BLAST

Interoperable, standardised and adequate tools are important for coastal zone management and maritime safety. In respect to geographic data, it is a fundamental problem that data on the landward side is collected and maintained by topographic mapping or cadastral agencies and is utilised primarily for development, nature conservation etc., while sea data is collected by hydrographical survey services and focuses primarily on marine navigation issues. Furthermore, the collaboration between member states at national, regional and local level can be improved.
The BLAST project has a primary focus on «Bringing land and sea together», by harmonizing and integrating data for land and sea. The project will in part improve the functionalities of databases.

2 – Promoting the Sustainable Management of our Environment

2.1 Sustainable development of the coastal land and sea areas through integrated coastal zone management

The overall aim of the project is to improve Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Planning (ICZM&P) and maritime safety in a broad sense, by improving and contributing to harmonising terrestrial and sea geographical data, by developing planning and visualisation tools as well as improvement of navigation, in the context of climate change.
The project will provide a prototype for land/sea interoperable database for testing by practitioners in a study area. The project will develop a conceptual model for integrated spatial planning utilising GIS, tools for spatial planning in respect to renewable energy plants, and a web based decision support system for ICZM in a transnational context. An important aspect of the aim is to structure and supplement geographical data and provide planning/management tools that are consistent between sea and land.
Expected Outcomes
– Deploy and test the decision-support system in practical planning contexts in four different municipalities
– Disseminate and increase knowledge on estuaries amoung expert groups
– Develop local estuary stories for local as well as international press & media
– Increase capacities on tide estuary management throughout NSR/EU
– Same level of understanding among regional & international partners
– Set up of regional estuary working groups (REWG)
– Convince policy makers: Harmonized starting point for future estuary management
– Stronger involvement of stakeholders & general public in all estuaries
– TIDE Measure Box available to other estuary managers, experts and decision-makers
– Catalogue of measures to ensure proper functional estuary design
– Further development of tools, measures, governance structures – TORs for joint guidelines