Water Resources Management
Compass have a long history and very strong presence and skills base in the development of datasets and tools for the analysis and management of water resources. The range and potential complexity of these applications vary but share the same benefits of having solid information on which to base decision making. Building on the foundation of strong data management, advanced analytical tools have been developed complemented by user friendly methods for presenting the derived information to a wider audience of users from different backgrounds, including decision makers and the public.
Water Quality Monitoring & Assessment
Factors impacting on water quality in rivers, lakes, coastal and estuarine waters, and the wider oceans can be modelled and predicted using a range of approaches, including catchment based assessments, or integration of numerical models with mapping systems. Data on water quality can also be gathered using sensor technology and integrated with data management and mapping systems.
Systems developed by Compass have included tools used for:
- implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive,
- assessment of potential industrial or wastewater discharges,
- assessment of impacts on resources that are dependent on water quality, e.g. fisheries and tourism, and
- marine wave, wind and current forecasting.
Aquaculture & Fisheries Systems
Fisheries applications require capture of data on water and habitat quality that impact on fisheries productivity; modelling and analysis of impacts such as natural or manmade barriers on fish migration and production; and sharing of management reports across organisations. These applications are relevant to surface waters and marine fisheries, as well as aquaculture, and include:
- aquaculture licensing and production data integration and reporting,
- eel fisheries modelling and management tools,
- river morphology survey and modelling using the Compass aerial photographic system, mobile GIS/GPS, and detailed mapping analysis, and
- fisheries productivity modelling using habitat and fish population metrics.
Flooding
Flood modelling and risk assessment is a critical concern well suited to use of geographic technologies. Compass have undertaken advanced work on flood risk and flood attenuation mapping, building comprehensive databases to support decision making and flood management. This is now supported by LiDAR services and other high resolution survey techniques.
Forecasting & Modelling
Various data management and assessment tools are applicable to both the marine and terrestrial aquatic environments. The integration of computational and forecasting models with mapping systems is particularly relevant in the marine area. Compass developed a methodology for integration of models and webGIS to allow access to forecasts of wind, waves, currents, storm surges and other parameters. This approach has been applied also to hydrology modelling and management reporting.
Download the Water Resources Management Fact Sheet.
Download the Compass RiverSolver network solving application Fact Sheet.