Develping a Methodology for the Mapping and Characterization of the Nigerian Coastline Using Remote Sensing

Coastline delineation is important in maritime boundary determination, as well as for analyzing coastline change rates due to coastal erosion, sea level change, storms, and other causes. Coastline change rate estimates depend on the uncertainty of the current and historical coastlines used in the analysis, which, in turn, depend on the surveying technologies and techniques that were originally used. Current techniques for coastline mapping include photogrammetric delineation using tide-coordinated aerial imagery. However, in many developing countries, the charted coastlines may have been inadequately and inconsistently mapped largely due to inadequate resources. This paper describes the use of an automated technique for coastline mapping and classification that is based on satellite imagery. A spectral analysis using different image bands can be used to define the land/water boundary and characterize the coastal area around the coastline. A first-order uncertainty analysis was also performed. The satellite-derived coastlines were compared to charted coastlines to evaluate the adequacy and consistency of the charted coastlines. The satellite-derived coastlines were also compared to coastlines derived from historical maps to assess changes and change rates. The results of the coastline uncertainty analysis were then used to compute propagated uncertainties in coastline change rate estimates and to gain greater insight into actual changes. The procedure was developed in a GIS environment using study sites along the Nigerian coastline. However, this procedure can be applied to other poorly charted/mapped coastal areas as well

Beyond the Chart: The use of Satellite Remote Sensing for Assessing the Adequacy and Completeness Information

Chart adequacy and completeness information consists of the symbols, abbreviations and warnings used to inform mariners of the level of confidence that should be given to data on a nautical chart. This information is derived both from the nautical chart and sailing directions. However, analysis based solely on these datasets is limited without access to the sources (e.g., smooth sheets). Publically-available, multi-spectral satellite imagery and published algorithms can be used to derive estimates of the relative bathymetry in shallow, clear waters. In this study, we evaluate the potential of these methods for supplementing the procedure to assess the adequacy of hydrographic surveying and nautical charting coverage. Optically-derived bathymetry provides information in areas that have not been surveyed and monitor any seafloor changes that may have occurred since the last survey of the area. Preliminary results show that multi-spectral satellite remote sensing is also potentially beneficial as a reconnaissance tool prior to a hydrographic acoustic survey

Spectral characterization of the Nigerian shoreline using Landsat imagery

The challenges of shoreline mapping include the high costs of acquiring up-to-date survey data over the coastal area. As a result, in many developing countries, the shoreline has not been consistently mapped. The variety of methods used for this mapping and the large time differences between the surveys (on the order of decades) could result in inaccuracies in shoreline data. This study presents the development of a shoreline characterization procedure for the Nigerian coastline using satellite remote sensing technology. The study goal is to produce a complete, consistent and continuous shoreline map using publicly available data processed in a GIS environment. A spectral analysis using different satellite bands was conducted to define the land/water boundary and characterize the coastal area around the shoreline. The satellite-derived shorelines were compared to charted shorelines for adequacy and consistency. The procedure was developed based on study sites along the Nigerian coastline. Although the shoreline characterization procedure is developed based on datasets from Nigeria, the procedure should be suitable for use in mapping other developing areas around world

Development of a Geo-spatial Analysis Methodology for Assessing the Adequacy of Hydrographic Surveying and Nautical Charts

IHO Publication C-55 (Status of Hydrographic Surveying and Nautical Charting Worldwide) contains information about the progress of hydrographic surveying and nautical charting for a country with navigable waters under its jurisdiction. Listed primarily as percent coverage, it is difficult to use this information to determine: 1) if the current level of surveying or charting is adequate or in need of action, or 2) can be used to compare different locations. An analysis and assessment methodology has been developed to assess the adequacy hydrographic surveying and nautical charting coverage. Indications of chart adequacy and completeness as depicted on current charts or sailing directions are spatially correlated with significant maritime sites/areas associated with social, environmental and economic factors. The procedure was developed in a GIS environment for Belize and Nigeria. Areas within the charts were prioritized based on zone of confidence, source diagrams, chart quality symbols/indicators, doubtful danger markings, survey completeness, navigationally-significant depths, and areas of significant maritime importance

Future directions in hydrography using satellite-derived bathymetry

Satellite remote sensing provides useful reconnaissance tool for mapping near-shore bathymetry, characterizing a coastal area and monitoring any seafloor changes that may have occurred since the last hydrographic survey of the area. At the 2012 Canada Hydro conference, a study was presented on the potential use of Landsat satellite imagery to map shallow-water bathymetry in a GIS environment over three study sites. Since then, several collaborations between the current study group and various hydrographic organizations were established with the goal of implementing optically-derived bathymetry as part of their data acquiring procedure. Bathymetry over additional study sites around the world was tested. Also, different commercial software packages were evaluated to provide an affordable processing platform for hydrographic offices in developing countries. In this paper, an overview will be provided on the advances that have been achieved in the past year and an update and future directions of the study

Monitoring Near-Shore Bathymetry Using a Multi-Image Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Approach

ABSTRACT Two advanced survey systems for hydrographic surveying are multi-beam echsounder (MBES) and airborne lidar bathymetry (ALB). Compared to more traditional hydrographic surveying methods, these systems provide both highly accurate and a dense coverage of depth measurements. However, high cost and logistic challenges that are required for either type of hydrographic survey operation limit the number of surveys and coverage area that can be conducted. As a result, most survey efforts primarily focus on updating existing chart information, and do not provide more enhanced charting capabilities, such as identifying dynamic seafloor areas or monitoring changes due to natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, floods, or tsunamis) along the charted coastlines. An alternative reconnaissance approach is the use of Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB). Although SDB provide bathymetry products at a coarser spatial resolution compared to MBES or ALB, satellite imagery can be repeatedly collected over the same area. In addition, some of the multi-spectral satellite imagery is publically-available, and at low at no cost. In this paper, we describe a practical approach that is based on a multitemporal analysis of the SDB using Landsat 8 imagery. The study results presented here are based on a time series of two sites (Barnegat Bay Inlet, NJ and Nantucket Sound, MA). Preliminary results indicate that it is possible to identify both stable and dynamic seafloor areas that have implications for charting and coastal zone management application

Psychiatry and neurodevelopmental disorders: experts by experience, clinical care and research.

People with neurodevelopmental disorders often present with challenging behaviours and psychiatric illnesses. Diagnosis and treatment require patients, families and healthcare professionals to work closely together in partnership, acknowledging their respective areas of expertise. Good treatment outcomes should also be underpinned by robust research evidence. Key research priorities are highlighted

Quantum Relativity of Subsystems

One of the most basic notions in physics is the partitioning of a system into subsystems, and the study of correlations among its parts. In this work, we explore these notions in the context of quantum reference frame (QRF) covariance, in which this partitioning is subject to a symmetry constraint. We demonstrate that different reference frame perspectives induce different sets of subsystem observable algebras, which leads to a gauge-invariant, frame-dependent notion of subsystems and entanglement. We further demonstrate that subalgebras which commute before imposing the symmetry constraint can translate into non-commuting algebras in a given QRF perspective after symmetry imposition. Such a QRF perspective does not inherit the distinction between subsystems in terms of the corresponding tensor factorizability of the kinematical Hilbert space and observable algebra. Since the condition for this to occur is contingent on the choice of QRF, the notion of subsystem locality is frame-dependent