GIS and Environmental Management in the Sultanate of Oman
Dr. Chris Parker
Nortech Surveys (Canada) Inc.
Muscat Branch
P 0 Box 3082
Ruwi 112, Sultanate of Oman
Tel: (968) 699685 Fax: (968)696941
Dr. Chris Parker(1), Hanifa bint Mohammed AI-Kharousy(2) Mohammed bin Khalfan Ash-Shu'ayIi(3), Dr. J. Andrew Spalton(4), Dr. Robert P. Whitcombe(5)
1 GIS Specialist and Project Manager, Nortech Surveys (canada) Inc., Muscat Branch, Sultanate of Oman.
2 Head, GIS Section, Directorate-General of Technical Affairs, Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment, Sultanate of Oman.
3 Head of Permits Section, Directorate General of Nature Reserves, Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment, Sultanate of Oman.
4 Expert, Wildlife and Field Studies, Office of the Adviser for the conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal court, Sultanate of Oman.
5 Principal Environmental consultant, WS Atkins International, Epsom, United Kingdom.
| Abstract Of The Paper & The Profile of The Speaker | Speaker Index | Paper Title Index |
INTRODUCTION
We all have an interest in the management of the environment since the environment affects us all and the way in which we live. At the same time, by our actions, we all also have an impact on the environment. Population growth and the rapid pace of agricultural, urban and industrial development are placing increasing pressures on the global and regional environment and our impact upon it has never been of greater concern. Factors affecting the environment and mankind's management of natural resources are many and varied, and these may change as development takes place. In order to manage and mitigate our impact on the environment we therefore require tools and methods of analysis which help us to collate, analyse, model and monitor diverse data on our environment in a rapid and flexible manner. These tools should allow environmental scientists to communicate readily, to decision and policy makers, these analyses and their implications.
This paper considers the role of GIS as a tool for environmental management and illustrates its use in several projects within the Sultanate of Oman.
ROLE AND BENEFITS OF GIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
A primary role of GIS as a tool in environmental management is that it can serve as a means to integrate ever increasing volumes of diverse spatial and non-spatial environmental data, from numerous sources at local, regional and national scales into a manageable whole.
Since a GIS collates and manages environmental data in a standardised manner its use is likely to result in more efficient data collection and analysis, since common environmental data sets need be captured only once, but then can be used for many different functions, by many interested organisations. For example, flood risk maps captured on a GIS, can be available to planning, housing, communications and insurance organisations. The common use of environmental data sets minimises duplication of effort and helps engender the team approach required to tackle multi disciplinary environmental problems.
GIS database visualising tools provide all those with an interest in environmental matters with the means to visualise and analyse environmental data on the desktop. Users with little GIS experience are able to utilise GIS functionality to query, display and produce maps and reports from environmental data sets held in the GIS. In this way, environmental data, and the concerns and issues they portray are made available to a wider audience in a clearer way.
Preventing or mitigating environmental impacts often requires the consideration of a number of environmental attributes, whose relationships may be dynamic in that they change over time and in their spatial relationships. GIS functionality provides the environmental manager with a powerful set of tools for modeling spatial problems where several layers of graphical and tabular data may be involved. For example, well field protection involves taking account of potential hazards to the well field from flooding risk, septic tanks, storage tanks and industrial areas, and delineating buffer zones to protect well fields from such hazards. GIS can resolve these spatial problems accurately and rapidly.
Because of its spatial modeling capabilities GIS can provide useful support to management decision making. 'What if type models can be run in GIS to simulate the effects of adopting different environmental policy options. A more informed choice can then be made by using GIS as a decision support tool. It can also be used to display the results of other environmental models such as air and water pollution dispersion models together with other layers of information held in the GIS to 'add value' to analytical results and their implications.
