AN ASSESSMENT OF THE OPTIMAL USE AND APPLICATION IN THE IMMEDIATE TO LONG TERM FUTURE OF THE IRISH NATIONAL SEABED SURVEY DELIVERABLES TO DATE (PHASE

Transcription

1 AN ASSESSMENT OF THE OPTIMAL USE AND APPLICATION IN THE IMMEDIATE TO LONG TERM FUTURE OF THE IRISH NATIONAL SEABED SURVEY DELIVERABLES TO DATE (PHASE 1) AND TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE DEVLOPMENT OF PHASE 2 June 2005

2 Executive Summary Conclusions Recommendations Introduction INSS Mission and the Knowledge Based Economy Scope of the Report Methodology Components of the INSS Value Chain Assessment of the INSS Asset The Core Asset INSS Value Added Activities The INSS Value Chain & Data Integration Benefit Analysis Financial Specific and generic capacity and credibility building Known Impacts of the INSS Examples of Current INSS data applications of immediate benefit Contributions of INSS to Inform Policy & Legislation INSS contribution to Private Sector Development Scenarios Development Priorities Information & Infrastructure Elements o Framework Data and Information...21 o Marine information integration...21 o Data Management Technologies...22 o Data Policy...22 o Capacity Building and Human Resource Development Exploitation Strategy APPENDIX 1 Reports Consulted APPENDIX 2 Obligations imposed on the State by national and international law APPENDIX 3 A Selection of Added Value Research using INSS data APPENDIX 4 List of Stakeholders Consulted May 2005 Assessment of INSS

3 Executive Summary The Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS) operation from 1999 to 2005 has established an asset, composed of: a marine data set that will underpin present and future Irish economic, environmental, infrastructural and social, policy decisions upgraded Irish marine surveying infrastructure; skilled personnel in design, planning, implementation and management of a large scale integrated marine resource evaluation programme a body of knowledge, required to design, procure, build and operate the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) survey conducted so far in the world, of international interest; International recognition of the value of this asset is demonstrated by the direct and indirect approaches to Irish government agencies by developed and third world government agencies requesting advice and assistance in the design of their EEZ surveys. The INSS has and will continue to contribute to: Irish public sector ability to meet its obligations under International Law and European Directives; Building Irish research capacity to understand and manage sustainable development of marine resources Delivering to the knowledge economy in the IT, biotechnology, food, energy and environmental monitoring sectors. Irish private sector capability to compete in the delivery of internationally traded services; Irish active participation in research, development and demonstration projects in the EU Framework Programme The primary benefit of the INSS asset is the public good component that arises from policy decisions on resource management and safety issues informed by information derived from INSS data. There is a community of users who have confirmed that the existing INSS data set will be of use to them on a continuing basis going forward. It is recommended in this report that the core INSS asset should be maintained at least at a level sufficient to allow its continued availability to policy decision makers and to the development of Ireland s knowledge economy. This will require further investment and development in the INSS data asset. The potential community of users must be made aware of the data so that they can develop information products and knowledge systems to make informed decisions. The strategy proposed by this report involves the establishment of an advisory group composed of members from government departments and agencies with an interest in marine and coastal zone management. The advisory group, would meet on a quarterly basis to identify needs and priorities in marine surveying and co-ordinate any acquisition programme between the different government departments using guidelines, methodologies and processes developed by the seven year INSS. The forward strategy will require focus and consensus from relevant government departments, state agencies and private sector interests. Clearly there are needs for continued marine data acquisition from a variety of end users arising from regulatory obligations, sustainable resource development and the knowledge society based on scientific research programmes. These needs can best be satisfied through a co-coordinated approach to future data acquisition activities by all state agencies, government departments and research organizations. It is not necessary that this co-ordination be done as an extension of the INSS, but it could be an effective use of the management and technical capacity already in place within the INSS programme in data acquisition, data management, data integration and data modelling. To satisfy national strategic and obligatory demands inshore data is required as a matter of urgency and a strategic annual inshore data acquisition programme is recommended. While it is necessary to have data available to solve today s problems for the policy makers it is also important to build a base to create economic opportunities for Ireland and position Ireland to meet future challenges. The INSS asset, if maintained, has the capacity to deliver the data required to underpin informed policy and the economic opportunities to develop Ireland s knowledge economy. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 1

4 1 Conclusions It is clear that the existing data set is of interest to government departments, agencies, research institutes and the private sector. The consultants recommend that these end users should be free to access the data to meet their individual needs without the imposition of access user restrictions. Guaranteed access, quality, timeliness and support require an ongoing commitment to the INSS through the allocation of appropriate resources for needs driven programmes. In summary this report concludes that: The primary data 1 sets are beneficial to a variety of users (community of users) in government departments, state agencies, research institutes and private sector companies. Research projects and acquisition of new data sets in the area covered to date (Zone 3) will add to the value of the primary data sets. The acquisition of primary data sets for nearshore/inshore/estuarine areas will need to be carried out as part of our statutory obligations under various national and international legislation (see Appendix 2) Through the INSS Ireland has developed a world class capacity to acquire process, manage and interpret large complex marine data sets. Added value products and services (including decision support solutions) can be stimulated through an active outreach programme to government departments, state agencies research groups and the private sector. 2 Recommendations In support of these conclusions the study group recommends: That ongoing centrally funded investment is required in primary data maintenance, outreach programme and future strategic data acquisition that positions Ireland to meet future challenges. That a project advisory group be put in place to advise on maintenance the integrity of the primary INSS data set and identify specific user needs for future data acquisition. That the acquisition of primary data sets and special interest data sets in the near shore/inshore/estuarine areas meet specific defined user needs and is carried out under the guidance of the coordination advisory team. That international researchers and private sector corporations using INSS date should be encouraged to form links with Irish based research teams to build our capacity as knowledge based economy. 1 Primary or foundation data includes water column measurements, bathymetry, seafloor imaging and shallow geology upon which other data and information layers can be built. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 2

5 3 Introduction Ireland has truly awoken to the treasure of our marine resources and I am privileged to lead the European challenge of Ocean Governance into the future. This challenge is daunting, but of huge importance, and with great potential rewards. I would like to acknowledge the essential and valuable contribution made by the marine research community to us the policy makers and planners. Scientific understanding is absolutely vital to the challenge for us in the European Area to reconcile environmental protection with sustainable development over the years to come (Minister Dermot Ahern, Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, address at Ocean Governance A Challenge for the European Union EurOCEAN 2004) In 1999, the Irish Government approved 32m to survey the Exclusive Economic Zone. The survey includes bathymetric mapping of the seafloor, seabed sampling, sub bottom profiling, gravity and magnetic data acquisition, deep refraction seismic and high resolution shallow seismic data acquisition. A programme of research projects has added value by modelling and interpretation of the data. About 443,000 square kilometres has been surveyed to date (excluding area previously surveyed by PAD), the largest marine survey of its kind in the world. The terms of reference of this study requested the delivery of a high level report that will contribute to the preparation of an integrated strategy for the next phase of the survey and the development of products and services from the INSS asset. 3.1 INSS Mission and the Knowledge Based Economy Research, technology and innovation have a critical role to play in Ireland s move towards a worldclass, robust and sustainable knowledge-based economy. It has been stated that to capitalise on the opportunities of the knowledge-based economy, firms in Ireland must complement their existing strengths with new capabilities by: Developing expertise in international markets, to promote sales growth Building technological and applied research and development (R&D) capability, to support the development of high-value products services. 2 One of key strengths and building blocks in the marine sector is the Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS). The INSS has been and continues to be both a valuable re-usable asset as well as a catalyst for activities leading to economic growth and excellence in research and technology development. The INSS has also been verified as a key foundation component for information required to fulfil regulatory and legislative responsibilities in both a National and International context. The INSS represents the most complete and up-to-date survey of Marine resources anywhere in the world putting Ireland at the forefront of UNCLOS related developments. However there are challenges and opportunities that have to be addressed in the near term. 2 The Enterprise Strategy Group, Ahead of the Curve - Ireland s Place in the Global Economy, (2004) May 2005 Assessment of INSS 3

