Marine spatial planning and oil spill risk analysis: finding common grounds
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Catarina Frazão Santos1, Jaqueline Michel, Mário Neves
1Centro de Oceanografia, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal; Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516-9721, USA.
Abstract:
A flow of key information links marine spatial planning (MSP) and oil spill risk analysis (OSRA), two distinct processes needed to achieve true sustainable management of coastal and marine areas. OSRA informs MSP on areas of high risk to oil spills allowing a redefinition of planning objectives and the relocation of activities to increase the ecosystem's overall utility and resilience. Concomitantly, MSP continuously generates a large amount of data that is vital to OSRA. The Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping system emerges as an operational tool to implement the MSP-OSRA link. Given the high level of commonalities between ESI and MSP data (both in biophysical and human dimensions), ESI tools (both paper maps and dynamic GIS-based product) are easily developed to further inform MSP and oil spill risk management. Finally, several other benefits from implementing the MSP-OSRA link are highlighted.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Manipulation and Analysis
Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Marine Microbial Ecology

