HiDef today announced it has been awarded a contract by Oil & Gas UK to undertake an update to the seabird oil sensitivity index, following a competitive tendering process earlier this summer.
The aim is to provide robust estimates of seabird abundance at sea around the UK using recent data, which will be used to identify locations where seabirds are most sensitive to potential oil pollution using an updated ‘seabird oil sensitivity index’. The project will be overseen by a steering group comprised of experts from industry and the Governmental sector, including the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Marine Scotland and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
One of the core outputs will be a GIS-tool that can be interrogated spatially to provide sensitivity in key areas. In recent years HiDef has gained acclaim for its ability to provide spatial analysis, including cartography, cloud based digital management, statistical spatial analysis, geostatistical techniques, density surface modelling and 3D integration of spatial data. The company started providing bespoke analysis and reporting to augment their traditional digital aerial survey service.
Felicity Tolley, the Environmental Business Analyst for Oil & Gas UK confirmed the award:
“The project will improve our understanding of seabird sensitivity to oil and provide a useful new tool for both industry and the regulators as part of the planning process for the unlikely event of an oil spill. We look forward to working with HiDef on this.”
Andy Webb, HiDef’s Environment and Statistics Manager responded:
“We are delighted to have been awarded this contract with Oil & Gas UK, which outlines our growing reputation as an expert ornithological consultancy of choice to industry’s key players, and also highlights our level of knowledge of the UK’s offshore environment.
This project allows us to build on previous work we have carried out for Oil & Gas UK, and support the industry in providing robust, data-driven information to maintain its good environmental record offshore.”