6 There has been recognition that the Survey needs to be focused and accelerated in high priority areas such as the Coastal Zone and Sensitive Ecological Zones with potential changes in the data acquisition configuration and acquisition platforms. It is also recognized that there is a need to increase collaboration between Industry, government and research groups so that the highest level of re-use and applicability of the data, both for existing and yet to be acquired data, is maintained. Joint research and development activities related to INSS and its ancillary projects has shown time and again that the cross-disciplinary teams working together deliver results that are far more valuable than work done in isolation. Building on what has been achieved in the INSS, the time has come to complete the information acquisition, management and exploitation fabric that will knit the commercial, research and regulatory communities to together into a single effective Irish Marine Community of Practice. 3.2 Scope of the Report This report looks at the overall spectrum of potential outcomes of the INSS and related activities within the marine sector and provides a set of recommendations that, if implemented, will empower the marine sector to: Exploit the existing data collection capability and information assets as an effective knowledge base, Link the components of technology together as a world class infrastructure, Coordinate future marine data acquisition and Create a web-enabled, distributed Marine knowledge network that provides value to all participants in government, industry and research domains. The main emphasis of the report is on the assessment of the INSS asset and ways of maximising its value going forward together with prioritised, demand led and integrated further survey, research and development work in the future. 4 Methodology The team of consultants reviewed documents and reports relating to the INSS and interviewed key stakeholders (see Appendix 1 and 4). The value chain analysis method was used then to assess the INSS asset and define the way forward. The marine environment and its associated business sectors have many dimensions and can be characterised in several different ways. Marine monitoring provides an information service to a wide set of businesses such as fisheries, aquaculture, oil & gas, transportation, security, and environmental monitoring. The interviews concentrated on validating at source the value of the INSS information service to end users. The group of organisations involved in the INSS, when organised, can be seen as a community of practice where its participants work together to create greater value, more complete solutions and greater capacity to respond to crises. From a commercial viewpoint, participants in INSS activities, when organised in activity clusters, can form a value chain. The value chain model 3 is an organizing structure used to distil information on needs and gaps. The value chain model defines a series of related activities that successively add value. A "value chain is defined as a connected series of organizations, resources, and knowledge streams creating and delivering value to customers. Value chains integrate supply chain activities. These include determination of customer needs, product or service development, production, operations 3 Michael Porter (1985). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. The Free Press. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 4

7 and distribution (including as appropriate suppliers). The objective of analysing value systems is to align and position organizations in the supply chain to realize complete solutions that lead to the highest levels of service delivery and value, while effectively making the most of the core competencies of all organizations in the supply chain. The entire value chain analysis is not presented in this document, rather the evaluation framework and the key outcomes are presented as input to the future strategy development of the Irish National Seabed Survey. 4.1 Components of the INSS Value Chain The INSS value chain framework has five main value chain elements, each with their own particular (sub) business area activities and associated business models. The components are shown in overview in Figure 1 and described in more detail in Figure 2 (see following page). Instrument and Component Builders Data Collectors Data Refiners Information Integrators Decision Supporters GOAL: Informed Decisions Infrastructure tools for data management, registry, and distributed delivery Ship sensors, Airborne, Satellites & Sensor webs Sensor exploitation tools Tides, Charting, ECDIS and AIS Integration & modeling of coincident data Habitat analysis & Fisheries Management Dynamic decision aids Decision Support Figure 1 A view of the INSS value chain framework showing the broad areas of activity The five value chain elements are as follows: 1) Instrument and Component Builders are companies that build, integrate, and supply sensors, instruments, electronic boards, cameras, data loggers, and their support components and devices. This array of instruments is deployed on marine research vessels or other data capture platforms. This element of the value chain is supported by fundamental research performed at universities, institutes and private laboratories and is linked to suppliers in the private sector. Suppliers to the INSS include Simrad Kongsberg, La Coste Romberg, Oretech and Tenix LADS Corporation. There is Irish capability in fundamental research support through the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR) at Dublin City University and the Mobile and Marine Robotics group at the University of Limerick. 2) Data Collectors collect data. The primary data acquired by the INSS are bathymetry and seafloor character. Additional deep refraction seismic and shallow high resolution seismic was acquired in strategic areas. Nine ships and aircraft were used by the INSS for data collection to date. Irish registered vessels and Irish personnel are involved in the data collection. Since the start up of the INSS a demand May 2005 Assessment of INSS 5

8 emerged for digital raw data 4. The INSS IT infrastructure was upgraded to provide web enabled access to view and query INSS maps online ( Through an agreement with the INSS NUI Galway now has access to the INSS dataset for Higher Education Authority (HEA) approved projects. 3) Primary Analysis & Management by Data Refiners. Since the start up of the INSS a demand has also emerged for processed data and customised digital products. Currently the initial processing for INSS is aimed at resource information (e.g., Bottom Classification for fish habitat, Gravity and Magnetics for petroleum and other geological potential or hazards) and primary bathymetry. The output is a trusted baseline dataset for use by others. Enhanced processing and integration with other sources will add value to INSS survey data. Adequate data management structures are in place in the INSS and primary analysis of the data is ongoing within GSI, MI third level institutes and the private sector. 4) Secondary Analysis & Integration by Data Integrators. This component of the value chain has not been addressed to its full potential for INSS. Irish agencies, research teams and companies are capable of taking the outputs from the primary data analysis and enhancing the interpretive value of information for a known purpose, e.g., by analyzing vector or image data to identify and judge the significance of selected features to meet particular business goals. A variety of interpretive processes can be applied in to yield more meaningful results from the data. Emerging techniques and methods could be used in future mapping and monitoring of marine and coastal features. There is active research in Ireland in LiDAR classification; feature extraction; statistical analyses of data to examine frequency distribution patterns; pattern recognition; area, length, and volume calculations; change detection; time series analyses; chart update; habitat analysis; 3-D visualization; and associated data processing and integration which could add value to the INSS datasets. This research is critical to providing intelligent information to policy analysts and it has a very large commercial potential. 5) Decision Support Solutions A decision support system helps a decision-maker resolve issues using the synthesis and application of information and knowledge. Integrated INSS data sets will assist, for instance, emergency response teams to implement coastal protection in the event of a marine pollution incident that affects coastal communities. Decision support systems require stakeholder participation and input to define the problem (values, objectives, indicators), identify alternative scenarios, and forecast alternatives in an iterative and interactive manner, over space and time. The actual analytical process may use many different optimisation or simulation strategies. Communication of the results using maps, tables, graphs, and animations is crucial. Capability exists in Irish research institutes (eg National Centre for Geocomputation at NUI Maynooth) to develop decision support solutions in close consultation with end users in government and the private sector. This part of the value chain represents a great opportunity for Irish companies and 3 rd tier research agencies to provide unique, commercial applications for internal use and the international market. 5 Assessment of the INSS Asset Figure 1 looks in more detail at the components of the INSS value chain and identifies the INSS deliverables to date in the area of data, data products, services infrastructure and capacity building and lists some of the companies that have supplied products and services to the INSS. Figure 2 also identifies the stakeholder network of government departments, government agencies, third level institutions, research institutes and the private sector. It identifies their roles in the INSS value chain and how they might contribute to the future strategy in a proposed Coordination Team. 5.1 The Core Asset The core asset is concentrated in the first two value chain elements of Figure 2 and is composed of: 4 Maximising Value from the National Seabed Survey, a Report on its Implementation, GSI, 2002 May 2005 Assessment of INSS 6

