in this tradition, Valerie Cummins and Julie Maguire recently visited Memorial University, in St. John’s, which is a leader in marine related research. This followed on a visit by Dr. Axel Meisen, president of Memorial, and Barbara Girard, director of the BioSeas Partnership, to UCC in July. The potential for partnering with Memorial and other organisations in the region was discussed, in particular for seabed mapping data interpretation, novel aquaculture feed development and joint maritime educational programmes.

Alaska Seal Research Alaska Seal Research

Little did Michelle Cronin expect that running the gauntlet of polar bears on the frozen Beaufort Sea in the Arctic would help her with monitoring harbour seals in southwest Ireland!

Michelle spent three weeks of June in Alaska working with scientists at the University of Alaska Southeast and Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game. Scientists there have pioneered a successful technique for identifying and subsequently matching individual harbour seals using the natural markings on the animals’ pelage, or fur. Such a technique, cheap and non-invasive, has useful applications in examining population parameters in Irish harbour seals.

Wedding BellsWedding Bells

Congratulations to Cathal O’ Mahony and Jillian Murphy, who recently got married at the Honan Chapel in UCC. The setting was most appropriate, as they are both graduates of and currently work at the university. We wish them the very best for their future together.

CorePoint, an exciting new Interreg-funded coastal management initiative, will see 12 partners collaborate over a 3½ year period. The project, to be led by the CMRC, will apply innovative solutions to practical coastal management problems across the Interreg Northwest Europe region. At a local level the project will see the involvement of Cork County Council in the development of a coastal research programme for Cork Harbour. Contact Valerie Cummins (v.cummins@ucc.ie) for more information on the project.

Valerie Cummins, Axel Meisen agus Julie Maguire ag Ollscoil Memorial (Griangraf: Ollscoil Memorial).

Funding for the trip was from an International Collaboration Travel Support grant from Enterprise Ireland. Further photos can be seen on http://cmrc.ucc.ie/news.

The final report on the 2003 national survey of harbour seals has now been published. Copies may be requested from Michelle (m.cronin@ucc.ie).

Anyone home? Michelle and Jamboree, the dog, check for the presence of seals at a breathing hole in the ice.