This document outlines a proposed research study to develop a coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model of the western coast of the Red Sea, with a focus on assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on ecosystem conservation. The objectives are to enhance understanding of coastal sediment patterns and simulate oil spills using a 3D hydrodynamic model. Nested models will assess erosion/accretion problems in vulnerable areas experiencing increased development. The methodology involves literature review, data collection, model development and validation, integration of remote sensing, and risk assessments of tourism/industry based on model results.

1. DEVELOPING A COUPLED HYDRODYNAMIC-WATER QUALITY MODEL OF ELBURULLUS LAKE (NILE DELTA, NORTHERN EGYPT)
Ahmed El-adawy, Abdelazim M. Negm, Oliver C. SAAVEDRA Valeriano, and
Ibrahim A. El-Shinawy
Introduction
Research Objectives
Framework of the research
Relative vulnerability of coastal deltas as shown by the
population potentially displaced by current sea-level trends to
2050 .Source: IPCC (2007)
The simulated results of
instantaneous discharges at
original and proposed inlets
The simulated results of Spatial
Distribution of salinity
Results of validated models
Problem Description
Spatial distribution of DO on 10th of
January 2011
3)
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2. Research proposal presentation
Impact Assessment of Anthropogenic Activities on
Ecosystem Conservation of Western shore of the Red
Sea
By: Ahmed El-Adawy
PhD Student
Environmental Engineering Department
Supervised By:
Prof. Abdelazim Negm
Prof. Kazuo Nadaoka

3. Introduction and statement of the
research problem
 The Red Sea forms a semi- closed and
very uneven basin connected with the
Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden
by the narrow Strait of Bab al Mandab.
 The Red Sea is a major international shipping
lane linking eastern and southern Asia with the
Middle East and Europe. It is also seeing increasing
direct and indirect exposure to the aquaculture industry
, to which the Sea’s relatively warm and clear
coastal waters are well suited .
)
(Bathymetry of the Red Sea (Barry & Houdré, 2009)
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4. Introduction and statement of the
research problem
 The major threats to the marine environment of the Red Sea are
related to land-based activities.
1- Urbanization and coastal development (for example, dredge and
fill operations)
2-Industries including power and
desalination plants and refineries
3- Recreation and tourism, waste water
treatment facilities and power plants
4-Coastal mining ,quarrying activities
and oil bunkering.
(Artifitial lagoons in Hurghada http://tinyurl.com/om54j5
5- The offshore drilling process
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)

5. Introduction and statement of the
research problem
Physical alteration
The coastline of Egypt is a site of extensive construction and
habitat alteration, including dredge and fill operations of
shallow areas, excavation of artificial lagoons, construction of
huge marine structures, and mining and quarrying. Several
urban centres have been developed along the coast at Suez,
Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh.
Sewage and solid waste
One of the main sources of pollution on Egypt's Red Sea coast
is the discharge of poorly treated or untreated sewage effluents
into the marine environment. Damage to marine life is evident
in Taba, Nuweiba and Sharm el Sheikh on the Gulf of Aqaba,
and at several localities on the Egyptian Red Sea coasts.
Industry
These industries and their effluents (oil, organic pollutants,
heavy metals, heated brine and cooling water) are considered
important problems . There are two main industries in the Suez
area: a fertilizer and chemical company, and a metals and
medical glass company.
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6. Introduction and statement of the
research problem
 The Red Sea coasts of Egypt
have been the site of intensive
tourism developments over
the last 20 years.
 The coastline of Hurghada –
located on the western coast
of the Red Sea- has experienced
considerable environmental
stress from tourist and residential
(Plan view of Hurghada source http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7300876)
recreational activities. Uncontrolled tourist development has already
caused substantial damage to inshore reefs and imbalance in the
hydrodynamic pattern of the coastal sediments.
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7. Introduction and statement of the
research problem
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8. Research Objectives
1) Enhancing our understanding of the physical oceanography of
the Red Sea with further focus on hydrodynamic pattern of the
coastal sediments on the western coast.
2) Developing a detailed 3-D hydrodynamic model will act as an
efficient tool and can be utilized by decision makers regarding the
management of the sea. Simulating oil spill is one example of the
useful applications of this expected developed model.
3) Further focus on some areas across the Egyptian coast (through
nesting approach) to accurately assess the current situation of
erosion/accretion problems will come up with the vulnerable
areas due to increasing human activities due to increasing human
activities. These activities include Landfilling, nonenvironmentally
friendly sea shore recreation facilities such as hard structures;
earth embankment jetties; digging lagoons ….etc.
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9. Research Objectives
4. An integration between remote sensing techniques and
hydrodynamic-ecological modeling will be included in the study.
5. On the foundation of the calibrated models results, detailed risk
assessment of desalination plants effluent; domestic and
industrial wastes will be addressed.
http://www.hepca.org/conservation/projects/say
-no-to-oil
Source:http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/05/
9
7th-red-sea-oil-spill/