9 a marine data set that will underpin present and future Irish economic, environmental, infrastructural and social, policy decisions. The INSS is primarily a multibeam sonar survey with associated primary datasets including, single beam echo sounder, sub-bottom profiler (shallow seismic), water column measures of salinity, conductivity, temperature and speed of sound profiles, seabed sampling and sidescan sonar. Airborne LiDAR bathymetry was acquired in near shore zones. Additional deep refraction seismic and shallow high resolution seismic was acquired in strategic areas. Primary Data sets Volume of Raw Data Acquired Area Surveyed ( Km 2 Approx) Bathymetry Deep Water (Zone 3) 435,000 Seabed Character Near Shore (Zone 2) 22,050 Shallow Geology 4.5 Terabytes Coastal (Zone 1) 150 Gravity Measurements Magnetic Measurements TOTAL 457,200 upgraded Irish marine surveying and data management infrastructure. The Marine Institutes two marine research vessels Celtic Voyager and Celtic Explorer are multipurpose RVs fitted with the latest in multibeam data acquisition and processing technology. The Commissioner of Irish Lights vessel Granuaile has been successfully used for data acquisition. There is potential for involvement of Irish Naval vessels. The data management and processing capacity of the Geological Survey of Ireland has been developed to handle the storage and processing of very large data sets (in excess of four terabytes). This has been mirrored by data integration developments in the Marine Institute. Additional sidescan sonar and seabed sampling equipment has been added to the National Equipment Pool. skilled personnel in design, planning, implementation and management of a large scale integrated marine resource evaluation programme. During the seven years of the INSS personnel in the Geological Survey of Ireland, the Marine Institute and sub contractor personnel have attended training courses in data acquisition and data processing run by the Instrument Providers, Data Collectors and Primary Analysers. On the job training and experience has produced personnel with problem solving, negotiating, planning and management skills that can transfer to any similar large scale marine surveying project around the world. It is estimated that 60 to 80 countries will carry out large scale EEZ surveys during the next five years to support territorial claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). May 2005 Assessment of INSS 7

10 know how in surveying, data management, resource evaluation and resource management. Marine Institute and third level institutes have developed the capability to process and interpret the primary datasets for resource evaluation and resource management (eg aggregates and orange roughy fisheries). This is achieved through integration with other nationally held marine data sets e.g. oceanographic, biological, environmental. a body of knowledge, required to design, procure, build and operate the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) survey conducted so far in the world, of international interest. The INSS has developed manuals, procedures, standard contracts, quality management specifications and protocols for planning a large marine survey, acquiring the data, processing and storing the data, retrieving the data and developing data products to customer specifications. International marine research vessels have been successfully contracted for data acquisition. The latest in airborne LiDAR bathymetry, previously confined to measurements in clear tropical waters offshore Australia, has been successfully tested in Irish waters. This body of knowledge has a value independent of the skilled personnel. International recognition of the value of this asset is demonstrated by the direct and indirect approaches to Irish government agencies by developed and third world government agencies requesting advice and assistance in the design of their EEZ surveys. Representatives from NIWA in New Zealand have visited Marine Institute to obtain advice on planning for their EEZ survey. There has been informal contact between Marine Institute and representatives from government agencies from Nigeria and Malta seeking project planning advice for EEZ surveys. The project manager for Sri Lanka s EEZ delimitation survey has expressed an interest in on board training for Sri Lankan surveyors on Irish marine research vessels prior to the commencement of Sri Lanka s EEZ delimitation survey later this year. Irish private sector companies connected to the INSS have been requested by international private sector surveying companies to lead joint bids for EEZ survey work in Sri Lanka and Canada. The INSS has enhanced Ireland s brand and image abroad as a vibrant economy investing public money in valuable infrastructure that will identify new opportunities for economic growth from marine resources, a potential that is only beginning to be realized globally. There is also strong recognition within the international research community of the value of the data collected and its potential use in a research context for projects targeting the North East Atlantic. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 8

11 5.2 INSS Value Added Activities Ancillary projects (listed in appendix 3) have been implemented in support of research, development, innovation and education without compromising the core survey work. These are concentrated in the first, second and third value chain elements of Figure 2. They have involved partnerships between government agencies, private sector companies and academic institutes and can be broadly categorized into: Metocean Studies essential to the understanding of global marine processes and climate change (Sound Velocity Profiles/Current Temperature Depth Profiles, Weather Observations) Sampling ancillary to the core sediment sampling programmes (Biological Box Core Samples, Zooplankton Hauls, Water Samples, Onboard Grain Size Analysis) Observations, System Trials and Knowledge Transfer including surveys into the distribution of and abundance of cetacean species (potential tourism resource); development of Questor Tangent s QTC Multiview System (software innovation); shipboard participation by research students from European Universities (links with academic institutions and strengthening research and development opportunities) Technology & Data Management development of innovative ancillary software and hardware solutions to support shipboard survey systems (Multilog Database, Sampling Log Database, MI Spy Backup Management Software, Datagram Software, SmartPing). There have been several hardware and software products developed by Irish Companies during the period of the INSS commencing in An example of one such product is the SmarT-Ping (see Appendix) which is an innovative approach to hull-mounted pinger control. This equipment has been sold to MI and is now installed on both of the Irish marine research vessels. With support from Enterprise Ireland this and other software developments have the potential to win sales globally adding value to Ireland s knowledge economy. Customer Driven Added Value Research A number of customers, for example Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), companies holding oil exploration licences and members of the Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP) and Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) have commissioned research based on INSS data to improve fisheries management, identify new hydrocarbon resources and provide more accurate information on maritime wrecks. Analysis of INSS data has initiated a gas hydrate resource assessment programme funded by PIP on the Irish offshore in water depths of greater that 200m. Gas hydrates represent a potential untapped clean energy fuel supply. In the US the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000 initiated a new program to study several aspects of gas hydrates, including seafloor stability, global climate change, and the potential of gas hydrate as a commercial resource. The resource target has been for production in the year Japan, Canada and India are also funding national gas hydrate programmes. The INSS 2003 Donegal Bay survey identified 104 wrecks. Mayo County Council has commissioned hydrodynamic modelling based on INSS data for pollution control and water quality monitoring. A number of EU funded programs, for example, IMAGIN, HERMES and MESH include Irish partners and have INSS as a core dataset. 5.3 The INSS Value Chain & Data Integration The value chain in Figure 2 shows the key activities associated with the INSS Within each activity the level of development differs with the early steps i.e. data acquisition being more advanced than activities such as data integration, decision support and product development. Using the value chain as a guide we can illustrate the relative state of knowledge in each component of the value chain and identify those that are underdeveloped. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 9

