Use of SPOTMaps and HRS elevation data to evaluate the potential impact of climate change in coastal environments. With Spot Image and Geospatial Intelligence.

1. Spot Image and its partners add value
to satellite imagery in Maritime
An applicative session on
Use of SPOTMaps and HRS elevation
data to evaluate the potential impact of
climate change in coastal environments

2. Use of SPOTMaps and HRS
elevation data to evaluate
the potential impact of
climate change in coastal
environments
Authors
Rob Lees – SPOT Imaging Services
Rob Coorey – Geospatial Intelligence
SPOT International Conference
June 2009

3. Climate Change and Storm Surge
 There is no doubt that the earth’s climate is changing due
in part to the impact of human industrial activity over the
last 100 years
 Some of the direct effects of this change is a rise in global
sea levels and an increase in the severity of storms
resulting in a rise in Storm Surge damage along
coastlines.
 Storm Surge occurs when powerful storm winds push
water up onto the shoreline. This is often associated with
Hurricanes or Cyclones
 The combination of the rising sea level and large amounts
of rainfall causes severe destruction and erosion of
coastal landscapes and $$ Billions in damages
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4. Global sea levels have risen 2m in the last 150 years
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Significantly,
the rate of sea
level rise is
increasing
over time

5. Storm Surge defined
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6. The real threat to coastlines comes from “STORM TIDES”
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Storm Surge + High Tide = 6 m STORM TIDE

7. Population at threat from Storm Surge
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 10% of the world’s population live within 10m of sea level
 85% of Australian’s live on the coast

8. SPOTMaps & SPOT HRS Elevation Data
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2.5m Natural Colour imagery
1 sec (25m) posting
elevation data for
290 coastal geocells

9. Port Hedland – Largest Port in Australia (Iron Ore exports)
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Western Australia coastline is prone to
cyclones in summer

10. Port Hedland at High Tide
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11. Port Hedland – Railroads (yellow) and Bridges (blue)
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12. Port Hedland coast – 5m Storm Surge
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13. Port Hedland - 5m Storm Surge in red
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14. Brisbane Airport and Port facilities
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15. Brisbane Airport and Port Facilities – 5m Storm Surge
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16. Mandurah – Western Australia – 1m Storm Surge
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17. Mandurah – Western Australia – 2m Storm Surge
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18. Mandurah – Western Australia – 5m Storm Surge
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19. Conclusions
 SPOTMaps (2.5m) and HRS Elevation (25m postings) are
valuable tools for performing “first pass” assessment of
vulnerable coastal environments especially for a country
like Australia with 60,000 km of coastline
 From these studies areas can be identified which require
more detailed datasets such as aerial photography (15cm)
and LIDAR (1-2m Posting DEM).
 SPOTMaps is particularly useful for mapping coastline
environmental parameters such as vulnerable ecosystems
(mangroves), highly erodable coasts (sand dunes) and
proximity of environment to human habitation and
industrial infrastructure
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