GIS can be particularly valuable in an environmental monitoring role to identify and delineate spatial changes in environmental conditions over time. For example, changes
in coastal saline intrusion, water temperature and quality or emissions from a pollutant source. Or changes in the spatial behaviour of wild animals. These changes may be difficult to detect in a tabular form but their spatial expression may provide the basis for further investigation and the key to understanding external influences.
GIS provides a measure of flexibility and timeliness when responding to environmental questions. Since the GIS data set can be readily updated in the light of new information or changes in environmental conditions it maintains a far greater currency than a paper map which may be several years old and represents only a snapshot of environmental conditions at a point in time. When the environmental GIS is updated the result of the query is also updated, as are the results of the environmental model to which that new data element was added. Hence the environmental GIS can be more responsive to dealing with environmental issues such as environmental contingency planning or disaster management.
GIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN OMAN
Table 1 outlines some categories of environmental management in which GIS may have application within the Sultanate. GIS has already been used within the Sultanate to address a number of environmental issues. It has been employed by Arabian Mapping Company in a land use study of Dhofar (Travers Morgan, 1996) utilising SPOT and Landsat TM imagery together with extensive field work. It was also used by the Planning Committee for Development and Environment in the Southern Region (PCDESR) to map ecologically distinct khawr (lagoon) environments (PC DESR, 1993). Flood risk maps within the Ministry of Water Resources are currently being produced utilising GIS (Parker, et. al., 1995). An early examination of the potential of GIS, combined with satellite imagery, was in the multi-disciplinary Wahaiba Sands Project (Kay, 1988). In this case, however, it appeared that, though the remote sensing was valuable in the preparation of a geomorphological classification, the GIS potential had not yet been fully exploited for the management of the sensitive Wahiba ecosystem.
Three further examples of the use of GIS in environmental management are described below. The first describes the use of GIS on the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary and particularly how a large amount of relevant data were captured in a short time with the cooperation of a number of organisations within the Sultanate. The second is an example of the use of GIS for environmental sensitivity mapping and the third describes the application of GIS in an environmental protection role, in this case, aquifer protection.
GIS AND THE ARABIAN ORYX SANCTUARY
The Arabian or white oryx (Oryx leucoryx) was exterminated from the wild in 1972. In 1976 His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Said decided that a way should be found to allow the return of the oryx to Oman. This was done and in 1982 the first oryx were released into the desert of the Jiddat al-Harasis in Al Wusta region of Oman (Stanley Price, 1989).
With careful management the oryx population grew and in January 1994 a Royal Decree formally established the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (AOS). It is the Sultanate's first National Park and encompasses 33,920 square kilometres of Al Wusta (Central) Region. In recognition of the success of the reintroduction and of the ecological, geological and wilderness value of the area the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, was inscribed on the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in December, 1994.
The Government body responsible for the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary is the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment. Their primary objectives for the AOS are, for the benefit of present and future generations of mankind, to pursue policies, programmes and projects aimed at:-
_ the conservation of biological diversity and the
maintenance of essential ecological processes and life
support systems,
_ the protection of ethnological, archaeological, historical
and geological features of interest,
_ the improvement of economic, social and cultural
conditions in a manner that is sustainable and does not
conflict with the above.
The main reasons for establishing boundaries for the
Sanctuary (and other conservation areas in Oman) are to:
_ preserve selected examples of Oman's wildlife communities
and their physical environments,
_ preserve populations of endemic and threatened species of
wild plants and animals
_ protect selected sites or areas of scenic beauty,
wilderness value or of special interest.
The boundaries would, where feasible;
_ encompass all or some of the important features,
attributes and ecosystems of the area that have contributed
to its world heritage status,
_ exclude those activities that may be in conflict with
world heritage values, and
_ be chosen such that conservation values are
attainable,
_ facilitate the implementation of management activities
within the Sanctuary,
_ take into account the ease with which they can be
delineated and enforced on the ground.
The planning and zoning system proposed was developed with
reference to:
_ The report 'Sultanate of Oman: Proposal For A System Of
Nature Conservation Areas' (IUCN, 1986)
_ 'Operational Guidelines For The Implementation Of The
World Heritage Convention' (UNESCO, 1994).
