Partner 7: Coastal Resources Centre

C7.Description of the participants

Partner 7: Coastal Resources Centre

The Coastal Resources Centre (CRC) represents a multi-disciplinary group within University College Cork (UCC). As an integral part of the overall Environment Research Institute (ERI), and in collaboration with the Aquaculture Development Centre (ADC) and the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC), the CRC serves as a critical source of expertise dedicated to coastal and ocean research and resource studies. The CRC is a leader in the application of GIS to coastal and marine issues in Ireland, and an acknowledged centre of excellence in the application of a range of specialised techniques in the assessment and management of resources (in the fields of marine biology, geography, geology, hydrography and oceanography) in the offshore and coastal zone.

With a current staff of 17, the Centre has worked on 46 projects (EU, national and consultancy) since 1997. Through the course of this work the Coastal Resources Centre has established strong links with other European and international research centres, government agencies and NGOs. On existing EU funded projects, the CRC has developed links in Greece with the Institute of Biological Research in Crete, and the National Centre for Marine Research in Athens (NCMR). The CRC is currently collaborating with the NCMR through the MARSAIS project, which aims to use data collected from the Poseidon System, (an operational marine data collection system for the Aegean Sea), to validate tools for coastal zone management developed from satellite SAR imagery.

GIS Capability in the CRC

A primary aim of the Coastal Resources Centre (CRC) is to investigate the interactions between biological and physical resources and human populations, with a view to establishing sustainable development, and thereafter, stimulating the adoption of scientifically based integrated coastal zone and ocean resource management plans. The CRC is a leader in the application of GIS to coastal and marine issues in Ireland.

The CRC has developed several GIS for organisations involved in coastal management and routinely uses GIS for internal data management within research projects. The team has extensive experience of fisheries, coastal and environmental data collection, database design, modelling, GIS, and data analysis.

The following GIS equipment is available within the center: 6 Windows NT machines running ArcView, MapInfo, ERMapper, ERDAS and ARC/INFO software;

A0 and A2 digitising tablets; A0 DesignJet colour inkjet plotter; A4 and A3 colour scanners; A4 black and white scanner; 2 GPS. Within a total of 17 researchers, there is currently a dedicated team of five who specialise in the use of GIS for environmental management.

The projects listed below outline the CRC relevant recent and current projects.

Current Projects:

Littoral Water Quality – using a GIS to examine the impacts of water quality and the effects of the dynamics of littoral water on coastal processes and sensitive marine environments off the coasts of Ireland, UK and France. (INTERREG).
GIS for Landfill – developing a GIS model for the location of landfill sites for municipal waste in Ireland and Protugal. (INTERREG).
GIS of Human Impacts – developing a GIS of impacts of human developments and pressures on the coastal zone. (INTERREG).
GIS for Sensitive Estuaries – developing a GIS to investigate the impacts of local area planning policies on environmentally sensitive estuarine areas. (INTERREG).
MARSAIS – developing a GIS for coastal zones at risk from oil spills in harbour areas.
Vulnerability of coastal habitats – using GIS to develop a suite of sensitivity indices to profile coastal sensitivities around Ireland.
Use of GIS in simulation of spatial and temporal change in Irish coastal ecosystems.
Use of GIS in landuse and forestry management systems.

Completed Projects:

Review of GIS Scoping Study for the Department of Marine and Natural Resources – reviewing as independent GIS consultants the GIS scoping study undertaken by Enterprise Ireland for the DoMNR (tender).
Bantry Bay Charter - developing a community based GIS to facilitate local involvement in the development of an integrated coastal zone management strategy (EU LIFEprogramme).
Marine Access Inventory: compiling all available Government, local authority and published information about existing marine access infrastructure in a GIS, to facilitate the strategic development of marine tourism access points (Marine Institute tender).
Reconnaissance assessment of coastal seabed sand and gravel resources in the formof seabed mapping and quantification. - this project, which is collating all known public domain survey data relating to sand and gravel resources around the island of Ireland, will result in the formation of a comprehensive GIS database, and the production of detailed seabed maps. The protocols and techniques, as well as some constituent data sets would provide an ideally robust and appropriate GIS framework, within which to conduct the spatial analyses required for assessing the practicable wind resource for this tender (Marine Institute MRM).
COASTMON - Metocean and Coastal Zone Monitoring in Harbour Regions using Satellite Radar - developing a GIS prototype to investigate the potential benefits of integrating Satellite imagery with in-situ data (EC CEO)
Shannon Port Authorities Emergence Response System - overseeing the development of this system: based on the integration of a GIS holding relevant environmental data with an oil spill model (tender).
Assessment of the potential for sustainable development of the edible periwinkle industry in Ireland - developing a management strategy for the industry using GIS as a decision support tool (Marine Institute MRM).
RACER - using GIS as an analysis tool with which to undertake an oceanographic review of hazardous sea conditions in the Irish sea (INTERREG).