12 Instrument and Component Builders and Providers Data Collectors (embraces the first 2 steps in the value chain) Instrument and Component Builders or Providers The Irish capability to deliver the right marine data to existing end users is established. For seven years Irish government agencies, service companies and research agencies have been involved in project planning, IT upgrades, procurement of marine surveying services, contract negotiation and contract management, data acquisition, quality control, and preliminary data processing. Primary Analysis and Interpretation (represented by the 3 rd step in the value chain) Primary Analysis & Management 1 3 Data Collectors 2 The INSS is well advanced in its capability to deliver primary and secondary analysis of marine data for end users mainly through third level university research departments but also through private sector data analysis companies. There is an emphasis on geological mapping in the primary analysis. This combines gravity, magnetics, bathymetry, sub bottom profiles, seafloor classification and deeper seismic data to assess the offshore resource potential for aggregates, hydrocarbons and minerals. The same integrated mapping identifies geohazards for pipelines and the cable industry and identifies the preferred sites for a cabled seafloor observatory. The current data management infrastructure is unlikely to be adequate for the long term sustainability of the INSS database, implementation of data mining, automated web services or full back up and recovery. This reflects a focus to date on the acquisition of data as opposed to data management. There is a need for on going investment in the data handling process (including infrastructure, and expertise). Management and Secondary Analysis and Integration (reflects step 4 in the value chain) Secondary Analysts & Integration 4 In order to maximise its value, and the value of other significant marine data sets such as biological, oceanographic and environmental, they must be integrated. This is the strategy being followed by the Marine Institute where a Marine Data Repository has been developed. This allows spatially based queries to be directed at multiple data sets, allowing the analysis of the data to take place in context. Investment in data integration systems that will require skilled personnel and coordination is required, as is investment in the development of data models capable of supporting the integration effort. This is relatively young field of expertise, and Ireland has an opportunity to become a world leader in the development of Marine Data Integration systems. Decision Support Tools (reflects step 5 in the value chain) : The INSS value chain is not well developed in the area of decision support Decision Support Solution 5 tools. For example a government agent who is considering a license application for an offshore wind farm needs to be able visualize spatial data for the license area that will inform him about conflicting activities what is the value of the area to fisheries, is the nature of the seabed rocky or soft sediment, what are the metocean conditions, what is the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the area, are there any wrecks nearby, does a submarine cable or pipeline cross the area, are there coral reefs nearby, is the area on a migration route for whales. When a Prestige style marine incident occurs many responsible government departments need to share information quickly, such as, metocean conditions, sensitive environmental areas, and vulnerable coastal communities. Hydrodynamic models need to be run to predict a number of what if scenarios that will assist May 2005 Assessment of INSS 10

13 the crisis response teams. The Marine Irish Digital Atlas ( under development by the Coastal and Marine Resources Centre (CMRC) in Cork is an example of a project to put in place one such decision support tool. NUI Galway has produced a geohazards map based on INSS for the Porcupine Seabight where Cable and Wireless, Global Crossing and Flag Telecom have submarine telecommunications cables. Such maps will assist decisions on future cable route selections in the area. An example of a decision support tool from Canada is the benthic habitat mapping of Browns Bank, Canada, which supports a multimillion-dollar scallop, lobster and groundfish fishery 5. Maps of surface sediment and benthic habitat were produced from multibeam mapping and ground truth surveys similar to INSS. By using the derived electronic fishing charts the fishing fleet improved its efficiency within one year. For a fixed scallop quota, time spent dragging the seabed was reduced by as much as 75%. Fuel costs and gear losses on rock outcrop were reduced. The detailed habitat maps provided a powerful tool for fisheries management by the federal authorities and enhanced the capacity for multiple stock management in a relatively small area. The INSS data set and other data resources are being used in a similar way to manage the orange roughy fisheries. Barry Electronics in Killybegs has developed a similar electronic fishing chart to the Canadian example. The need for decision support tools and solutions is driven by either policy or commercial requirements. Lack of awareness of the potential of the INSS data set or of an understanding of the input it could provide to the development of specific decision support systems will limit its future use in this context. There is a need to explore mechanisms to provide access to the data, descriptions of sub components of the data sets, and prototype systems to demonstrate impact and potential value The system needs to be able to go beyond maps to deliver, for example, what if scenarios, simulation and risk analysis. Given this identified weakness in the area of decision support tools, it is possible to identify a number of activities that should take place going forward: o A need exists to increase the investment afforded the INSS data management capability both in terms of physical infrastructure (software and hardware) and procedural support. o There is a need to coordinate the roles of different government departments and agencies in the marine area, that in the past independently collected measurements or facts, stored, collated and managed the facts and then used potentially proprietary methods and technologies to analyze the measurements, facts and indicators to develop policy and make decisions related to governance. o In such a coordinated, networked environment with shared information resources, new data, tools and capabilities, developed by the INSS, can be applied across a much broader range of information collected by different government departments and agencies. o There are also advantages to be realised by collaborating with the private sector. The hydrocarbon exploration industry in Ireland has identified strategic 3D seismic data acquisition as a means to increase the attractiveness of Ireland s offshore. A precedent for joint funding has been established with the 2004 high-resolution seismic survey in the Rockall Hatton area conducted by the INSS and PIP. Obviously, not all technology components to deliver this decision support capability exist. However SFI funding of the National Centre for Geocomputation at NUI Maynooth, and the Grid Computing WebCom- G at NUI Galway coupled with HEA (PRTLI) funding for Marine Science Data Mining and Visualisation 5 The Multiple roles of acoustic mapping in integrated ocean management, Canadian Atlantic continental margin, Richard A. Pickrill, Brian J.Todd, 2003 May 2005 Assessment of INSS 11

14 at NUI Galway is establishing that capability. This high end computing capacity is required for simulation, modelling and forecasting based on INSS data that will inform decisions relating to, for example, potential oil spills, sea floor subsidence, catastrophic gas seeps, storm surges, changes in ocean circulation and their economic and social impacts. This gap reflects the need for continued development of new decision support tools and for continued leadership, coordination and integration between government departments and agencies involved in the marine sector to fully exploit the INSS asset for Ireland s economic and social benefit and to cost effectively and efficiently acquire the additional marine data that will be needed to inform future policy decisions. The Value Chain analysis in Figure 2 demonstrates how the INSS value chain elements linked together can deliver solutions to the needs of industry and government. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 12

15 6 Benefit Analysis The Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS) operation from 1999 to 2005 has established an asset. At this point a decision with respect to the future funding of INSS activities will be made. It is essential to realise that Ireland is a maritime nation, an island, much of whose resources lie underwater. The INSS was the first major research initiative conducted in maritime areas since The benefits to Ireland accrue in a number of ways. However the primary benefit of the INSS asset is the public good component that arises from policy decisions on resource management and safety issues informed by information derived from INSS data. The identified benefits are outlined below. The primary benefit of the INSS asset is the public good component that arises from policy decisions on resource management and safety issues informed by information derived from INSS data 6.1 Financial The INSS produces data, which may be processed into information packages with added value. Either may be of interest and use to different communities. On the whole, it is likely that data would be of interest to research groups whereas information would be of more interest to users, such as the private sector or government departments and agencies. We suggest that data and information be freely available to all with no sense of government agencies acting as a bottleneck. However, it is appropriate that the supply of data and information be recorded and that this supply be the subject of a license agreement such as applies to downloading freeware from the Net. It may be appropriate to charge the private sector, perhaps below cost, for information provided, whereas data to the research community is provided free of charge. However as we have yet to develop significant private sector usage of the data it should also be provided free of charge to them for the foreseeable future. There is ample international precedent for this suggestion. It has been the experience in many countries that revenues accruing to government from the results of publicly funded research are minuscule and scarcely worth collecting. However, revenues accruing to the state from the exploitation of research results in the form of corporation, personal and value added taxes can be significant 67. Furthermore, the cost of protecting intellectual property rights can be prohibitive. Revenues accruing to the state from the exploitation of research results in the form of corporation, personal and value added taxes can be significant. There are spin off benefits from the INSS in aquaculture, hydrocarbon exploration and renewable energy production. There exists the opportunity to build on the INSS exercise to develop hard- and software for marine purposes for production in Ireland. There also exists the possibility to develop a market in internationally traded services in the design, specification, training and management of similar survey hardware and software in other countries. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that today, Ireland is the world leader in seabed surveying and dense data management. 6 Forfás, Dublin: Study on IPR from publicly-funded R&D, CIRCA Group Europe 7 Office of Science and Technology, Dublin: Exploitation of IPR arising from publicly-funded R&D, CIRCA Group Europe May 2005 Assessment of INSS 13

