Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-05-14

Metocean and coastal zone monitoring in harbour regions using satellite radar

Objective



The objective of the study is to exlore and test methods for use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and other satellite data, and their integration with geographical information systems (GIS), in monitoring the . marine environment in regions close to harbours trafficked by very large vessels, to improve navigational safety, to aid coastal zone management (CZM), and thereby to improve utilisation of satellite data in a wider user community. Satellite-based SAR has proven to be a useful technique to observe a number of sea surface processes and features such as wind, waves, current fronts, eddies, oil spills, and can also be used to monitor shallow water bathymetry. The utilisation of this technique by potential customers is at an early stage because SAR data have only been available on experimental basis up to now, and the methodology to derive environmental parameters from SAR data has not been fully developed. The most mature applications of SAR data for monitoring the ocean environment is in oil spill monitoring and shallow water depth charting. However, with new SAR satellites such as RADARSAT from 1996, and ENVISAT from 1999, the spatial and temporal SAR coverage will be significantly improved beacuse the swath width will increase from 100 km to 500 km . With SAR data in 500 km swaths, combined with other satellite data such as AVHRR and scatterometer data, it will be possible to monitor, in near realtime, MetOcean parameters such as waves, eddies, current fronts, wind patterns as well as to make more accurate observation of oil spills in most of the European coastal regions. These parameters are important in coastal zone management including pollution monitoring and resolving multi-user intersts, as well as for navigation in trafficked harbour areas and many other marine activities. In order to stimulate more use of satellite data we propose to focus our study on the following four topics:
1) Identify gaps between current montoring technology and the requirements of users in the coastal zone, with emphasis on users in trafficked harbour areas.
2) When the user requirements have been identified the possibilities to use SAR data from RADARSAT and ERS in MetOcean monitoring will be explored. Existing algorithms and techniques for analysing SAR data will be improved and applied to RADARSAT data. The SAR products will then be used in synergy with other satellite data to estimate MetOcean parameters which are relevan for the users. The products will be integrated into a GIS which is develope for the coastal zone.
3) Demonstrate new satellite data products and their integation with a GIS for potential customers in three test regions in Norway, the Netherlands and Ireland. The port authorities with responsibilities for ship traffic and environmental monitoring authorities in the areas of Bergen (Norway), Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and Cork (Ireland) will be involved in the proj Their role as users will be to provide feedback and evaluation of the produ to be demonstrated and clarify their requirements for satellitebased informa 4) Assess and recommend further development of satellite products for sustainab use in future MetOcean monitoring and coastal zone management. KEYWORDS: COASTAL ZONE, OCEAN, SAR, METOCEAN SATELLITES

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

NANSEN ENVIRONMENTAL AND REMOTE SENSING CENTER
EU contribution
No data
Address
3A,EDVARD GRIEGSVEJ 3A
5059 BERGEN
Norway

See on map

Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (3)

My booklet 0 0