Technical Aspects of Spatial Data Preparation within the Marine Administration System as Support for the Sustainable Development of the Blue Economy
Technical Aspects of Spatial Data Preparation within the Marine Administration System as Support for the Sustainable Development of the Blue Economy

Summary/Abstract: Establishing a Marine Administration System (MAS) is crucial for countries bordering seas and oceans, particularly within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This involves delineating marine zones and providing comprehensive information on property rights in territorial seas, contiguous zones, and exclusive economic zones, which is vital for safeguarding sovereign rights. In Romania, the transposition of Directive 2014/89/EU and the adoption of Government Ordinance No. 18/2016 on maritime spatial planning, along with Emergency Ordinance No. 97/2023 for the Maritime Spatial Plan, are pivotal for promoting sustainable development within the Blue Economy. This study addresses the technical aspects of spatial data preparation essential for implementing a MAS, focusing on the generation of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for seabed topography, integrated with terrestrial topography. A significant aspect highlighted is the need to extend the quasigeoid model for Romania to include maritime areas. This extended quasigeoid facilitates the transformation of altitudes and depths derived from GNSS and bathymetric measurements, which are traditionally referenced to local surfaces specific to hydrographic measurements. By eliminating the need for direct tide measurements, the study underscores the importance of accessing recent topographic and bathymetric data based on a precise datum. Additionally, the research outlines a workflow utilized in other countries for generating DEMs using GNSS and bathymetric measurements, employing ArcMap and ArcScene from the ArcGIS suite, and illustrates the 3D visualization of marine parcels. The development of a Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) based on the DEM and an extended quasigeoid model for Romania in the Black Sea area will ensure that marine spatial data is accessible for state authorities. This infrastructure aims to facilitate data comparison and exchange, integrating with initiatives such as Marine Knowledge 2020 and the Inspire Directive (2007/2/EC), and Directive 2014/89/EU, thereby supporting the effective management of coastal and marine zones.

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