16 6.2 Specific and generic capacity and credibility building The development, implementation and exploitation of the INSS have assisted in the creation of intellectual capacity, which was not present in Ireland heretofore to such an extent. Some of this is specific to the marine sector, but capacity has also been built in association with other initiatives such as the new National Centre for High End Computing in NUIG. A trained labour force is emerging in cluster computing and applications are being developed utilising the INSS dataset. Phase 2 of the INSS can bring together a community of marine researchers who were working in isolation and with modest funding. INSS has acted as a stimulus and a catalyst to expand research to broader The INSS has enhanced the performance of the Irish research community and its standing internationally and as a result attracted EC funding. horizons and can enable researchers seek and obtain funding from other source such as SFI, PRTLI and FP7. Original research based on the large data sets generated by the INSS funded by PRTLI, SFI, IRCSET and the 12 agencies that fund research in Ireland should be encouraged. 6.3 Known Impacts of the INSS The INSS cost 32m over seven years. A value for money audit conducted by the Canadian Centre for Marine Communications (CCMC) stated that this cost represented excellent value when compared with the cost of similar surveys conducted elsewhere in the world. The INSS has provided direct and indirect full and part time employment in planning and operations, data management and processing for an estimated 825 people. Over 60 partners and collaborators have cooperated on the project. A significant number of contracts, partnership agreements, licence agreements and memoranda of understanding bind this community of experts together in a common effort to acquire process and interpret INSS data. A 6.6 terabyte IT data storage and processing infrastructure, with web enabled access and HEA connectivity has been established. A network of tidal measurements around the coast has been established. The profile of marine science in Ireland has been raised internationally by the INSS. As a result the ability of Irish researchers to attract EU FP6 and INTERREG funding, and marine research, to Ireland has improved particularly when INSS data has been provided to the project. Examples of projects with Irish partners using INSS data include MESH ( 8.46m) that will develop a framework for mapping European seabed habitats to inform marine resource management decisions; IMAGIN which will investigate aggregate resources in the Irish Sea and HERMES ( 15m) which will evaluate the vulnerability of marine ecosystems, including Irelands cold water coral mounds, to global change and human activity and inform policy in the areas of climate change and marine resource management. This profile has also attracted international conferences to Ireland such as the biennial multibeam users conference Femme 05, the biennial conference of the Hydrographic Society Hydr04, the Geological Habitat Mapping Symposium GeoHAB, and EurOCEAN The INSS has also promoted Ireland at conferences such as Oceanology, the leading international marine conference in the world. This has enhanced Ireland s brand identity as a country with a vibrant knowledge based economy investing in the future that emerging economies wish to emulate. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 14

17 6.4 Examples of Current INSS data applications of immediate benefit INSS data is being used in a practical way to inform current decisions. Generally the decision maker is not aware that the information he has used to inform his decision is based on INSS data. A few examples are given below: E G Pettit & Co prepared an environmental impact statement for Mayo County Council s new Newport Sewage Scheme using INSS airborne LIDAR survey data. The data were used to develop hydrodynamic dispersion models for environmental prediction. Furthermore when the sewage scheme outfall goes to construction Pettit & Co believe that the risk of over-runs will be reduced because formerly unpredictable submarine conditions will have been identified. Moy Valley Resources are part of an EC-funded project to establish best practices in environmental management of coastal/estuary areas in England and France called Cycleau. The project used INSS LIDAR bathymetric data in Kilalla Bay to develop dispersion models that predicts pollutants in different locations of the Moy River catchment area. The results will are used in the Western River Basin Project which is funded by Galway County Council and is a pilot for the rest of the river basin catchment areas that have been established to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The Orange Roughy (Fisheries Management and Conservation) (No.3) Regulations 2005 issued by the Minister of State at the Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources this month is based on investigations on orange roughy stocks off the west coast of Ireland. INSS data was used to identify the location of deep water mounds and underwater canyons where orange roughy are found. This information contributed to the development of the fisheries management plan for future conservation of stocks of this valuable commercial fishery. 6.5 Contributions of INSS to Inform Policy & Legislation Governments need solid, science-based information to manage the oceans in an environmentally sustainable manner. Of equal importance are the related needs of the ocean-based industries which are or will play a role in the future development of our ocean economy: e.g., fisheries, aquaculture, offshore energy and minerals, recreation and transportation. As far as Ireland s marine reserves are concerned, the priority has been to characterise, develop and protect the resource. However, these policies are constrained by a number of EU Directives, such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and international treaties such as OSPAR and UNCLOS. These impose legally binding demands on Ireland. Other concerns, such as climate change and the Kyoto agreement are relevant to the marine environment. In summary, the data produced and to be produced in the future by the INSS affects, in no particular order: Fisheries Oil and gas exploitation Marine engineering (cables and pipes) Habitat characterization and biodiversity Development of marine Biotechnology for pharmaceuticals development Water quality Hydrography Heritage Aggregate exploitation Coastal zone management and ports Biodiversity May 2005 Assessment of INSS 15

18 Geohazards Ocean energy and offshore wind energy The existing INSS data set contributes to a significant extent to satisfying policy and legislation requirements. However, to satisfy many of these national strategic and obligatory demands, inshore data is required. The use of data from the INSS is central to discharging several obligations imposed on the State by public and international law as well as to deriving the full benefit of the rights bestowed on the State by the law of the sea. These obligations are illustrated in Figure 3. Figure 3: Application of Acts and Conventions (Source Marine Institute) Those with the highest priority in regard to INSS input are summarised in Appendix 2. The summary is based on research by Dr. Ronan Long of NUI Galway. 6.6 INSS contribution to Private Sector Development A number of innovative products related to data acquisition have been developed by Irish companies. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 16

19 Rovtec developed SmarT-Ping which is an innovative approach to hull-mounted pinger control. This equipment has been sold to MI and is now installed on both of the Irish marine research vessels. With support from Enterprise Ireland this and other software developments have the potential to win sales globally adding value to Ireland s knowledge economy. Barry Electronics has developed charting software for the Irish fishing fleet to improve efficiency and reduce fuel costs. Software companies have benefited from INSS feedback on the use of innovative software and developed updated versions of their acquisition and processing software for the commercial market. Hydrography is by far the largest ocean survey business activity worldwide (valued for 2004 at 1.9 billion) and is forecast to remain so over the next five years. Offshore surveys in other sectors, Offshore Oil and Gas ( 424M, 2004), Ports and Harbours ( 327M, 2004), Submarine Cables ( 23M, 2004), Exclusive Economic Zones ( 33M, 2004), Offshore Windfarms ( 2.6M, 2004) are expected to remain stable or show slow growth. As a spin off from INSS an Irish survey company is actively pursuing market opportunities with assistance from Enterprise Ireland. The company has identified niche activities with potential for growth in surveying for the oil and gas industry in the Caspian and Canada. In relation to EEZ surveys current estimates indicate that up to coastal states may be entitled to an extended continental shelf. Coastal States must make their submission within 10 years of the adoption of the technical guidelines (May 2009), or within 10 years after they ratified the convention. This represents a significant commercial opportunity in the short to medium term. 6.7 Scenarios It is instructive to examine where Ireland was in terms of it s knowledge of its marine territory and it s mapping capability in 1999, where it stands in 2005 and where it should be in the future. Long term planning is of the essence of state infrastructural development. By 1996, PAD had mapped the edges of the continental shelf, which forms the basis of Ireland s territorial claims to the UN. Little was known of the seabed inside the claimed boundary. The INSS was started in 1999 and has since provided a wealth of information, unequalled internationally, on the seabed and water column of the continental shelf offshore Ireland. Without the INSS, we would today be operating from a position of ignorance. It was always understood that it would take some years for the core data acquisition of data to translate into an information resource of considerable strategic benefit and the benefits are only now beginning to be realised. The potential going forward is significant. We now have an enviable body of data and a capacity in dense data acquisition, storage and management of national strategic importance. Funding for the present phase expires in December For the future there are a number of scenarios: No further funding is provided for the surveying infrastructure and for further surveying. The existing database has to be maintained (software licenses are paid and a skeleton staff maintained). The capacity and capability available to Ireland is gradually lost as staff go elsewhere. Directives and international agreements require continuing monitoring and reporting. Marine Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies will carry out monitoring and reporting less effectively and less economically than what was achieved by the INSS previously. Capacity is lost to Ireland. Ireland s credibility in marine and other matters suffers. Funding is continued for Phase II. A prioritised acquisition programme in waters less than 200m and coastal zones is agreed. The programme satisfies in an integrated and economic way the requirements of all stakeholders in a planned and economically effective way. Existing and future data are mined, developed and exploited to the full in producing information products for May 2005 Assessment of INSS 17

