ABPmer to showcase pollution risk management expertise at International Corrosion Workshop
October 15, 2010
ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer) will showcase its expertise in pollution risk management at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Sanctuary’s International Corrosion Workshop being held in Newport News, Virginia, USA from 18 to 20 October, 2010.
Nicola Goodwyn, maritime archaeologist and GIS consultant at ABPmer, has been invited by NOAA to present a paper on potential risk analysis techniques that could be employed in prioritizing underwater heritage assets and will also outline factors that affect preservation of shipwrecks.
ABPmer recently developed a database of potentially polluting shipwrecks for the entire UK continental shelf and a risk assessment protocol to classify each wreck.. The presentation will highlight what risk factors the built-in assessment protocol considers when classifying each shipwreck with either, high, medium, or low potential as a pollution hazard.
The workshop seeks to address corrosion issues associated with undersea threats worldwide and will bring together shipwreck pollution, corrosion experts, and relevant government agencies from across the world to help to identify gaps in the understanding of these key issues; to pin-point emerging technologies to assist understanding, share existing proven strategies and technology; and ultimately to inform development of an appropriate method for assessing marine corrosion which allows for compatible data sharing.
Nicola Goodwyn explained, “This workshop is an opportunity for experts from multiple disciplines to come together to share and leverage expertise as to how corrosion impacts a range of resource management issues, whether potentially polluting wrecks, military munitions or historical artefacts.
ABPmer has been asked to contribute in recognition of our ongoing research and development interest in predictive risk algorithm models to assess the pollutant potential of historic and modern shipwrecks. Additionally, we will sit on a panel of experts to answer questions relating to the challenges of assessment and monitoring these underwater assets.”
ABPmer offers a wide range of GIS and Data Management services ranging from data capture to the development of tailor-made GIS software solutions and databases.
Projects within the marine environment often pose unique challenges, ABPmer’s dedicated team of data professionals have developed a series of tools and techniques that resolve complex data analysis and information presentation issues. Staff expertise includes programming, customisation, development, data acquisition, metadata management, advanced spatial analysis and information presentation.
Enquiries:
Tracey Hewett
ABPmer Communications
Tel: 02380 711840