Seaweed Survey: A GIS analysis of the seaweed resources of the Irish coast (Marine Institute MRM).
PISCATOR - An Information System to Facilitate Greater Compliance and Conservation within the Common Fisher Policy - investigating the potential methods for integrating a common fisheries policy expert system and GIS (EC).
Hydrographic and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC) Wave Atlas - developing a GIS interface to the HMRC wave models.
Seabed Survey Public Private Partnership Study – a study commissioned by the Geological Survey of Ireland to explore the possibilities of establishing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for a proposed Seabed Survey (tender).

In addition to the specific projects outlined above, the CRC has run advanced study courses: ‘Application of GIS to Coastal Science and Engineering’ under the EU MAST Programme; and a Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) funded course entitled 'Earth Observation Data and its application to Coastal Management'.

Dr Niamh Connolly (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D) has several years experience of lecturing in both England and Ireland, and she has been involved in several transnational European funded programmes. Her field experience includes work in Irish, Arctic and Baltic waters.Since 1996, Dr Connolly has been manager of the CRC, during which time she has co-ordinated 46 CRC projects (EU, national and consultancy), with a current staff of 17; she has experience of being project co-ordinator on both EU and national collaborative projects. With particular reference to workshops and contact with operational end users in the coastal area, she has organised and hosted several workshops during the course of some projects. All of these workshops involved working closely with agencies and authorities operating in coastal and marine environments; some workshops had particular reference to the use of EO data in coastal activity monitoring and management:

Workshops as co-ordinator of the EU funded project on the use of the hydroacoustic processor RoxAnn to detect shellfish fisheries, involving three other European partners.
Workshops during her work on the Environment and Climate Programme (EU) COASTMON project on the use of synthetic aperture radar remote sensing as an aid to metocean and coastal zone monitoring in harbour regions in Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway, she;
Workshops as co-ordinator of a Marine Institute funded scoping study on the capacity for an operational oceanography observations system in Ireland.
A workshop on hydrographic surveying for the Irish Naval Service, with speakers from Marin Matteknik AB (Sweden) and the Swedish Navy.
A workshop for the EU (DGXI) Integrated Coastal Area Management Systems (ICAMS) project; an assessment of end user requirements, with guest speakers from EOS UK, FAO Rome, and the Marine Institute.
A workshop on Coastal Zone Management for local authorities, with speakers from Norwegian Regional Authorities, the World Bank, and the Marine Insititue.
A workshop on the resource user needs for seabed mapping, with participants from fisheries, conservation authorities and the marine aggregates industry.
A workshop on Coastal Zone Management for Co. Kerry. With guest speakers from MIT, USA.
CEO funded international training course (five days) on potential use of EO data for operational end users in coastal areas. Speakers from Univeristy of Dundee, JRC, GKSS, Nansen Centre, and Irish Marine Data Centre.

Relevant References

Bartlett, D.J., N. Connolly, R. Devoy, and E. O'Leary, (1998). Addressing the Interdisciplinarity of ICZM within the academic structure of a university: the Coastal Resources Centre at University College Cork (Abstract). International Conference on Education and Training in Integrated Coastal Management, The Mediterranean Prospect, International Centre for Coastal and Ocean Policy Studies, Genoa, Italy, May 25-29, 1998 Milan: FrancoAngeli (Ocean Change Publications Series).