20 user groups and for macro-modelling. The database is maintained and kept up to date and fully exploited. The decision is clear. The core INSS asset should be developed. A strategic annual inshore data acquisition programme should be funded by government through the various government departments and agencies that have near shore surveying obligations. Decision support tools and data integration should be developed by government agencies in conjunction with existing SFI and HEA funded high end computing capacity in NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth and other initiatives. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 18

21 7 Development Priorities The value chain analysis clear shows that there is a need for a shift in priority required for the INSS. In the past the focus has been on data collection, instruments for data collection and platforms (ships and aircraft) for data collection. As INSS moves into a more mature phase there is a need to develop a more balanced program of effort that addresses the entire value chain. The priorities below are based on the key issues identified both in interviews and in review of materials and reports as well as the outcomes of the value chain analysis identified is section 5.3. An approach must be adopted that delivers a complete marine information infrastructure linking the outputs of the INSS to the national marine data and information strategy. This will ensure that the maximum value of past investments in the INSS can be achieved o Data collection: A data collection strategy must be developed so that priorities identified by government departments can be fed into to the acquisition programme (e.g., EPA s need to have the coastal zone mapped, UNCLOS requirements, habitat mapping for fisheries protection etc). An Advisory group is proposed, composed of members from government departments and agencies with an interest in marine and coastal zone management. The Advisory Group will identify needs and priorities in marine surveying and coordinate any acquisition programme between the different government departments using guidelines, methodologies and processes developed by the seven year INSS. o Data management: Good data management is technically in place with staff who have a good understanding of existing data management requirements and issues. To facilitate future data exchange and integration a review of current data management procedures and standards should be commissioned. This review should seek to identify: o Standard operating procedures that would facilitate interagency data exchange and integration o Requirements for enhancing data integration and mining tools o Future requirements to enable distributed access to or enhancements to the physical infrastructure o Data exploitation: The 50 plus research projects associated with INSS show the value of the data in downstream decision support. It is essential that both operational and research funding be focussed on key problems facing government staff with regard to understanding fisheries, climate and oceanographic models, energy extraction, boundary resolution and safety at sea. Through focused research the development of intelligent decisions support tools to support knowledge use will be achieved. o Commercial and industrial growth: The INSS has resulted in the development of a unique pool of talent and technology. A strategy must be developed to work with that pool to develop a community of practice that includes international as well as national players. o Applied Research: The INSS can be used as the basis for other research program developments. Offshore Renewable Energy projects, and cabled Seafloor Observatories, for example, depend on having primary data sets to enable design, evaluate potential, understand change and mitigate risk. In short an approach must be adopted that delivers the entire marine information infrastructure so that the maximum value of past investments can be achieved. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 19

22 7.1 Information & Infrastructure Elements The marine environment is a dynamic environment that demands a constant stream of new data and information. As such, cost effective data acquisition technologies, methodologies and processes are required to measure, record and quantify pertinent sea surface, water column, seabed and sub-bottom parameters at scales and resolutions that are appropriate. As has been shown by the INSS, marine information assets can be very large and combine aspects of both temporal and spatial variability. In addition, information is typically collected and disseminated by different stakeholders for differing purposes, and therefore tend to be physically disparate with differing data structures, application environments and policies for distribution and use. Obviously there are practical components to the infrastructure that must be addressed. Data management technologies, methodologies and processes are required to validate, store, retrieve, manipulate and up-date multi-dimensional marine geospatial data sets. These technologies must be augmented with standards, policies, procedures and best practices to allow individual technology systems to operate as an infrastructure. Many organizations are actively developing and advancing knowledge management technologies which will increasingly be used to dynamically and autonomously create knowledge from disparate data and information in distributed data holdings across individual organizations. Indeed both the Marine Institute and Geological Survey of Ireland have ongoing programmes to maximise the value of their data sets and have begun the process of a common meta-data approach. What is now required is that these efforts are taken to a further level to establish a marine data infrastructure. This marine data infrastructure must support sophisticated models, data processing tools and interpretation methodologies are required to manipulate marine datasets to produce useful data products (i.e. to transform data into information). The information must be accessible in decision support systems that can be understood and are capable of use by non technical decision makers. Successful decision support requires input from the decision makers through an intermediary who can translate the need into a useable product by working closely with the experts in spatial data analysis and display. The ability to transform marine data into information exists in a number of groups including the Marine Institute, the National Centre for Geo-computation in NUI Maynooth and third level groups such as the Coastal and Marine Resource Centre in NUI Cork. An INSS development priority is to demonstrate in a practical way how INSS spatial data can be analysed and displayed in a way that supports informed decision making by policy makers in government. The value of the INSS asset will not be fully realised if the tools for making effective, informed decision are not developed. The deployment of existing tools and the design and development of new more effective tools must be part of future INSS initiatives May 2005 Assessment of INSS 20

23 The technologies, methodologies, policies and the processes required to validate, process, store, retrieve, manipulate, disseminate, archive, maintain and use marine data sets all need to be carefully considered when establishing a marine data infrastructure. Below some key points of the infrastructure requirements are discussed. o Framework Data and Information Information is derived from data. There are certain data sets that can be considered foundation or primary data sets that are needed to support virtually all spatial information needs and applications (Figure 6). Bathymetry, seafloor character, magnetic and gravity data, as captured by the INSS represents framework data or geospatial foundation data upon which other data and information layers can be built. Stakeholder Information Endangered species Hydrographic Charts Facilities information Framework information Bathymetric base GPS & navigation Seismic Surveys Marine habitat Geological mapping, (aggregates, gas hydrate etc) Climatology seabed classification Marine Archaeology Disposition (leases, tenures, licences, etc.) Administrative areas Satellite imagery Tide and Current Magnetic and gravity data sub bottomprofiles Foundation information Spatial, Temporal, and Administration Reference e.g., Geodetic control, Tidal Model, Seamless Hydrographic Datum Figure 6: A summary of the framework or primary datasets of interest to the stakeholders involved in the marine sector. The acquisition of primary datasets in the coastal zone is a priority for INSS These framework data sets form the backdrop for other, thematic data, such as distribution of various benthic and pelagic species, sea surface temperature, currents and waves, which make up a complete marine information infrastructure that can be used in decision making. The acquisition of primary datasets in the coastal zone is a development priority for INSS. o Marine information integration Future development of the INSS asset requires investment in data and information integration. The routing of shipping, electronic charts for fisheries, aids to navigation, at-sea communication services for coast guard and the navy, real-time access to environmental data and forecasts, port management, and emergency response planning all require integrated marine data integration. This approach requires the sharing of common information amongst all stakeholders. Funding approval has just been received from the Information Society in support of a Marine Data Exchange project proposal led by the Marine Institute and submitted jointly with the Geological Survey of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency and Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, UCC. It will also involve collaboration with the Reach Agency (Managers of the Public Services Broker) and the Local Government Computer Services Board. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 21