In order to develop land use and management plans for the
Sanctuary, and to assist in determining the boundary and
planning and management zones (Whitcombe, 1996), a GIS was
initiated for the project within The Directorate General of
Technical Affairs, Ministry of Regional Municipalities and
Environment.
GIS Development
The objectives of developing a GIS for the project were
to:
_ draw together much of the existing data on the Sanctuary
into a manageable whole
_display all attributes relating to the area and their
distribution, whether they were of value or a potential
threat to the integrity of the Sanctuary,
_use the spatial analyses functions to help establish
boundaries and management zones that maximised the inclusion
within the Sanctuary, of those assets which contribute most
to its value, and
_provide assistance to further planning and management
activities in the Sanctuary.
The stages involved in establishing a GIS database for the project are set out in figure 1. The AOS project GIS was built on earlier work carried out by the Arabian Mapping Company using Landast TM imagery, supplied by Petroleum Development Oman (P DO) and CAD overlays (Whitcombe, 1995). Landsat TM imagery was selected as a mapping base because firstly, it portrayed desert landforms which contributed in part to the delineation of planning zones and secondly, because no recent mapping was available at a suitable scale. In addition to this existing data, and as a result of scoping for all relevant data in the area, a large number of attributes were obtained, relating either to the natural heritage values of the Sanctuary or to existing and potential developments which might pose a threat to the integrity of the Sanctuary. The information provided (see table 2) was the result of the cooperation of many Government organizations, committees and individuals within the Sultanate, with conservation and other interests in the area.
This data was divided into base data and attributes whose presence would determine their suitability for inclusion or exclusion from the Sanctuary. Data accuracy and formats were then assessed and data assigned to one of three categories of specific GIS layers. Where possible, base mapping data were captured according to the Sultanate of Oman GIS digital base mapping specification layers (ESRI, 1993). Project specific base data were held in specifically designed project layers. For example, data on large mammal, radio collared ibex and oryx sitings. Similarly, analytical coverages, derived from spatial analyses of national base data or project specific data were also held in the database. These layers included the results of spatial analyses used to produce the core zone boundaries, buffer analyses and 'point in polygon analyses' of population and planning zones. Data conversion routines were written to load data into the GIS. Data layers were assigned a positional accuracy code to provide a key to the suitability of using them for specifc tasks (Parker, et. al., 1995). Some data were not georeferenced and could not therefore be incorporated directly into the GIS.
Project expertise, with first hand knowledge of the area, was employed to define draft Sanctuary boundaries using a combination of 1:100,000 scale maps, Landsat TM imagery and GIS views and queries. These were then refined using visual inspection and GIS analyses to ensure that the desireable features of the area, from a heritage and conservation point of view, were incorporated into the Sanctuary. For example, using detailed records of Oryx sightings obtained for eight six monthly periods, between 1992 and 1996 a core area (Zone 1) was determined using the GIS. For each of these periods a boundary was mapped on the GIS. Though the location and extent of the 'six monthly core areas' varied considerably, largely due to the distribution of rainfall preceding and during each period (Spalton, 1995), by overlaying these eight mapped "short term core" areas, a central area was very evident, which the oryx used in each six month period. The use of this overlay technique from the eight sets of data reduced the 'error' due to erratic rainfall, and a central core area could be recognised and established. This delineation was then modified to take account of important ibex habitats, the White Oryx Project field headquarters and a graded road. Buffering analysis was used to define boundaries within 1 km of major roads and prominent escarpments.
Using visual inspection, first hand knowledge and the GIS database, four main planning zones were defined. These were based on the biosphere reserve principles (UNESCO, 1995) which indicate core, buffer and transition zones but modified to suit local conditions and the particular requirements of the Sanctuary.
