Industrial units dealing with fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, paper, chemical, petroleum and cement are being setup along the coast. Most of these industries need guidance and advice for identifying suitable areas and modes to discharge their treated effluent into the sea such that the impact on the environment is minimal. Power plants look for appropriate sites in their vicinity to draw large quantities of seawater to serve as coolant. Other developmental activities such as the expansion of ports and harbours, deepening of navigational channels and construction of offshore facilities require an assessment of their potential environmental impact.

Apart from carrying out the research work, NIO provides services to various organizations in solving ocean related problems and assists in carrying out the work in the marine environment through sponsored or consultancy projects. NIO scientists as per the project requirement collect data on physical, chemical, biological, geological and engineering aspects through field measurements using moored/drifting buoys and research vessels. We also utilize the data transmitted by a number of satellites equipped with oceanographic sensors. These data are analyzed and interpreted along with outputs of numerical models to understand various coastal and oceanic processes and their roles on the marine environment due to industrial activities.

• Environmental Impact Assessment and environmental monitoring
• Bathymetry, seabed Engineering, CRZ demarcation
• Evaluation of design parameters for coastal & offshore facilities
• Site selection for marine outfall, sea water intake, jetty, SPM and submarine pipelines
• Numerical modelling
• Oil spill risk analysis and preparation of contingency plan
• Biofouling and corrosion
• Underwater Surveys

Environmental Impact Assessment and environmental monitoring

NIO carries out Environmental Impact Assessment for developmental projects in the marine area as per MoEF notification dated September 2006 (http://envfor.nic.in/).
The EIA report will contain the following information.

• Introduction
  • Purpose of project
  • Brief nature of project and its location
  • Scope of work as per TOR
• Project description
  • All proposed activities with drawings
• Description of environment
  • Baseline data
• Anticipated impacts and mitigation measures
  • Impacts of project
  • Mitigation measures to minimize the impact
• Analysis of alternative site
• Environmental monitoring plan
• Socio-impact, Rehabilitation and resettlement plans
• Risk assessment and contingency plan (if applicable)
• Project benefits
• Environmental Management Plan Summary and conclusions

Evaluation of design parameters for coastal & offshore facilities

Planning, design and operation of coastal and offshore facilities require information on environmental parameters. Since the environment is stochastic in nature, design parameters to support engineering activities need to be evaluated using probabilistic methods based on long-term site-specific data.

Major environmental parameters, which influence the design/operation/ maintenance of marine facilities are waves, currents, wind, tides, engineering properties of seabed sediments and sediment transport.

Evaluation of engineering design parameters requires long-term site specific data. Facilities and capabilities to collect long-term site specific environmental data and evaluation of engineering design parameters are available at NIO.

Numerical modelling

• Simulation of tides and tidal currents
• Storm surge estimation
• Coastal circulation
• Thermal plume mapping
• Pollutant transport in creeks, estuaries and coastal ocean
• Prediction of near shore and deepwater wave statistics and wave spectra
• Sediment transport
• Beach changes
• Water quality
• Offshore and nearshore spectral wave modelling
• Ecological modelling
• Oil spill modelling

Bathymetry, seabed Engineering, CRZ demarcation

NIO conducts Bathymetry, Seabed Engineering and CRZ demarcation surveys for offshore industry developmental projects with international standards. Final report submitted to the offshore industry is based on following methodology applied during field data acquisition:

• Field survey planning based on the survey area details obtained from clients.
• Collection of data using duel frequency shallow-water echo- sounder and DGPS navigation system for bathymetry map generation.
• Sub-seabed sediment sequence details are obtained using a chirp sub-bottom profiler, high resolution shallow-seismic sparker system and high resolution duel frequency side sonar, integrated with DGPS navigation data towards understanding the seabed processes. A detailed analysis and interpretation of the substrata and seabed mosaics is presented in the final report.
• Surveys for CRZ demarcation for coastal stretches of the sea, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action are carried out using a DGPS navigation system, a high frequency echo-sounder and an optical range measuring system (LASERTRACK and 3D laser scanner) as per MoEF guidelines.

Oil spill risk analysis and preparation of contingency plan

The facilities where crude oil and products are stored and handled have the potential for oil spill. The study will cover the following aspects.

• Identification of risk due to probable oil spills
  • scenarios
  • quantities
• Numerical Hydrodynamic modelling
  • seasons
  • spill landing locations
  • quantity reaching coast
• Preparation of contingency plan
• Identification of resources to combat oil spill

Underwater Surveys

Expertise available in under water exploration

Manpower

• A team of qualified archaeologist, trained in diving with more than a decade's experience
• Support of Oceanographers, specialized in geology, survey and electronics

Equipment

• SCUBA sets and tools
• Compressors for different purposes
• Video and still photography systems
• Metal detectors
• Underwater scooters
• Rubber dingy

For further details contact: