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ICZM / Methods, Tools and Techniques
The ICZM process must be supported
with a range of methods, tools and techniques. These
instruments will give the people who are doing ICZM the
information they need and helps them taking decisions.
Some of these instruments are useful during all stages,
others are advantageous in specific stages only. An overview
is given in the figure below. We distinguish the following
broad classes of useful methods, tools and techniques:
- policy analysis
- data management/GIS
- data collection/Remote Sensing
- evaluation and assessment techniques
- policy tools
Policy analysis
Policy analysis is a methodology to assist policymakers
in searching for a solution for complex problems involving
social issues and non comparable values. It is applied
during the first stages of the starting up of an ICZM
program (Initiation - Planning). The Policy Analysis methodology
describes the search for a solution in a number of steps
starting with a problem analysis and ending with ranking
alternative developments for a specific project. More
information on Policy Analysis can be found in the CoastLearn
module. |
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Data
Management/GIS
The database is the backbone of ICZM.
Often, the database is the medium through which managers
and scientists communicate. Scientists put their data
in the system (e.g., time series) and the database expert
retrieves it in the format the manager understands (e.g.,
graphs and maps). It is the place were different
types of information come together, especially information
from nature sciences and economy
The design of the database must be carefully
planned to suite the needs of an ICZM program. Central
questions for the design are: What basic and applied types
of data are needed?, and how can the information derived
from these data be presented in its most useful form?
For spatial planning purposes, including coastal zone
management, it may be useful to organize the information
in geographical units corresponding to the reality. Within
each unit, four basic types of information can be defined:
social, economical, spatial and environmental
As much information involved in ICZM (but
not all) is spatial, i.e., has x and y co-ordinates attached
to it, a Geographical Information System (GIS) will be
an integral part of the database management system.
A GIS is a computer program especially designed to store,
process and display spatial data. Basically, they
come in two types, raster and vector based systems. The
raster systems have the advantage that they can handle
remotely sensed data very well. Read more on GIS in the
CoastLearn module
Because GIS tend to become more and more
user-friendly and easily output nice graphs and maps,
users should be aware of the axiom: "rubbish in, rubbish
out". This means that the quality of the output of a
database depends on the quality of the input. For example,
with only three measuring points a nice detailed interpolated
map could be constructed suggesting a dense and accurate
sampling network. Thus, standards for data quality must
be formulated and stored with the data itself |
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Data
Collection/Remote Sensing
Remote sensing, i.e., observing from a distance,
is a technique applied to gather large amounts of spatial
data over large areas. A remote sensing system consists
of a sensor which is sensitive to reflected light or sound
waves and a computer which regularly reads the response
of the sensors and stores it. The sensor is mounted to
a fixed frame or a moving object so that it has a view
of the area of interest. Examples are a digital camera
mounted to a pole to monitor the morphology of the beach
(ARGUS),
an aeroplane based laser system to measure the altitude
of the surface (LIDAR),
or an array of sensors mounted to a satellite in an orbit
around the earth to monitor land-use (Thematic Mapper).
Also underwater applications exist, like the multibeam
sounder to make bathymetric maps. The following data types
may be collected with a remote sensing system: altitude,
bathymetry, morphology, land use and vegetation cover.
These data might help to monitor processes like cliff
erosion, land use changes, urban development and the change
of natural vegetation patterns. The NASA has a useful
learner on the internet |
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