Zone I - Special Protection Zone
A relatively small area intended to be a 'Safe Haven' for the Arabian oryx, in times of drought for example, and considered essential to the long term survival of the population. The zone is representative of the Jiddah fog desert ecosystem and in this area human disturbance would be minimized.
Zone II - Controlled Use Zone (Corresponding to core area of a Biosphere reserve)
Includes areas regularly used by the Oryx over the last five years and large tracts of land that contain good examples of most of the important biological resources of the Sanctuary. These include the escarpment and hills, springs and pools, sites of geological and archeological interest and two coastal lagoons of regional importance for bird life (Evans, 1984). Access would be allowed but controlled and infrastructure kept to a minimum. Grazing and temporary encampments would be managed to protect grazing resources and the wilderness areas.
Zone III- Buffer Zone (Corresponds to buffer zone of a Biosphere reserve)
The buffer zone surrounds the core zones (1 and 2). The uses and management activities in this zone are intended to protect the inner zones, but a number of sites of geomorphological, geological and archaeological importance are also encompassed.
Zone IV- Utility Zone
These are areas within which essential infrastructure is to be planned and sited to minimize impact on the Sanctuary's resources. These areas will include permanent infrastructure to serve local nec eds as well as Sanctuary management requirements, such as administration, research, visitor centre, accommodation and camping sites.
In addition three other zones were also defined:
Special Use Zones
This zone can be superimposed on zones 2, 3 and 4 when deemed in the national interest. Liaison procedures and guidelines are being agreed to minimize environmental impact and developmental activity will be preceded by environmental impact assessments.
Coastal Region Study Area (CRSA)
A temporary planning designation pending further studies that should result in the definition of further planning zones.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA's)
These are areas outside the Sanctuary where MRME, through its EIA procedures will make efforts to ensure that unnecessary damage does not occur to the land or wildlife.
Draft maps depicting Sanctuary boundaries, planning and management zones and environmental attributes were produced at 1:500,000 scale for review by the organisations concerned (figures 2 and 3). Following this review process the boundaries and planning and management zones will be updated. There is then a need to refine the boundaries at a larger scale in order to determine their exact location on the ground. This would for example, take account of 'haylah', shallow depressions a few hundred metres in diameter, containing better vegetation, that typically have not been comprehensively mapped and which could not be accounted for at 1:100,000 scale.
Advantages Of GIS Approach In The Planning Process
The GIS work described above took place over a period of three months and so the use of GIS on the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary is still in its early days. The major advantages in using GIS to date, have been:
_the ability to draw together many diverse data sources relating to environmental management including; paper and data base records, field notes, paper and digital maps, satellite imagery, photographs and even opinions, into a visual digital framework that could be stored and queried,
_relatively easy recognition of attributes and land uses that would, if not excluded, detract from the heritage value of the Sanctuary,
_the use of GIS spatial analysis overlay and buffering functions to rapidly establish planning and management zones and their extents,
_the inclusion of satellite imagery to provide a broad overview of the Sanctuary and its attributes
_the ability to alter boundaries as new information came to light,
_the ability for non GIS practitioners, scientists and decision-makers to become rapidly acquainted with the data and issues through a GIS viewing interface,
_the provision of a GIS based methodology for assisting in the establishment of other reserves and conservation areas within the Sultanate.
Many of the advantages of the GIS are yet to be realised. For example, the system can now be used to define detailed Sanctuary boundaries on the ground taking account of locally determined landform and vegetatative features. There is also a pressing need for vegetation mapping and rangeland surveys, using satellite imagery, landform analysis and field work in order to establish the quality and broad carrying capacity of grazing. Detailed archaeological surveys are also required as a basis for establishing management plans.
GIS AND OIL PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
A large oil company client required oil sensitivity maps, at 1:25,000 scale, to show sensitive areas in the event of a potential oil spill, for incorporation into its disaster contingency planning guidelines. The mapping extent was defined by a 3 km wide pipeline corridor of 500 and 2500m on the up slope and down slope sides, respectively.
