Developing a seabed resurvey strategy: A GIS approach to modelling seabed changes and resurvey risk

The application of GIS systems to environmental contexts is well established with a multitude of examples (see Goodchild et al, 1993). It has only recently been applied in coastal and marine environments, which present challenges due to the dynamic nature of the spatial and temporal environment, the lack of data and issues of accuracy and scale (Wright and Bartlett, 2000). It still has not been utilised to evaluate the forces that determine sediment transport in connection with the volume moved, the resulting changes in the seabed morphology and relevant application factors. Examples of potential applications include maintaining navigation safety and evaluating risk to offshore cables and pipelines.