1. VIABILITY STUDY OF A COSTUMIZED GIS FOR
THE BERLENGAS NATURAL RESERVATION
II International Conference and Exhibition on Geographic Information, Estoril Congress
Center, May 30- June 2, 2005
Dinis A. Ribeiro
This paper presents the initial results of an on-going viability study for the future
establishment of a GIS for marine biology monitoring, due to be completed in
September 2005. It covers a relatively small area of a selected location on the
coast of the city of Peniche just in front of the "Reserva Natural das Berlengas".
To gather relevant data, a variety of very low cost systems were used. These
systems included simple balloons, SCUBA diving gear together with a small
Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV). They are precursors for more
complex systems such as stationary airborne platforms installed on a small captive
balloon with Amateur Radio (SIMulation SATellite - SimSAT) and several mobile
floating platforms using APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System).
To initiate the design of the GIS and its customized support systems for data
gathering preliminary surveys were conducted. These included gathering data on
the surface and underwater. The scientific rationale of the future systems is
determined by the ongoing research at Escola Superior de Tecnologia do Mar de
Peniche (ESTM), part of the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria. Underwater debris
collecting and analysis was chosen as an activity that can become a unifying
element enabling data gathering, while providing an interface allowing inputs
from a wide variety of stakeholders.
The results of a series of initial scientific survey dives using SCUBA gear conducted
by the author together with students from ESTM are presented. The effectiveness
of the use of an already existing ROV prototype was evaluated, and some design
improvements are suggested in order to improve the ability of this sub-system to
provide useful inputs into the customized GIS. The design and performance of an
initial version of the GIS is discussed. Possible future developments and potential
contributions of the GIS for local ecotourism are listed.
KEYWORDS
Microgeography, Ecotourism, 3D GIS, APRS, RFID, distributed sensors, SCUBA, ROV, SIMSAT,
Underwater Debris, Coastal Cleanups.
INTRODUCTION
The city of Peniche and the Berlengas Natural Reservation have a wide variety of sea-related
activities that a locally driven and flexible GIS can assist. Involvement of the local populations is
essential. To achieve this, certain areas of activity that have a strong socio-economic impact were
given some priority: Fishing (sports and industrial), Tourism (there are more than 12 beaches in the
region), Surfing (exceptional conditions), Scuba Diving (three local centers, a very large number of
sunken ships, above-average visibility), and areas of wilderness (Berlengas Natural Reservation).
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2. Figure 1: The Berlenga Natural Reservation consists of three groups of Islands (Berlengas, Estelas and Farilhões)
located near the city of Peniche. This satellite picture shows the two areas to be covered by the GIS.
To assist the development of ecotourism activities, there are many different kinds of information
that can be considered while addressing a GIS for the Berlengas Natural Reservation and the Peniche
area. To find a common denominator, the coastal clean up and monitoring of underwater and
surface debris was chosen as the “backbone” for the development of the GIS. At a later stage,
special modules can be developed to address ongoing research by ESTM. Other modules can be
dedicated to seafood issues. “The initial area” was chosen partially because on each side of it, two
different restaurants are conducting aquaculture of king crabs and other seafood. Above all there
are good logistic reasons do develop gradually the various systems on a beach on the southern coast
of Peniche, before deploying them in the Berlengas Natural Reservation.
Figure 2 : On the shores of the “Berlenga Islands” there are various large underwater caves that create many
opportunities for a reinforced synergy between SCUBA Diving and Ecotourism. This will be staring point for the
gradual establishment of the “BERLENGAS GIS
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3. Once the debris tracking and analysis capabilities of an initial network will be operational, it will be
relatively easy to develop a small-scale localized “early warning system” able to provide an alert in
the case of unexpected and localized marine pollution threats or other problems.
Figure 3 : To allow non-divers visiting the reservation to “explore” the surrounding underwater areas that are
very rich in sea life, a series of small Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) can be a way to help manage the
ecological and demographic stress upon the reservation, while also providing very useful data for the GIS.