The requirement was to identify all topographic features related to slope and elevation potential sources of ignition, areas most sensitive to spill damage and resources of potential use in a clean-up operation (Conti, 1995). These were identified as follows:
|
Pipeline facilities & Sources of Ignition |
Areas Most Sensitive to Spill Damage |
Potential Clean Up Resources |
|
Oil & Gas pipelines |
Wadis |
Quarry material (dams) |
|
Block valve stations |
Falaj |
Distance to ROP stations |
|
Cathodic protection stations |
Water supplies |
Roads & tracks (access) |
|
Electric cables |
Cultivated land |
Water supplies |
|
Villages, houses, buildings |
Other land uses |
Health Services |
Arabian Mapping Company obtained the above information using a combination of photogrammetry and field work. Photo control for 1:25,000 scale aerial photography was carried out using differential GPS methods (Nortech, 1994). Photogrammetric data capture provided most of the map feature information with data on pipelines chainages, pipeline diameter and type, block valve stations, location and distance to utilities being obtained externally.
To fulfill the client's requirement for differential relief shading between contours, and to indicate the direction of wadi flow, a digital terrain model (DTM) was created from the captured topographic data. In order to decrease processing times and to overcome interpolation distance limits in the third party processing software being used, in house DTM software was developed (Conti, 1995). By incorporating spatial indexing techniques processing time was reduced from around 24 hours to 30 minutes per map sheet (Conti, 1995).
The resulting DTM was imported into an image processing package as a raster data set and algolrithms were developed to produce combined hill shading with colour drape.
Finally, sections of the pipeline corridor were classified according to their environmental sensitivity and hence the appropriate level of response in the event of an oil spill emergency. This was based on population density, proximity of cultivation, roads and water sources, slope and the physical nature of the ground surface and field analysis. Both hard copy map sheets (figure 4) and digital data, prepared with the correct topology for easy import into the clients in-house GIS, were delivered.
GIS provided the means to draw together diverse data sets, analyse and present the results to the user in a manner which could be rapidly assimilated for decision making.
GIS AND AQUIFER PROTECTION ZONES
Aquifer and well field protection zones are currently collated within the Ministry of Water Resources from a number of diverse sources including paper maps, reports, database tables and field observations. The factors affecting aquifer and well field protection are many and varied, and change as development and other environmental influences change. Maps are largely a static representation of a temporary situation and can quickly become outdated (Barrocu and Biallo, 1993). There is a need therefore to design a protection zone framework or methodology which not only collates the diverse data sources required but also incorporates the dynamic factors influencing the protected area and the decision rules on which the protection zone is based. This framework must be sufficiently flexible to allow changes in protection zone controls and development.
GIS are dynamically able to represent aquifer protection data at varying scales and are rapid and flexible in analysing raster, vector and tabular data from imagery, digital maps and field observations (Barrocu and Biallo, 1993). Al Harthy (1995) used GIS as a framework to collate the required data, produce a GIS model which emulated the decision making process in defining aquifer protection zones and incorporated this into a viewing interface to present data and zoning options to decision-makers.
Data collected and integrated into the GIS included information from Landsat TM, geological maps, groundwater levels, wadi channels, well and borehole locations, groundwater salinity, potential point and diffuse pollutant sources such as (petrol stations, pipelines and farm land), photographs, text files and legal regulations. A groundwater flow surface was computed and used to assess the direction of potential pollutants. Using buffer distances assigned to potential pollutant sources and travel times, aquifer protection zone options (figure 5) were established to which different protection regulations could be applied. Spatial analyses were used to define an initial well field protection zone within the aquifer.
GIS allowed the creation of a spatial information management tool for aquifer and well field protection and, by using a viewing interface, the ability to present this information in a form easily used and accessible to scientists and decision-makers without them requiring detailed knowledge of GIS and its functionality. Figure 6 illustrates how different types of data associated with aquifer protection can be seen at a glance. Here images of pollutant source locations and dumping operations, text files listing regulations associated with a potential pollutant source, and maps of the aquifer are all brought together.
