The use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for coastal
management is the focus of a conference titled Building Coastal
Knowledge and Geographic Information taking place at UCC this week
(13-17 June).
The conference is hosted by UCC's Coastal and Marine Resources Centre
(CMRC) and the Department of Geography, who are renowned in the
application of GIS to coastal issues, ranging from oil spill scenarios
to harmful algal bloom events. The conference will look at technical
aspects of three themes: 1) the Water Framework Directive; 2) seabed
mapping; and 3) marine spatial planning.
The event is part of a four year series of European conferences and
workshops on Coastal GIS called ECO-IMAGINE, led by the Italian
organisations of GISIG and ICCOPS and funded by the Marie Curie
Programme. Liz O'Dea, GIS specialist with the CMRC has attended
previous conferences in France, Portugal and Italy and is excited about
the prospect of over 75 delegates coming together to share expertise
and build on progress to date - "this conference will contribute to the
enhancement of marine research and development in Ireland by providing
a valuable opportunity for Irish researchers to network with other GIS
specialists in coastal management from across Europe, we're delighted
that UCC is the location for such a timely event."
Timely indeed, considering the recent round of public meetings held
nationwide on the progress of the Water Framework Directive, the
continuation of Ireland's exploration of its seabed resources through
the recently launched INFOMAR (INtegrated mapping FOr the sustainable
development of Ireland's MArine Resource) project, and the growing
interest across Europe in the concept of marine spatial planning. Irish
and European speakers will take part from organisations such as the
Marine Institute, Geological Survey of Ireland, United Nations
Environment Programme, European Environment Agency and the Universities
of Gent and Genoa.
The conference continues at UCC until 17 June.
243MMcS
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