GIS for Coastal Zone Management - Chapter 19 ppt

CHAPTER NINETEEN
A Territorial Information System (TIS) for
the Management of the Seine Estuary –
Environmental and Management
Applications
Jean-Côme Bourcier
19.1 INTRODUCTION
Located at the geographic, sociological, economic, and environmental convergence
of multiple interest groups, the estuary of the Seine (Normandy, France – Figure
19.1) presents itself as a coastal zone subject to divergent, if not contradictory,
anthropogenic pressures. In fact, its position vis-à-vis its ecosystems gives it rare
and specific functions and its location within geographic space confers strategic
advantage. The urbanisation and level of primary industry of the region must
develop in directions that respect an ecological heritage, and an exceptional
landscape, that is subject to the attention of local communities as well as local,
state and European levels of administration. Furthermore, the existence of various
pollutants, risks from technological hazards, the exploitation of natural resources,
an upstream/downstream divide, a disparity between left and right banks, and
multiple activities, etc., are just some of the key issues in this unique space.
In this context, geographical information systems (GIS) present a wealth of
applications as tools capable of collecting, harmonising and analysing data about
the estuary coastline in order to monitor the health of the region and provide
summary information as an aid to decision-making. Harnessing these
technological, methodological, and operational tools enables coastal management
problems to be defined and resolved in an holistic and consensual manner. They
could also lead to a new approach to management and a remediation, by providing
a better understanding of coastal processes, functioning and change; an approach
more attuned to the natural and human complexities of a geographic space that
encompasses all levels of organisation, and which has set sustainable development
as primary goal.
These distinguishing features justify the establishment and use of a GIS

specific to the Seine estuary within the CIRTAI laboratory at the University of
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
Le Havre (UMR 6063 CNRS – Research's group CIRTAI). More specifically, it
consists of a territorial information system (TIS) tied to a multidisciplinary and
multi-thematic, geographically referenced database designed to improve
understanding of the processes and functioning of the estuary in order to support
operational and participatory management practices. Within the range of spatially
referenced information systems, (Prélaz-Droux, 1995), this territorial information
system sits mid-way between the two end-points of land information system and
geographical information system as defined by the author: it exceeds the
institutional limits of a land information system, and applies the potential of a GIS
in its ability to support development of land and environment in a complex
geographic space that requires management at multiple scales and involving
multiple actors.
The aim of this article is to demonstrate a particular application of the TIS, as
an observatory of the natural heritage of the Seine estuary. Within this application,
different levels of information have been integrated and analysed in order to
provide qualitative and quantitative assessments of this heritage by means of
territorial diagnostics.
Figure 19.1 The Seine estuary (Normandy, France).
19.2 ON THE NEED FOR AN OBSERVATORY OF THE NATURAL
HERITAGE IN THE SEINE ESTUARY
As a meeting point for terrestrial, fluvial and marine environments, the Seine
estuary integrates a number of biologically productive and varied ecosystems. It is
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
an integral element in the routeway for many species of migrating birds and
provides shelter and nutrients for fisheries and shellfish farming as well as for
certain invasive species.
The estuary basin is characterised by the juxtaposition of alluvial plains and
calcareous plateaux, giving rise to an extraordinarily diverse range of humid-zone

landscape types that act as sponges and filter-cleaners for the environment.
Nowadays, the natural heritage of this estuary is subject to the impacts of
numerous activities and processes at the local scale (industrialisation, urbanisation,
agriculture, resource exploitation) as well as nationally (it is the outlet of a
drainage basin within whose borders is found 30% of the French population and
40% of the national economic activity). This convergence of interests, and the
conflicts that arise, raises the problem of how to conserve natural spaces whose
resources are limited and whose equilibrium is fragile.
Management of this territory must therefore ensure balanced development,
taking into account both scientific data and socio-economic factors (Chappuis,
1993), at a scale that is essentially local but which also has national and
international elements (Bailly, 1995). Every stage in the process involves nature
and the landscape, and it is often necessary to draw on a complete inventory of the
natural and landscape heritage in order to steer decision-making in appropriate
directions whenever choices present themselves.
In order to address these requirements, the Seine Estuary TIS acts as an
observatory of natural heritage, and an intelligent tool for providing territorial and
environmental indicators needed to manage this unique coastal system. GIS offers
technologies with potential for better planning, management and analysis of our
environment (Bryant, 1993); for tackling the integrated, holistic and rational
management of space; for pooling necessary information; and for overcoming
institutional limitations, to allow all levels of environmental organisation
(hydrological systems, landscape systems, drainage basins, etc.) to be taken
equally into account.
The objective is to make available to environmental managers and decision-
makers a suite of key indicators that will allow better understanding of disparities
between left and right banks of the river, conditions of flood and low water,
competition and compatibilities of estuarine biota, etc., and ultimately allow the
delimitation of zones of strong environmental vulnerability. This will also help
bridge the gaps between scientific research and real-world practice and, more