24 The aims are to: Develop a mechanism whereby publicly funded bodies can provide seamless public access to metadata concerning marine datasets that they hold; Identify suitable standards for metadata exchange in the context of metadata catalogues and indexed data stores. This approval endorses the collaborative approach adopted and vision for the development of national, integrated marine data services. Data Management Technologies Data management technologies, methodologies and processes developed by the INSS to validate, store, retrieve, manipulate and update primary datasets must be maintained and updated. Data Policy It is clear that the existing data set is of interest to government departments, agencies, research institutes and the private sector and they should be free to meet their individual needs without the imposition of access use restrictions. Investment in guaranteed access to data, data quality, timeliness of delivery and customer support is required as a development priority. It is appropriate that the supply of data and information be recorded and that this supply be the subject of a license agreement such as applies to downloading freeware from the Net. Capacity Building and Human Resource Development Capacity building will be an essential component of delivering the Irish INSS agenda. As mentioned above the INSS brought together a community of marine researches who were working in isolation and with modest funding. It acted as a stimulus and a catalyst to expand research to broader horizons and to seek and obtain funding from other source such as SFI, PRTLI and FP6. Continued funding of INSS will stimulate the knowledge economy and attract more researchers and funding a primary recommendation of ICSTI 8. The interest shown in INSS by very large private sector companies such as Kongsberg Simrad, and medium sized software companies such as Questor Tangent could be translated into funded research careers in the private sector for Irish researchers if such companies were encouraged to locate research centres in Ireland. The opportunity for joint research teams consisting of industry and academic groups with a joint funding model should be explored. The model could give access to EU funds that are earmarked for commercial and industrial development and ensure the migration of bright scientists out into industry where they may have a sustained budget to continue focused research. 8 Exploitation Strategy The Irish National Seabed Survey has been, and continues to be both a valuable re-usable asset as well as a catalyst for activities leading to economic growth and excellence in research and technology development. 8 Report of the Natural Resources Panel, Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ICSTI),1999. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 22

25 The INSS has also been verified as a key foundation component for information required to fulfil regulatory and legislative responsibilities in both a National and International context. However there are challenges and opportunities that have to be addressed in the near term. 1. The INSS needs to be focused and accelerated in high priority areas such as the coastal zone to meet specific, defined, user needs. 2. There is a need to increase collaboration between industry, government and research groups to address prioritisation of data acquisition, the improvement of data integration and the development of decision support systems. Building on what has been achieved in the INSS, there is a need for coordinated strategic primary data acquisition, data management and exploitation by a single effective Irish Marine Community of Practice (see Fig. 7). The Collaborative Ocean Information Network (COIN) is a program of action to encourage the users and suppliers of ocean information to cooperate with each other and share their information, for the benefit of all based on a model developed in Pacific Canada. In Canada it is an internet-based vehicle that brings all of the users together to share data and information; coordinate planning for future acquisition and processing, and cooperate in the development of decision support systems to utilize the data for use in policy, legislation and enforcement. Figure 7: A view of the components of the Irish Marine Community of Practice A Project Advisory Group is proposed as the cornerstone of INSS Phase 2 Exploitation Strategy. This group will be composed of members from government departments and agencies with an interest in marine and coastal zone management, to oversee and advise on marine data utilsation, data requirements and future marine data acquisition. The Advisory Group, would meet on a quarterly basis to identify needs and priorities in marine surveying and assist in the co-ordination of any acquisition programme between the different government departments using guidelines, methodologies and processes based on those developed by the seven year INSS. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 23

26 The Goals of the Exploitation Strategy are to: 1. Achieve sustainable management and development of Ireland s marine resources: cooperation amongst users of INSS data will mean better planning of acquisition of marine information, reduced overlaps and duplications of effort, increased dissemination of the information and more efficient use of available funding. Accessible, high quality marine information linked to better decision-making tools will result in more effective sustainable management of our marine resources. 2. Enable thriving marine-based industries: with the INSS data set, marine-based industries (including fisheries, shipping, tourism, etc) can develop and thrive in a manner compatible with environmental responsibility. As this happens, the marine technology industry will also grow and prosper, working in a domestic market, which is growing, and is a test-bed for innovation. 3. Showcase Irish marine technology expertise for international business development: The INSS as the core of the initiative provides the experience base and Enterprise Ireland the marketing capability to translate the successful innovation and experience in the domestic market into international commercial success. The domestic marine-based industries will generate increased exports, and will also be a springboard for increased commercial success in the marine technology industry. Irish leading edge marine research will attract world leaders in marine technology to invest in marine product and services development in Ireland. The Exploitation Strategy is summarised in Table 1. May 2005 Assessment of INSS 24

27 Key objective Main Resources Function Table 1: INSS EXPLOITATION STRATEGY A thriving, internationally recognized, competitive Irish marine information, science and technology community Government sustaining funding for core INSS activity, University Resources, (in-kind, researchers, post graduates, graduate students and space), Partner funding (Potentially from other departments, EU, county councils etc), Project funding related to management of data, collection tools, and distribution of information, Services fee for activities related to offshore energy (renewable and non-renewable), Investment from private sector partners (Survey companies, energy companies, fisheries, technology companies) Establish management Future data Acquisition Data interpretation and Development and & coordination Integration Commercialisation structure & secure funding May 2005 Assessment of INSS 25

28 Main activities undertaken Function Establish a clear management structure/ mechanism (PM) Identify key participants for Project Advisory Committee (PAC) PAC and PM to develop and implement common standards throughout mapping and monitoring programmes Seek to develop consolidation of a core budget and agency budgets on annual basis Establish management & coordination structure & secure funding Upgrade data management and distribution, resources and technology Implement focused priority driven, demand led annual survey programme Implement opportunistic programme of data acquisition on other noncore programmes Future data Acquisition Commission a review of current data management procedures and standards with a view to identifying standard operating procedures to facilitate and technologies to facilitate interagency data exchange and integration. Develop project orientated programme of data integration utilizing Phase 1, Phase 2 and other marine data resources Formalize the interaction with the 3rd level institutions through the PM and PAC Develop decision support tools and Data interpretation and Integration Establish an a Phase 2-EI hub to develop existing and new opportunities in the marine domain Create a core team to bid, win and deliver on marine survey projects. Create a strong and sustained link between marine research and development and industry Establish a clear relationship between the licensing and management of offshore leases, licenses and revenues and the INSS Implement a demonstration strategy and capacity for clients and partners. Implement a strategy to use marine information resource to leverage EC funds Development and Commercialisation May 2005 Assessment of INSS 26

29 Outputs Transparent management mechanism within which specific roles and responsibilities are clearly assigned. Collaborative funding for projects & programs Clear investment model and implementation plan A clear management strategy that captures and reacts to domestic and international legislative needs with long term support for habitat inventory, monitoring and protection. Prioritized demand led acquisition programme Value for money and greater efficiencies achieved. Shared information Shared technology Shared knowledge Shared opportunities Generation of useful and valuable new knowledge Education, training and skills development quality workforce Increase in quality workforce (expertise and employability) Increased opportunities for technology transfer More, integrated and better-formulated marine information projects in Ireland Increase Government capacity in marine resource management applications Increase in knowledge available to governments and others. National and International business development Increase capacity to obtain larger long term international projects resulting in international partnerships and programs Effective mechanism to establish Ireland as a force in EEZ surveying and seafloor observatory implementation Irish and Canadian companies priming key international projects through Atlantic Alliance. Collaboration on research and development activities throughout Ireland, with Europe and Canada. Accelerated development of new marine technologies Revenue generation for State Function Establish management & coordination structure & secure funding Future data Acquisition Data interpretation and Integration Development and Commercialisation May 2005 Assessment of INSS 27