ONGOING RESEARCH AT ESCOLA SUPERIOR DE TECNOLOGIA DO MAR (ESTM)
Currently ESTM is not yet fully using GIS systems for Marine Biology, however it has a Civil Defense
degree that started recently. The institution is already working closely with the Natural Reservation.
Additional new areas of interest have been determined such as customized GIS applications useful
for the fishing industries and seafood quality control mapping.
Figure 4 : Students from Escola Superior de Tecnologia do Mar (ESTM) engaged in a local fish survey. On the
horizon the Berlenga and Farilhões Islands can be seen. Such a large area can become an ideal test bed for
various robotic systems able to assist data collection and interpretation. Ongoing studies include seafood
management (Pollicipes Pollicipes) and also the study of a specific mollusc (Melarhaphe neritoides) to monitor
marine pollution levels.
SIMILAR PROJECTS USING GIS FROM UNIVERSITY OF ALGARVE
It was decided to locate a partner in Portugal with experience in the use of GIS for SIMILAR marine
biology research. The “BIOPESCAS Research Group” from the University of Algarve is capable to
provide technical support for the planning of future ROV missions. They have worked on the problem
of “Ghost Fishing” which deals with the ecological impact of a particular type of underwater debris:
Abandoned Fishing Nets.
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4. Around the Berlengas Natural Reservation there is a well-known “underwater cemetery” with great
interest for underwater archeology. The numerous shipwrecks in this area will be carefully included
on the GIS. They can foster additional ecotourism activities for the region, as well.
Figure 5 : Picture taken by the “Hyball” ROV from IMAR at a depth of 40 meters in Algarve. Sunken ship covered
by entangled fishing nets that were lost at sea. These nets keep trapping and killing sea life uselessly (Ghost
Fishing) and may present a serious hazard to visiting SCUBA divers. These and other elements will be included in
the GIS.
Figure 6 : Some other kinds of debris can provide an excellent opportunity for SCUBA Underwater Photographers
to become gradually more involved with ecotourism activities. They will debriefed at participating restaurants
right after the dives and will have a repository to hand in anything they find to add data points to the GIS
SEAPORT OF PENICHE
INITIAL STUDY AREA
Figure 7 : On both sides (red circles) of the initial study area there are Seafood Mariculture facilities (Viveiros de
Marisco) which would benefit enormously from a local automatic sensor web able to provide some kind of “early
warning” capability against marine pollution and other hazards.
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5. INITIAL SURVEY RESULTS FOR A LOW COST COSTUMIZABLE GIS
One of the methods that will be employed for further mapping will consist of systematic survey
dives. Tracking the path of the submerged divers from the surface, there will be several small kayaks
with two people inside equipped with a small ROV, a low-cost handheld GPS and “marker buoys and
balloons”. When the divers stop in a location to take a series of underwater pictures or to collect
underwater debris, they will let a small buoy float up to the surface. Almost immediately, from the
kayak a balloon will be attached to the buoy and the position recorded by redundant systems. As
more subsystems become available other additional useful data will also be recorded. Due to the
reduced depth of the study area, (less than 10 meters) the fish lines with the helium filled balloons
on one side and the lead weight on the other hand will be fitted with evenly spaced depth markers.
With this system we obtain additional depth data that can be correlated with time and tide
information, thus providing a backup system. Temperature sensors and other detectors can also be
positioned temporarily using this system.
B
C
A
Praia do Porto de
Areia Sul in Peniche
Microgeography
Experimental GIS
Figure 8 : A view of the area where the survey dives were conducted. This location was chosen due
to various logistical benefits, such as a large concrete pier (Area A) alongside the beach. The
pictures were taken standing on a geodesic marker on top of a small
The pier (Area A) will be used to provide parking for trucks with power supplies and support systems
for the various ROV’s and other airborne systems. The “rock formation” (Area B) in the middle of the
initial study area rises 7 meters above water and can only be reached by foot during the high tide.