precisely, between those scientists, technicians, professionals, and politicians who
are involved in strategic and political decision-making.
The territorial information system for the Seine estuary aims to bring the
many facets of the same geographic reality into a common framework. Thus
organised and structured, all available data for a given location may be integrated
as part of a single analysis, in order to better define environmental objectives, and
to provide support for decisions relating to territorial planning and management
within the estuary.
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
19.3 FROM DATA COLLECTION TO DEVELOPMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DIAGNOSTICS
This TIS for the Seine estuary exploits a multi-source and multi-thematic
geographically referenced database, presently consisting of more than 80 layers of
data in vector format, standardised on the Lambert conformal conic projection and
georeferenced on the Lambert zone 1 coordinate system (the local system for the
north of France). Data in raster format are used to provide rapid enrichment and
updating of the database, according to immediate needs. These data layers are all
subject to a number of quality-control parameters (Laurini and Milleret-Raffort,
1993) including accuracy, precision, and timeliness (Rouet, 1991), and each layer
is the subject of a file of metadata (Bourcier
et al., 1998) to ensure that it is used
appropriately and optimally. A dynamic link has been developed, so that the
metadata may be consulted directly via the user interface of the GIS software.
The operational use of the TIS requires,
inter alia, data to be updated
regularly, since they describe a territory that is subject to strong spatio-temporal
evolution.
Data relating to the natural heritage of the Seine Estuary are collected on a
regular basis by various groups: the regional Ministry of Environment for Upper
and Lower Normandy, the Department of Hunting, an organisation for the

conservation of wetlands, the Regional Nature Park of Brittany, Nature Park, etc.
This demands an effective partnership, in order to respond to the specified quality
criteria. Initially, exchange of these data was via hard-copy paper media (maps,
cadastral plans, etc.), which implied heavy, time-consuming digitisation overheads.
More recently, all the data-providing partners have opted for the advantages of
digital technologies (GIS platforms, CAD, computer-assisted cartography), which
has enabled much more efficient implementation of the system.
An environmental geodatabase is by definition multidisciplinary and multi-
territorial; its quality and relevance depend on, among other factors, the abilities of
the GIS team to manage interdisciplinary conflict, institutional
compartmentalisation and protectionism, hierarchical management “pyramids” and
cultures of regulation, etc.; and especially possessive attitudes and the equation of
information with power, leading to a reluctance among some players to share
information with others.
19.3.1 Environmental heritage diagnostics in the Seine Estuary
As has been discussed above, all management practices have environmental
implications, and therefore require access to a complete inventory of the natural
heritage. This essential knowledge of the natural resources of a region needs no
further justification.
The natural heritage value of the Seine estuary is recognised through the
implementation of a number of statutory instruments of national or European
origin: the Ecological Fauna and Flora Inventory (“ZNIEFF”), Nature Reserve,
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Biotope conservation, etc. To these are
added other protective measures, such as the purchase of land.
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
It seems evident that this accumulation of regulations makes the direction of
management projects even more difficult, especially since many of these
provisions lack clarity, are obsolete, are contradictory and of uncertain relevance,
or are imprecise and subject to multiple, subjective interpretations.
Figure 19.2 Spatial concentration of environmental conservation in the Seine estuary.

Superimposition of all these layers demonstrates visibly the multiplicity of
initiatives and regulatory measures that currently apply to this territory. We may
also note several important geographical overlaps between these various measures,
rendering their representation in cartographic form particularly difficult.
Overall, such a representation implicitly demonstrates the high heritage value
of this estuary, but the resulting legislative overload demonstrates clearly the need
for harmonization of French Environmental law. French estuaries present a major
challenge for the law, which must find ways to address their hybrid character and
their multifunctional nature. Analysis of the legal treatment accorded these spaces
demonstrates the weak acknowledgement in national law of their distinctive nature
and, indeed, a strong tendency to promote their development, despite the
accumulated knowledge of their ecological interest and their vulnerability (Auger
and Verrel, 1998).
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
In terms of spatial analysis, it is necessary to go beyond simple
superimposition of data layers, to examine the spatial distribution of particular
entities and to synthesise the information they present. The aim is to create a new
layer of information that compares, aggregates and analyses various perspectives
on the region, so as to present alternative views of reality, for better environmental
comprehension, decision-making and management. The complexity of the real
world is thus rendered easier to read and communicate.
Thanks to the topological functionality of GIS, an expansion of the various
layers of information relating to this natural heritage has enabled a “quantitative
synopsis of protection measures” to be drawn up. This spatial analysis facilitates
easy identification and classification of zones according to the sum of the
protective measures that apply to them (Figure 19.3).
Figure 19.3 Quantitative synopsis of nature conservation in the Seine estuary.
While a diagnostic utility of this type is visibly effective at demonstrating the
multiple protective measures, it also underscores the relevance of the known
natural heritage of the Seine estuary, and explicitly reveals the conservation