30 Impacts (sustaining stage) Benefits (longer term) Implementation of strategic objectives of the Irish Government in the marine sector Marine Information Network in place Ireland recognized as a world leader in marine data acquistion and application industry delivering leading edge marine decision support tools for resource management Sustainable industry providing jobs for highly qualified workforce Effective mechanisms for developing national and international opportunities Expanded national capacity and capability for high tech marine development activities Increased private sector investment in marine initiatives Marine-based industries empowered by tools to make management of marine resources easier for both government and private sector. Demand led delivery of strategic data and associated services Positive input to knowledge based economic growth Better value for money on State investment in marine data acquisition and integration Greater resolution & coordination of information issues within government departments and development of common standards and approaches Availability of strong decision support tools to facilitate management and development of the marine resource Improved networking within the marine information sector Means for key players, particularly State bodies, to get their messages out consistently and completely to their audiences Means of raising the image of the sector Easier, more affordable access to marine information Stronger Irish linkages to and increased funding from EU and global geo-spatial data programs and initiatives Better management of Irish marine resources, for sustainable economic development Greater, more consistent use of Irish and foreign marine technologies and services Stronger base for marine science More training and employment opportunities for well qualified workforce in marine sector Increased relationships with similar and synergistic activities outside Ireland (Canada, Australia, EU) Stronger base of domestic experience to promote offshore business for marine technology companies Better managed marine information projects in Ireland More sales of marine technology and services in worldwide by Irish suppliers May 2005 Assessment of INSS 28

31 APPENDIX 1 REPORTS CONSULTED 1. A Marine Research, Technology, Development and Innovation Strategy for Ireland: A National Team Approach. Marine Institute, A National Survey of Water-Based leisure Activities in Ireland Marine Institute, Draft Scenarios: International/National Context, 2020 Scenarios: A Discussion Document. Marine Foresight Exercise, Energy Research, Development and Demonstration: Consultation Paper. DCMNR, Evaluation of future use of seabed survey data to support future development and/or implementation of legislative/policy initiatives: a summary of requirements, Marine Institute, Feasibility Study on the Establishment of a Large Scale Inshore Resource Mapping Project. A Parsons et al., Marine Institute, Information Society Projects at the Marine Institute. J Evans, Infrastructure and R & D Projects supported under Measure 8 (Marine Research Measure) of the Operational Programme for Fisheries ( ). E Hyland, Integrated mapping of the UK marine and coastal zone the way forward. CEFAS, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) scientific drilling of a modern carbonate mound in the Porcupine Seabight, Geological Survey of Ireland, Ireland s Ocean Economy and Resources: A Briefing Document. MI, Irish National Seabed Survey Product Development and Commercialisation. Phase 1: Market Study/Business Case Analysis. Final Report. GSN Enterprises Corp et al, Irish National Seabed Survey. Sustaining the Impact: Draft for Discussion. Geological Survey of Ireland & Marine Institute, Irish Short Sea Shipping Inter-European Trade Corridors. Marine Institute, 2004 May 2005 Assessment of INSS 29

32 15. Irish Sea Marine Aggregates Initiative (IMAGIN) Introductory Document. Marine Institute et al, Making the Most of Ireland s Marine and Natural Resources, Strategy Statement , Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, Marine Data Exchange Service: A Submission to The Information Society Fund. Marine Institute, Marine Foresight Exercise March/April Marine Institute 19. Marine Institute Research Vessel Operations Strategy, Marine Institute 20. Marine Sector Global Analysis. Douglas-Westwood Ltd, Maximising Value from the National Seabed Survey: A Report on its Implementation. Geological Survey of Ireland, National Environmental Monitoring Programme for Transitional, Coastal & Marine Waters: A Discussion Document. Environmental Protection Agency, National Seabed Survey: Its impact on Irish Marine Science: Summary Note, Geological Survey of Ireland, December Navigating the Future: Summary of Integrating Marine Science in Europe. European Science Foundation, Marine Board, Progress Report on new Research Vessel build programme. M Gillooly, Marine Institute, Proposal for Phase 2. Irish National Seabed Survey Mapping the Resource: Upping the Potential (MAR-UP), Marine Institute and Geological Survey of Ireland, Report of the Natural Resources Panel. Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation. 28. Report on a seminar on the Seabed Survey. Geological Survey of Ireland and Marine Institute, Report on Research Infrastructure Deficits: Myth or Reality? Royal Irish Academy, Research Vessel Operations: 1998 Programme. M Gillooly, Marine Institute, May 2005 Assessment of INSS 30

33 31. Review and Evaluation of Marine Environmental Impact Indicators and their Application in Ireland. R Boelens et al, Marine Institute, RV Users Workshop: Celtic Explorer, Vessel Outline, Build Update. Marine Institute, Scientific Consultants Report: Phase 1 for the Seabed Survey of Ireland s Territory. Canadian Centre for Marine Communications, Seabed Survey Public Private Partnership Study. Marine Informatics Ltd, The future utilization of data from the National Seabed Survey: Law and Policy Background Paper. R Long, The launch of the Seabed Survey: Speech delivered on Friday 14 July, 2000 by the Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise, Mr Joe Jacob, TD 37. The Market Potential for National Seabed Survey Data Products. CSA, Value for Money Audit, Global Oceans Technologies (GoTech) Limited: Zone 3, Irish National Seabed Survey, Canadian Centre for Marine Communications, Ahead of the Curve, Ireland s Place in the Global Economy, Enterprise Strategy Group, July 2004 May 2005 Assessment of INSS 31

34 APPENDIX 2 Obligations imposed on the State by national and international law (after R. Long 2003) 1 International Obligations UNCLOS Delineation and Delimitation of Maritime Boundaries the accuracy of Irish baseline legislation and navigation charts has been challenged in a number of criminal cases. Continued collection of INSS hydrographic data will improve the adequacy and clarity of these and facilitate law enforcement at sea. Sovereign Rights over Natural Resources identification of the range and nature of non-living resources such as hydrocarbons, construction aggregates, industrial minerals and other deposits is paramount. Continued INSS seismic surveys and sediment sampling are required to delineate these more fully. Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment an express duty placed on all States. INSS can locate rare and fragile ecosystems and such data will be seminal in establishing protected areas. Additionally, seabed data is core to hydrodynamic ocean modelling that will provide predictive tools to assess the impact of marine pollution from shipping, dumping and land-based activities. SOLAS, UNCLOS, IMO Safety of Navigation dangers such as rocks, sandbanks and shoals pose a risk to safe navigation of vessels. The State as party to SOLAS is obliged accordingly to arrange for the establishment and maintenance of aids to navigation and to make available the appropriate information to all concerned. This is also consistent with both UNCLOS and the Territorial Sea Convention directives which oblige the State to give appropriate publicity to any danger of navigation, of which it has knowledge, within its territorial sea. At present Ireland is deficient in modern up-todate navigational charts (Figure 1). Continued and comprehensive mapping, both offshore and inshore, by INSS will be essential to update bathymetric charts and to identify navigational hazards such as rocks, sandbanks and shoals. Data from the INSS will also inform decisions and recommendations of the IMO regarding deep-water routes for vessels, areas to be avoided and other routing measures. Vessels are obliged to comply with such measures under the SOLAS Convention Figure 1: Admiralty Surveys including contract surveys done to Admiralty specification covering the British Isles up to 31 March, 2004 (Source: UKHO Chart Branch 1C (Scotland and Ireland)) UN Agreement for the Conservation and Management of Fish Stocks May 2005 Assessment of INSS 32