A non-parametric modeling approach was used here. Depending on the availability of data and expertise GIS can be integrated with more complex grid based modeling approaches.
The application also serves as a springboard for
developing related groundwater protection applications such
as; screening planning applications, monitoring the current
contaminant situation, logging violations, policing
regulations, performing 'what-if' analyses and designing
contingency plans.
REFERENCES
Barrocu, G. and Biallo, G. (1993). Application of GIS
for aquifer vulnerability
evaluation in: HydroGIS 93: Application of Geographic
Information Systems in
Hydrology and Water Resources. Proceedings of the Vienna
Conference, April 1993).
IAHS Publication Number 21.
Conti, J.F. (1995). Final Report for Oil Sensitivity
Mapping. Arabian Mapping
Company lIc, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
ESRI (1993). Sutlanate of Oman Geographic Information
System Digital Base Mapping
Specifications for 1:100,000 scale mapping. Revised June
1993, prepared for National
Survey Authority, Sultanate of Oman.
Evans, M.I. (1994). Important Bird Areas in the
Middle East. Bird Life Conservation
Series No: 2. Birdlife International, Cambridge,
United Kingdom.
Al Haithy, S.A.H. (1995). The Use of GIS in Managing
Groundwater and Well Field
Protection Zones. MSc Thesis, Department of Geography,
University of Durham
United Kingdom.
International Union for the Conservation of Nature,
(1986). Sultanate of Oman:
Proposal For A System Of Nature Conservation Areas.
Kay, S. (1988). Geographic Information Systems: An
integrated database for Badiyah.
Pp.47-54 in: Dutton, R.W. (ed.) The Scientific
Results of the Royal Geographical
Society's Oman Wahaiba Sands Project 1985 - 1987, The
Journal of Oman Studies
Special Report Number 3, Office of the Adviser for
Conservation of the Environment,
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Nortech (1993). Photo-control. Contract 737: Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman.
Parker, C.J., Burden, P.J. and AI-Busaidi, H. (1995).
The Development of Water
Resource Applications: Concerns and Issues.
Planning Committee for Development and Environment in the
Governorate of
Dhofar (1993). Khawrs and Springs of the Dhofar Governorate.
In two volumes: Survey
and Monitoring Studies; Land Use Proposals. Planning
Committee for Development
and Environment in the Governorate of Dhofar, Salalah,
Sultanate of Oman.
Spalton, J.A. (1995). Effects of rainfall on the
reproduction and mortality of the Arabian
oryx Oryx leucoryx (Pallas) in the Sultanate of Oman.
PhD Thesis, University of
Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Stanley Price, M.R. (1989). Animal Re-introductions:
the Arabian Oryx in Oman.
Cambridge University Press. 291 pp.
Travers Morgan (1996). Detailed Land Use Study in Jabal
Dhofar, Phase I, Survey of
Current Conditions, Final Report, June 1996 (in four
volumes). Supreme Committee for
Town Planning, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
UNESCO (1994). Operational Guidelines for the
implementation Of The World
Heritage Convention. WHCI2/Revised, February 1994.
Intergovernmental Committee
for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage, UNESCO, Paris.
UNESCO (1995). The Seville Strategy for Biosphere
Reserves. Nature and Resources
32 (2): 2-17.
Whitcombe, R.P. (1995). The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary:
Preliminary Land Use and
Management Plan. Directorate General of Nature
Protectorates, Ministry of Regional
Municipalities and Environment, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
86pp and 3 maps.
Whitcombe, R.P. (1996). The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary Land
Use and Management
Plans. Report on revised boundary, planning and
management zones and permitted
activities: Directorate General of Nature Protectorates,
Ministry of Regional
Municipalities and Environment, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
41pp and 2 maps.