importance of the intertidal areas and of the flood plains. These latter are wetlands
of acknowledged ecological importance, according to the National Programme of
Research on Wetlands (Bourcier
et al., 1999). The TIS allows real-time spatial and
thematic analyses, such as calculating the type, number and surface area of
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
biotopes for each of the identified sectors, thereby allowing optimal planning and
management for these environments.
Still within the perspective of generating useful indicators for stakeholders
and decision-makers, the foregoing increase in topological data is further enriched
by the addition of information relating to the level of legal protection accorded to
these zones. This leads to a “qualitative synopsis of the degree of protection of the
natural environment”, which identifies and classifies different zones according to a
cumulative index of conservation (Figure 19.4).
Figure 19.4 Qualitative synopsis of nature conservation in the Seine estuary.
The most protected zones (very high value) are located mainly in the alluvial
plains, which underscores the ecological importance of these habitats.
This territorial index usefully complements the preceding map, by
conveniently summarising the environmental constraints of the estuarine lands,
providing indispensable information when territorial management projects or
planning exercises are undertaken.
Achieving an optimal management of the natural heritage, at all levels of
organisation, will probably require a greater harmonisation of the many
superimposed levels (local to international) of environmental protection, in legal as
much as in economic terms.
Additionally, this harmonisation offers the advantage of representing
environmental constraints as homogenous zones that transcend administrative
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
boundaries, and which are thereby more appropriate to holistic understanding of
the environment from the global to the estuarine scale.

From the perspective of optimal management of the natural environment,
would it not be useful to avoid the heavy imposition of all these different protected
zone boundaries and, perhaps, rely on European and international commitments
(e.g. the Natura 2000 network)? These levels of administration could provide
powerful tools for protection through regulatory and financial instruments.
19.3.2 An environmental impact of coastal management in the Seine Estuary
The usefulness of the spatial analytical functions of the TIS may equally be
demonstrated in the assessment of the impacts of traffic noise on the bird life of the
estuary: by combining different of layers of information which, at first sight, have
no apparent link between them, we can demonstrate the complexity of the real
world and, more particularly, the influence of human activities on the natural
environment (Figure 19.5).
The alluvial plain north of the Seine estuary is also subject to conflicts
between natural environment and economic development, the resolution of which
calls for sustainable development strategies to be drawn up. In this context, spatial
analysis allows vehicular traffic levels to be correlated with the natural habitat of
the Spoonbill (
Platalea leucorodia, a migratory bird, see Figure 19.6), in order to
measure the potential impact of noise pollution on the distribution of this bird. The
routeways thus identified are of particular interest when they lie adjacent to the
Natural Reserve of the Seine Estuary, liable to be directly linked to Port 2000, the
future expansion strategy for the current commercial port.
Statistics on the movements of vehicles (light and heavy freight) were
obtained from the authorities of the three departments concerned, and were used to
calibrate the “road traffic” data layer.
A noise level envelope was calculated, based on traffic levels of 5000
vehicles per day (all vehicles, travelling in both directions), which corresponds to a
noise level of 70 dB SPL. The TIS then allows a buffer polygon to be created
around selected entities, and this can be intersected with the Spoonbill habitats to
create an output layer that precisely identifies those areas where noise disturbance

could be a potential problem. By simple querying, it is easy to obtain the location
of each area, as well as their spatial attributes (length, width, perimeter, area, etc.).
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
Figure 19.5 Platalea leucorodia (Spoonbill: a migratory bird).
(© Cybernat - Le Havre University).
Figure 19.6 Effect of road traffic noise on Platalea leucorodia area.
This type of spatial analysis can also be applied to other domains (pollution
of air or soil, etc.), by developing specialised algorithms for use in modelling
impact analysis or simple diagnosis and visualisation. In the final analysis, the
GIS tools have demonstrable relevance to aiding understanding, decision-support
and management of environmental resources in a territory such as the Seine
Estuary. By means of regional indicators, they can contribute to more holistic
approaches to territorial management operations.
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
19.4 CONCLUSION
The concept of environmental management demands engagement with the
interface between society and nature, since the multiple activities (often concurrent
and mutually conflicting) that take place within a region are governed by economic
and social paradigms.
Even if environmental considerations are nowadays better taken into account
during processes of economic and social decision-making, they are still often only
brought in towards the end of the process, while the various actors may frequently
lack important elements needed to establish priorities and anticipate problems.
Current practices and procedures, at different scales, are poor at anticipating
environmental consequences of territorial management, due to a lack of
appropriate information technologies and, equally, of suitable conceptual tools.
Spatial management of an estuary such as that of the Seine can only be
successful and balanced if suitable structures are established to arbitrate effectively
and equitably between the many pressures that currently lead to conflict.
Sustainable development is frequently advocated as a solution to these

