Blue Coast, the GIS platform

Inspiration

As marine environmental students, researchers, activists and managers, our idea was born from our experience during our previous doctoral projects in the southern Mediterranean coastal zone. We found many difficulties in the availability of affordable GIS data layers ready to use.

Unfortunately, marine data collection, storage and access in this particular area of the Mediterranean sea has been carried out in a fragmented way for many years. Most data collections have focused on meeting the needs of a single purpose by a wide range of private and public organisations, often in isolation from each other.

There are open source platforms in the Mediterranean region but only in the European countries in the northern Mediterranean Coast; there is no platform of data in the southern Mediterranean Coast.

We also believe that the impact of climate change is a serious threat throughout the Mediterranean region and the survey in this area is crucial for sustainable development of the whole basin. In addition, the southern Mediterranean coast is increasingly threatened by coastal hazards and there are no tools to inform, prevent, and predict major coastal hazards.

These data are crucial for every user who can benefit from this platform, including the public sector, research community, civil society, and private sector.

We know that our project is very ambitious regarding the data availability but we believe that it is essential for the better management of the whole Mediterranean basin, for the better understanding about what is happening in this area and also to get it ready for the next generation.

What it does

A multidisciplinary GIS platform for the southern Mediterranean coast is created to help people of diverse backgrounds to view and understand coastal ecosystem data as a commodity. The existing GIS repository platforms are out-dated in terms of user experience and user interaction. Our website mockup is designed to encourage the users to be more interactive. Interactive map and discussion board allow the users to connect with each other, while also sharing the data between each other. The data are categorized and these can be filtered while downloading the GIS files from the website. The data is organised in a set of meaningful parameters organised in different portals, including bathymetry, biology, chemistry, geology, human activities, physics, and seabed habitat.

This platform is trustable, standardised, easy to use, and fast. It also produces indicators such as status, impact, and damage.

Data from the marine environment is a valuable asset. Rapid access to reliable and accurate information is vital in addressing threats to the marine environment, in the development of policies and legislation to protect vulnerable areas of our coasts and oceans, in understanding trends and in forecasting future changes. Likewise, better quality and more easily accessible marine data is a prerequisite for further sustainable economic development, so-called ‘blue growth’.

What's next for Blue Coast, the GIS platform

We have a decent idea about the implementation of our platform. We would like the design to be an inclusive process for all the stakeholders to give them a sense of ownership. The platform is expected to be up and running within 12 months. We have identified some key political risks on the cooperation of local and national authorities. Our mitigation strategy is fully dedicated to engaging a constructive dialog to show our unique added-value and the wide benefits that will be shared through the operation of our platform.

Built With

• esri