ASA provides services and technology solutions that address the need for balancing the various demands on marine areas and resources. This balance is most effectively achieved by Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), a multi-sector (e.g., fisheries, energy, transport) and multi-disciplinary (e.g., engineers, scientists, policy analysts, planners) process of allocation and assessment of anthropogenic ocean uses to achieve and meet ecological, economic, and social objectives. ASA has experience in the marine environment from both ecological and human perspectives while integrating science, technology, and policy to support successful marine spatial plan development.
For complex data management and processing, assessing the implications of data (e.g., fisheries, vessel tracks, bathymetry), modeling (e.g., currents, sediment transport, waves), and providing support for policies and legislation, ASA provides unrivaled expertise for marine spatial planning. Since 1979, ASA has specialized in marine ecology and biological modeling, mapping, and associated analyses. ASA is involved in most facets of anthropogenic ocean uses, such as offshore energy siting analysis including oil and gas and renewable energy development using a variety of modeling and data management tools. ASA also has experience in marine planning and regulation having prepared environmental impact assessments (EIA), environmental impact statements (EIS), and natural resource damage assessments (NRDA) for many projects.
Developing a thorough marine spatial plan and weighing options requires accurate data at appropriate scales and tools that can visualize and process multiple layers of data into summary maps and tables, visualizations, and representative indices for planners. These tasks require a science-based organization with understanding of all marine sectors. With trained policy analysts, marine biologists, fisheries scientists, physical oceanographers, computer modelers, data management experts, and fossil, nuclear and renewable energy experts all in one organization, ASA is a leader in the multi-sector, multi disciplinary approach critical to successful marine spatial planning.
Why Marine Spatial Planning?
The current method of ocean zoning for individual ocean uses does not provide the holistic ocean plan necessary to reach specific targets and goals (i.e. offshore renewable energy development or maximizing fisheries protection). Growing knowledge about marine environments, higher resolution data, and GIS being broadly used allows multi-sector issues to collaborate through marine spatial planning, such as where to place new developments while not to limit existing marine uses. Whether it is to balance ocean uses, maximize economies, protect marine habitats or promote new renewable energy development, marine spatial planning allows planners to weigh alternatives and develop plans that meet these goals.
Ocean resources lie at the core of coastal economies and with almost three billon people living in close proximity to the world’s coasts, the health of ocean resources is critical to both economic and environmental sustainability. Marine spatial planning can help maintain and restore valuable ocean resources while promoting sustainable marine use.
GIS & Data Integration
ASA has been involved in developing and utilizing environmental data management and Geographic Information Systems for water resources analysis since 1979. ASA’s diverse project experience and multi-industry contract work has led to a wide spectrum of cutting edge GIS applications and data solutions. ASA has confronted and met the challenge of integrating disparate environmental data often stored in non-GIS data formats and by a wide array of data providers by developing integration tools and support for normalizing and homogenizing various data formats. GIS and data integration services include:
- Integrated ocean observation and modeling
- Data Management and Communications (DMAC)
- Custom GIS applications
- Web-based map services
- Siting analysis using ASA's Renewable Energy Siting Toolbox℠
- Web services architecture design and implementation
- Marine forecasting integration
- Web-based interactive GIS systems
- Ecological Impact Assessment
- Ecological Service Value Index (ESVI)℠ measuring use by and of natural resources
To speak with someone from ASA about Marine Spatial Planning services and solutions, please contact us.