Jenkins, A.D., S. Sandven, L. Pettersson, T. Hamre, M. Miles, K. Mastenbroek, M. Reistad, B. Å Hjollo, N.Connolly, E. O'Leary, D.Tobin, and D.J.Bartlett, (1997) Metocean And Coastal Zone Monitoring In Harbour Regions Using Satellite Radar (COASTMON). Paper presented at the 27th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment.

O'Leary, E., Connolly, N., Burnell, G.B, Oskarsson, O., Service, M., MaGorrian, B., Clarke, B. & Williamson, A. 1997. Impacts of new focused fishing technologies on bivalve mollusc fisheries and their environments. Commission of the European Communities, Research Contract Publication, Contract CFP 95/C 76/15, Brussels, 35pp. + 8 Annexes.

Lidgard, D.C., Kiely, O., Rogan, E. & Connolly, N. (submitted) Breeding status of the grey seal on the east and south-east coast of Ireland. Mammalia.

Mary O’Connell (B.Sc., M.Sc.) graduated with Masters degree (2H1) in Oceanography (UCG) in 1998, and graduated with BSc degree in Geology (2H1) in 1995 (UCC). She aas a broad background in environmental issues covering marine and coastal as well as terrestrial based science. She has experience in the technical field of science through analytical laboratory work and also worked with the South Western Regional Fisheries board as a field officer. Mary began working with the Coastal Resources Centre (CRC) in Jan '99 and this has involved research on marine and coastal based projects.

Recent project work within CRC includes:

Researching planning and management issues that affect the coastal zone. Projects related to these issues include LOSPAN (Local Area Planning; Impacts on Environmentally Sensitive Estuarine Areas) and the Assessment of Human Activity for the Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zone.
Assessing environmental characteristics and sensitivity of the coastline for the RACER project (RACER - Risk Assessment and Collaborative Emergency Response in the Irish Sea) and the ETV project (Feasibility Study for the Location of an Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) on the Irish Coast as an Emergency Response Capability).

The research areas have included the Irish and Welsh coastlines. The work involves data capture and information review, compilation of reports and has also involved work on GIS (Geographical Information System).

Valerie Cummins (B.Sc.) has been working in the field of spatial data analysis/GIS in Britain and Ireland, since graduating from the University of Wales with an honours degree in Marine Geography in 1996.

Since joining the CRC in 1999 she has been involved in many aspects of CRC research programs contributing mainly in the areas of GIS, Coastal Zone Management and Web Development. She is currently working on implementing the GIS element of several CRC projects, including:

'A Scoping Study to Establish a Common Approach to Examining the Impact of Atlantic Arc Littoral Water Quality and Dynamics on Coastal Activity and Sensitive Marine Environments''.

'GIS development for Local Spatial Planning and its Impacts on Fragile Estuarine Ecosystems Project'.

An assessment of the potential for the sustainable development of the edible periwinkle Littorina littorea industry in Ireland, encompassing development of a GIS as a decision support tool.

'The Development of a GIS Model for the Location of Landfill Sites in Ireland and Portugal'.

Prior to joining the Coastal Resources Centre, Valerie worked for two years for Landmark Information Group in the UK, where she was involved in implementing a GIS project to analyse and capture data on landuse from historic Ordnance Survey maps. Prior to this, she spent a year at the British Oceanographic Data Centre, editing two GIS based digital marine atlases, namely, UKDMAP (United Kingdom Digital Marine Atlas Project) and GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans).

Relevant References

Cummins, V., Coughlan, S., McClean, O., Connolly, N., Mercer, J. & Burnell, G., 2000. An Assessment of the Potential for the Sustainable Development of the Edible Periwinkle, Littorina littorea, Industry in Ireland. Report to the Marine Institute. Awaiting publication 2001..

Mary O’Connell (B.Sc. M.Sc.) graduated with Masters degree (2H1) in Oceanography (UCG) in 1998, and graduated with BSc degree in Geology (2H1) in 1995 (UCC). Has a broad background in environmental issues covering marine and coastal as well as terrestrial based science. She has experience in the technical field of science through analytical laboratory work and has also worked with the South Western Regional Fisheries board as a field officer. Mary began working with the Coastal Resources Centre (CRC) in Jan '99 and this has involved research on marine and coastal based projects.