There are several miniature “underwater caves” and very narrow “canyon-like” structures around
the submerged edge and beneath this central group of rocks. Most of the sunken debris were located
in front of a “wall of rocks” that continues underwater (Area C) and that has several nests of
seabirds (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) located on the very tip of the emerged rocks. This small seabird
colony (not more than ten birds visible at any time) also provides an opportunity to test automatic
web cam systems for bird watching. There were three minor SCUBA diving incidents recorded during
the survey dives and their location is marked by three exclamation marks followed by a number
(!!!#). This kind of information will be very useful to scuba s training schools that will be able to
establish geographical correlations between the various the kinds of incidents that take place. The
resiliency of the balloons for the intended use was validated. One of the balloons was able to
withstand the waves and repeated collisions with the edge of the pier for more than half an hour. A
simple optical positioning system using triangulation is being envisaged. The red lines on figure 9
connect four key points that will become part of a high resolution local Triangular Irregular
Network. The thinner blue lines indicate the possible location for the deployment of tethers that
will be used for a variety of tasks, mostly various cabling support for the power supply needed for
ROV cables and for underwater light sources The blue rectangles indicate rock formations that are
only fully submerged at high tide, but that are visible at all other times
In order to use low cost and accessible software, Adobe Acrobat was used together with an
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6. orthophoto of the city of Peniche. By simply using many of the familiar review and commenting
tools from Acrobat 5.0 an initial draft of some of the layers for the GIS was produced. A much more
complete and sophisticated version using ArcView 9 should be ready in September 2005.
Figure 10 : Initial study area is in “Praia do Porto de Areia Sul” in Peniche. The numbers indicate the
nature and location of underwater debris that were located and in most cases also collected.
More than 200 pictures were taken just of this area. Among several preliminary tests, a picture was
taken from the P2 position on the pier in front of Area A to the rocky wall facing area C to confirm
that the balloons (orange dots) were big enough and could be used for visual positioning within the
study area. A full rehearsal of ROV operation was conducted in area A. Four yellow balloons two
were caught by the winds and currents drifted away. They remained visible for a quite a
considerable distance until they reached the coastal navigation corridor that was nearest to study
area. The approximate time at t3 was 20 minutes, for instance.
Figure 11 : Low cost materials used in the initial survey. The small ROV is radio- controlled like model airplanes.
Simple helium-filled balloons were used as visual markers within the study area
On the first and second dives the visibility was quite good. The number of objects collected reflects
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7. this. On the third dive and the first trial of the ROV the visibility was much more reduced. The next
clean up is scheduled for the International Coastal Clean-up on the 17th
September 2005.
Figure 12 : Detailed scientific analysis of all the debris collected can yield important information.
Table 1 : Underwater debris recovered in areas B and C. The coastal clean-up activities will allow a participation
of the “general public” increasing the value of the GIS. Other “edutainment” activities will be conducted.
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8. Figure 13 : A large number of “precursor flights” will be conducted before deploying a captive balloon with a
larger payload. These photos were taken at the end of the pontoon (Area A) and the geodesic marker from which
the photos in figure 8 were taken is clearly visible
The visual triangulation positioning data will be correlated with GPS measurements until a specific
methodology is developed. The Portuguese navy has a DGPS station in Peniche that could be used.
The possible use of ESA’s SISNeT data server system transmits EGNOS messages to users over the
Internet, in real time, using the DS2DC protocol is being contemplated. This technology combines the
powerful capabilities of satellite navigation and the internet. As a result, the highly accurate
navigation information that comes from the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service
(EGNOS) Signal-in-Space (SIS) is now available in real time over the internet. An interface with ESA in
the framework of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is also being envisaged.
An entrepreneurial project is currently underway with the goal of establishing a high-tech private
company, possibly located in Peniche. This new company will probably work in close cooperation
with the experts from “Instituto de Sistemas e Robótica – ISR” that have already developed several
underwater robotic systems within European Union research projects, such as the “DELFIM
Autonomous Surface Craft”. All the needed equipment for data gathering, from ROV’s to automated
airborne systems for the Berlenga GIS will be under the responsibility of this new entity. The
purchase of more than one “Guardian” robot aircraft and the construction of more than one
remotely controlled surface vessel very similar in shape and design to the Delfim autonomous craft
are included on the business plan. Before any of that several “precursor missions” using much more
limited systems will have to be completed in order to conduct the preparatory work necessary to
later use such sophisticated tools to the full extent of their capabilities.
Figure 14 : The Guardian UAV and the Delfim Autonomous Vehicle are very good examples of readily available
Portuguese technology to enable future developments of the “BERLENGAS GIS”
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9. Figure 15 : As part of the ongoing viability study, a small group of initial stakeholders was chosen
The “Debriefing Station” consists of a small area with a web cam and enough digital recording
capability to record a detailed video account of the dive as soon as it finishes. Before the end of the
viability study, there is a coastal clean up scheduled to take place on the 9th
of July near this area.
This will be a good opportunity to kick-start operations of the future “Diving Coordination Center”
(Sala Baleal at Hotel Praia Norte) that will benefit from the availability of three different scuba
schools in Peniche. The location will be near node # 10 (Restaurante Prainha / Baleal) from the
initial GIS Stakeholders list in Table 2.
Node # Initial GIS Stakeholders Role / Functions
1
Escola Superior das Tecnologias do
Mar
Lab Facilities & Scientific Support
2 Cervejaria do Portinho - Praia Sul Debriefing Station 1 / Mini-lab 1
3 Play Zone Internet Access / Computer Support
4 Reserva Natural das Berlengas Technical - Scientific Support / Main Repository
5 Hotel Praia Norte / Haliotis Diving Coordination Center / Workshops
6 Branco Mar / Clube Naval Supplies / Samples Repository # 1
7 Atlântida Supplies / Samples Repository # 2
8 Mega Naútica Supplies / Samples Repository # 3
9 Nauti Peniche Supplies / Samples Repository # 4
10 Prainha Restaurant - Baleal Debriefing Station 2 / Mini-lab 2
Table 2 : With just ten “nodes” enough synergy can be developed to begin instilling life into the “BERLENGAS
GIS”
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10. All the preliminary data acquired so far, suggests strongly that it will be viable to establish this
customized geographical information system. The full extent of its future capabilities will depend on
the amount of local fund-raising achievable and on additional government funding. There are enough
people interested and able to participate. However, an appropriate training program is sorely
required to involve permanently and fully empower all the potential users.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank António Teixeira, the director of Berlengas Natural Reservation, António Brito
from CPAS, the inventor of the small low cost ROV, Mariano Gonçalves from AMRAD for access to new
airborne amateur-radio systems, Rui Guerra whose information on possible roles for ROV’s in
underwater photography set part of this idea in motion back in 2004, Walter, Sérgio, and Elisabete
from ESTM for being my diving buddies, professor Paulo Maranhão and Pedro from ESTM for their
technical advice, Paulo Alexandre and Drª Teresa Borges from BIOPESCAS for their inputs, professor
António Pascoal from ISR/IST for advice on current robotic research, Rui Santos from ESRI for advice
on GIS, Pedro Oliveira from Haliotis for additional SCUBA training, and, last but not least, everybody
else from Fórum de Mergulho (www.forum-mergulho.com) for their understanding, patient support,
and useful local information and other leads.
REFERENCES
1. Ribeiro, Dinis A., The Berlenga Underwater Survey Project, ESA SP-312 Space & Sea, Paris,
December 1990
2. P. Oliveira, A. Pascoal, I. Kaminer, A Nonlinear Vision Based Tracking System for Coordinated
Control of Marine Vehicles, Institute for Systems and Robotics, IST, Lisbon, 2002
3. Ventura-Traveset J., Torán-Martí F., The ESA SISNeT Project: Current Status and Future Plans,
international symposium on GNSS/GPS, Sydney, December 2004
AUTHORS INFORMATION
Dinis Afonso Ribeiro is an aerospace consultant specializing in prospective, advanced
Interdisciplinary projects, and technology transfer. He was Principal Investigator for the first
Portuguese microgravity experiment that was launched by NASA on STS-95 in 1998. He is a scuba
diver and works in CAD and Concurrent Design.
Dinis A. RIBEIRO
orbitador@netcabo.pt
C. E. P. Lda.
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