10. Research Methodology
1) Literature review of the physical oceanography of the Red Sea
and the models developed to simulate the circulation patterns,
patterns of sedimentation, and heat budget analysis of the Red
Sea.
2) Gathering data phase starts with the main input data for the
hydrodynamic model such as bathymetry, land boundaries, tidal
forces, and meteorological forces (most of the sources of these
data are identified). In addition, available online data sets will be
very useful especially for the profiles of salinity and temperatures.
3) Defining the most vulnerable area(s) across the western coast of
the Red Sea to collect its (their) data needed for developing the
nested model later on.
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11. Research Methodology
4) Developing the hydrodynamic model of the Sea and following the
nesting approach in the most vulnerable area(s). This phase
including calibrating and validating the developed model. This
will be followed by some applications such as simulating oil spill
and released drogues.
5) Utilizing the available historical data and work on simulating the
patterns of sedimentations across the Egyptian coast of the Red
Sea.
6) Working on enhancing the accuracy of the developed model
through following an integrated approach of utilizing remote
sensing data (spatial and temporal enhancement of the input
data).
7) Conducting a risk assessment study of the current and suggested
locations of tourism or industrial development based on the
results of the developed models.
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12. Research Methodology
• Expected sources of the data:
 Red Sea Research Center (KAUST- Saudi Arabia)
 HEPCA (leading NGO in Hurghada- Egypt)
 Online datasets (for example: World Ocean Database)
 Coastal Research institute (CoRI) and EEAA - Egypt
 Egyptian military- Naval forces
 Previous projects
 Remote sensing data
 Field trips specially on the vulnerable areas assessed by the
research
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13. Suggested Time Plan
Activities/ Months
1) Courses
2) Literature review
3) Gathering data
4) Developing the models
5) Calibrating and validating
the model
6) Integration of remote
sensing techniques
7) Risk assessment of the
vulnerable areas
8) papers writing
9) Thesis writing
10) Graduation process
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36
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14. References
[1]
C. Maillard and G. Soliman, “Hydrography of the Red-Sea and exchanges with the Indian-Ocean in summer,”
Oceanologica Acta, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 249–269, 1986.
[2]
M. Barry and F. Houdré, “Three Dimensional Hydraulic and Water Quality Modelling of the Red Sea: Challenges
and Learnings,” Proceedings of 18th …, no. July, pp. 4142–4148, 2009.
[3]
UNEP Regional Seas Reports, “UNEP/PERSGA: Assessment of Land-based Sources and Activities Affecting the
Marine Environment in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” 1997.
[4]
A. Agwa, H. Leheta, A. Salem, and R. Sadiq, “Fate of drilling waste discharges and ecological risk assessment in the
Egyptian Red Sea: an aquivalence-based fuzzy analysis,” Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, vol. 27,
no. 1, pp. 169–181, 2013.
[5]
R. Bayoumi and A. El-Nagar, “Safe control methods of petroleum crude oil pollution in the mangrove forests of the
Egyptian red sea coast,” Journal of Applied Sciences Research, vol. 5, no. 12, pp. 2435–2447, 2009.
[6]
O. E. Frihy, A. N. Hassan, W. R. El Sayed, M. M. Iskander, and M. Y. Sherif, “A review of methods for constructing
coastal recreational facilities in Egypt (Red Sea),” Ecological Engineering, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1–12, Aug. 2006.
[7]
K. M. Dewidar, “Landfill detection in Hurghada, North Red Sea, Egypt, using Thematic Mapper images,”
International Journal of Remote Sensing, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 939–948, Jan. 2002.
[8]
W. M. Moufaddal, “Use of satellite imagery as environmental impact assessment tool: a case study from the NW
Egyptian Red Sea coastal zone.,” Environmental monitoring and assessment, vol. 107, no. 1–3, pp. 427–52, Aug. 2005.
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