problems, whereby a dynamic balance is sought between economics, ecology and
the needs of society, at local levels of organisation but also compatible with
national and international levels.
Implementation of sustainable development policies requires a global
approach and interdisciplinary vision, so that policies can lead to improved
decision-making. In this context, the TIS for the Seine estuary has many potential
applications. It serves as a tool capable of collecting, organising, integrating, and
analysing information about the environment, from which territorial indicators and
syntheses may conveniently be obtained to support decision-making, and to help
solve problems of regional management and development.
In particular, it allows the properties and geographic distribution of natural
resources or areas of interest to be defined; it improves the compatibility and
interoperability of diverse datasets; and it facilitates spatial analyses of
environmental impacts that would otherwise be overlooked or discarded for
reasons of cost or procedural complexity.
This TIS constitutes a relevant tool because it has as its first objective the
representation of a region, in this way improving our understanding and permitting
the description and analysis of natural and human phenomena produced by the
landscape. Since it lies at the junction of several disciplines, this TIS brings
convergence and standardisation to the description and representation of space. It
aims to bring coherence to all the many aspects of the same reality and, structured
accordingly, data relating to the same location can be integrated within a single
analysis, in order to better define environmental objectives and provide support for
arguments or reasoning concerning regional development and planning within the
estuary. The TIS has thereby enabled information relating to the natural heritage of
the Seine estuary to be related, aggregated, and synthesised, in order to create
territorial indicators of use for understanding, decision-making and management of
the region.
Nonetheless, “mastering GIS, and developing robust methods of analysis,
implies the ability on the one hand to assimilate elements of different

terminologies, and the concepts associated with them, so as to permit truly
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC
multidisciplinary dialogue; while, at the same time, allowing questions to be
formalised in terms that are compatible with the various elements of the
information system” (Meillet, 1999).
Finally, it remains the case that these techniques carry limitations, even
though they allow the integration of multiple sources of data. The user must
always understand the consequences of their implementation, and minimise
possible errors due to data quality, problems linked to the treatment of data, or due
to sensitivities inherent in the selected methodologies (Marois, 1993). In other
words, their use within the process of large-scale choice and decision-making
requires those concerned to have a high degree of confidence in the relevance and
reliability of the data that are exploited. The quality of data and of their
interpretation thus prove to be the crucial
sine qua non of any process of decision-
making.
19.5 REFERENCES
Auger, Ch. and Verrel, J L., 1998,
Les estuaires français – Évolution naturelle et
artificielle
, (Plouzané: IFREMER).
Bailly, A., 1995,
Les concepts de la géographie humaine, (Paris: Masson).
Bourcier, A., Bourcier, J C. and Pouchin, Th., 1999, Appréhension de la
cinématique paysagère par télédétection spatiale en estuaire de Seine:
contribution au programme national de recherche sur les zones humides. In
La
télédétection en francophonie: analyse critique et perspectives
, Collection
Actualité Scientifique, (Montréal: Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie), pp.

215–223.
Bourcier, J C., Bourcier, A. and Pouchin, Th., 1998,
L’Observatoire des zones
humides - Zones humides de l’estuaire et des marais de Seine: structure,
fonctionnement et gestion
, (Le Havre: Université du Havre).
Bryant, C.R., 1993, Les SIG au service de l’aménagement et du développement
communautaire.
Revue de Géographie Alpine, 9, (Grenoble: Université Joseph
Fourrier), pp. 63–66
.
Chappuis, J B., 1993,
Protéger la nature – Guide pratique de la protection de la
nature et du paysage
, (Lausanne: Delachaux et Niestlé).
Laurini, R. and Milleret-Raffort, Fr., 1993,
Les bases de données en géomatique,
(Paris: Hermès).
Miellet, Ph., 1999,
SIG pour la gestion et l’aménagement urbain, (Paris: Ministère
de l’Équipement, des Transports et du Logement).
Marois, C., 1993, Environnement et Systèmes d’Information Géographique. In
Revue de Géographie Alpine, 9, (Grenoble: Université Joseph Fourrier), pp. 11-
14.
Prélaz-Droux, R., 1995,
Système d’information et gestion du territoire: Approche
systémique et procédure de réalisation
, (Lausanne: Presses Polytechniques et
Universitaires Romandes).
Rouet, P., 1991,

Les données dans les systèmes d’information géographique,
(Paris: Hermès).
© 2005 by CRC Press LLC