Recent project work within CRC includes:

Researching planning and management issues that affect the coastal zone. Projects related to these issues include LOSPAN (Local Area Planning; Impacts on Environmentally Sensitive Estuarine Areas) and the Assessment of Human Activity for the Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zone.
Assessing environmental characteristics and sensitivity of the coastline for the RACER project (RACER - Risk Assessment and Collaborative Emergency Response in the Irish Sea) and the ETV project (Feasibility Study for the Location of an Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) on the Irish Coast as an Emergency Response Capability).

Michelle Cronin (B.Sc., M.Sc.) has an academic background of Applied Ecology. Has worked as a biologist for the past five years on various projects in the Pacific and Ireland. Two years were spent in New Zealand and Australia carrying out cetacean studies and shark physiology studies with Queensland University Australia and Otago University, New Zealand. Also got involved with conservation projects with the Dept. of Conservation, N.Z. Upon return to Ireland worked with the Marine Institute for a year on a demersal fisheries stock assessment program after which a two year period was spent working on a collaborative EU funded project studying the disease Bonamia in the native oyster.

Conferences

Presented a poster at an International conference of the European Association of Fish and Shellfish Pathologists in Rhodes, Greece, September 1999.

Publications

Reproductive cycles on the intertidal gastropod Melarhaphe neritoides on shores of different exposure on the South and West coasts of Ireland. M.A. Cronin, A.M. Myers & R.O' Riordan Biology and the Environment.
Lysozyme activity and protein levels in the hemolymph of the flat oyster Ostrea edulis. M.A. Cronin, S.C. Culloty & M.F. Mulcahy. Fish and Shellfish Immunology.
An investigation into the relative resistance of Irish flat oysters Ostrea edulis L. to the parasite Bonamia ostreae. S.C. Culloty, M. A. Cronin & M. F. Mulcahy. Aquaculture

Incidence of the flagellate Hexamita nelsoni in the native flat oyster Ostrea edulis in the Netherlands and France. S.C. Culloty, M.A. Cronin & M.F Mulcahy. Diseases of Aquatic organisms (in prep.)
Problems associated with the current OIE approved diagnostic techniques for Bonamia ostrea . S.C. Culltoy & M.A. Cronin. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists (in prep.)
A study of the relative resistance of a number of European strains of Ostrea edulis to Bonamia ostrea. S.C. Culloty, M.A. Cronin & M.F. Mulcahy. Diseases of Aquatic organisms (in prep.)

Sotirios Koukoulas(B.Sc., Ph.D) studied Environmental Studies (B.Sc.) at the University of Aegean (Lesvos Island, Greece). He worked as a research assistant at the University of Aegean, and as a GIS analyst at Lesvos County Co. He studied for a Ph.D. (currently awaiting his viva) at Geography Dept., King’s College, University of London. His research interests include remote sensing, spatial environmental modelling, GIS, spatial decision support systems, environmental planning, and virtual reality. He has recently joined Coastal Recourses Centre and he is mainly involved in a HEA project, GIS in Environmental modelling.

Publications:

Peer Reviewed Journals:

Sotirios Koukoulas and Alan Blackburn, Introducing new indices for accuracy evaluation of classified images representing semi-natural woodland environments, Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, Vol. xx, No. xx, pp. xxx-xxx (in press, listed in forthcoming articles)
Loumou A., Ch. Giourga, P. Dimitrakopoulos and S. Koukoulas. 2000. Tourism Contribution to Agro-Ecosystems Conservation; The Case of Lesbos Island, Greece. Environmental Management, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 363-370.

In books:

S. Koukoulas, Geographical Information Systems, in Margaris N.S, (ed), Agriculture and Environment, Philippoti Pub. Series: Human -Nature 6, pp. 117-120, Athens, 1997. (In Greek)
Ch. Giourga, Ag. Loumou, N.S. Margaris, M.Theodorakakis and S. Koukoulas, Olive trees of the Aegean, in Rokos D. (ed) Environment and Sciences at the end of the Century - Problems and Outlooks, N.T.U Athens, K.E.M.DI.P.A, Enallaktikes Pub. ISBN: 960-427-024-9, 1994. (In Greek)

In Periodicals: