Geospatial Analysis – EU AMBER Project

Compass Informatics provides data management and geospatial analysis services to the EU AMBER project.

The AMBER project seeks to analyse and assess the barriers to stream connectivity across the EU that act as impediments to ecological restoration.

Our expert team provided geospatial analysis services to provide insights on a variety of themes impacting the conservation of Atlantic Salmon in the EU.

About The AMBER Project

AMBER seeks to apply adaptive management to the operation of barriers in European rivers to achieve a more effective and efficient restoration of stream connectivity.

To do this, AMBER are developing tools, models, and toolkits that will allow hydropower companies and river managers to maximise benefits and minimise ecological impacts.

This will improve energy security, help protect jobs, and boost European competitiveness, particularly in rural economies.

This project will also help protect global biodiversity in rivers by decreasing fragmentation, promoting habitat connectivity, and evaluating the merits of different restoration actions through developed tools.

Project Requirements

The project seeks to apply adaptive management to the operations of barriers in European rivers.

To do this, tools, models and analysis are required to support stakeholders such as hydropower companies and river managers to maximise benefits while minimising ecological impact.

Across the EU, there are an estimated 1 million barriers across a complex and interconnected river system.

Compass Informatics’ challenge was to consolidate all of the available data to assess connectivity, define different types of hydrological environments, locate barriers and assess the impact on Salmon catch reports over time.

Compass’ Solution – Geospatial Analysis

Our expert team provided geospatial analysis services to provide insights on a variety of themes impacting the conservation of Atlantic Salmon in the EU.

Using SQL, R programming and ArcGIS, the team merged multiple river networks from estuary to sub-basin level to assess European river connectivity.

An SQL database was developed to consolidate data regarding the existing and historical salmon population using rod catch reports from 2000-2019.

Areas of the network were attributed to identify areas with geographically proximate qualities, ecological quality scores, dendritic connectivity indices and the location of main river barriers.

Water temperature was attributed using previous global monthly levels (1981-2014) and modelled projections for 2020-2080. 

These large raster datasets were processed and amalgamated with the appropriate river sections, creating climate change forecasts for individual river networks.

 

Solution Snapshots

About TGI

Tracsis Geo Intelligence, a sister company of Compass Informatics, emerges with a sharpened focus on Earth Observation, Sustainability, and the UK Market.

Building upon the expertise and experience of Compass Informatics, Tracsis Geo Intelligence offers a comprehensive suite of geospatial solutions.

Compass Informatics is a leading provider of geospatial solutions, specialising in the application of GIS, IT, and mobile technologies across various sectors, including transportation, environment and natural resources.

Tracsis Geo Intelligence and Compass Informatics are both part of the Tracsis Group.

To learn more about this project, and how the solution provided may benefit your organisation, please contact our team at contact@tracsis-geointelligence.com.