List of Tables
Table 1: Areas of Environmental Management in which GIS
can be Applied.
Table 2: Attributes Used to Determine Sanctuary Boundaries,
Planning and Management Zones and Their Associated Data
Sources.
List of Figures
Figure 1: Arabian Oryx Sanctuary - GIS Development
Methodology.(64K GIF Image File)
Figure 2: Draft Arabian Oryx Sanctuary Boundaries, Planning
and Management Zones.(96K JPEG Image
File)
Figure 3: GIS Viewing Interface Illustrating Data Captured
for the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary GIS.(96K
JPEG Image File)
Figure 4: Extract from Oil and Gas Pipeline Environmental
Sensitivity Map.(128K JPEG Image
File)
Figure 5: Example GIS Derived Aquifer Protection Zone
Options Compared to Conventionally Derived
Options.(96K JPEG Image File)
Figure 6: GIS Viewing Interface to Aquifer Protection Zone
GIS.(128K JPEG Image File)
Table 1: Areas of Environmental Management in which
GIS can be Applied
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORIES
_ Land use surveys
_ Rangeland surveys
_ Coastal zone resource surveys
_ Wildlife and endangered species inventories
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS
_ Contaminated land inventories
ENIVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
_ Route selection for roads and pipelines
_ Oil field development
_ Mines and quarries development
_ Agricultural development (including irrigation)
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKIHAZARD ASSESSMENT
_ Flood hazards
_ Landslip hazards
_ Geological hazards
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
_ Oil spill sensitivity analysis
_ Aquifer vulnerability mapping
_ Coastal zone sensitivity mapping
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTINGENCY PLANNING
_ Oil spill contingency planning
_ Flood contingency plans
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MONITORING
_ Conservation area planning
_ Coastal zone planning
_ Land use planning
_ Air quality monitoring
_ Noise pollution monitoring
_ Water quality monitoring
_ Aquifer and well head protection zones
_ Wildlife protection and monitoring
Table 2: Attributes Used to Determine Sanctuary
Boundaries, Planning and Management Zones and Their
Associated Data Sources
|
Included Areas |
Category |
Attributes |
Source |
|
Base data |
Base mapping |
Concession boundaries |
PDO |
|
Exclude |
Agric.&fishing |
Coastal fishery activity |
MCI |
|
Exclude |
Extractive Industry |
Existing & potential quarries |
MPM |
|
Exclude |
Infrastructure |
Primary & secondary roads |
PDO,WOP,AOSPT |
|
Exclude |
Special uses |
Special land uses |
Various |
|
Include |
Wildlife |
Bird breeding locations |
WOP,OBRC |
|
Include |
Archaeology |
Archaeological and culturally significant
sites |
MNHC,WOP |
|
Include |
Geology |
Fossil locations |
PDO,MNHC,MWR |
|
Include |
Landscape |
Areas of outstanding natural beauty |
WOP,AOSPT,MRME |
|
Include |
Natural Vegetation |
Acacia & Prosopis woodlands |
WOP |
|
Include |
Natural Water |
Springs, sinkholes & natural water holes |
MWR,AOSPT,WOP |
AOSPT - Arabian Oryx sanctuary Planning Team
MAFW - Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth
MCI - Ministry of commerce & Industry (Coastal Zone
Management Studies)
MNHC - Ministry of National Heritage & Culture
MOD - Ministry of Development
MOH - Ministry of Housing
MPM - Ministry of Petroleum & Minerals
MRME - Ministry of Regional Municipalities &
Environment
MWR - Ministry of Water Resources
OBRC - Oman Bird Records Committee
PCDESR - Planning Committee for Development Environment in
the Southern Region
PDO - Petroleum Development (Oman)
SCTP - Supreme Committee for Town Planning
SQU - Sultan Qaboos University
WOP - White Oryx Project, Diwan of Royal Court
| Abstract Of The Paper & The Profile of The Speaker | Speaker Index | Paper Title Index |
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