Insurance, Risk & Defence
PML Applications Ltd provides advice and
forecasting linked to risk, insurance and defence in collaboration
with Plymouth Marine Laboratory on a wide range of topics related
to the marine environment, such as to the defence maritime sector,
maritime risk (e.g. spill incidents), fisheries and commercial
developments.
Among the many species of marine
phytoplankton, some produce toxins that can have serious impacts on
fish or human health, which can result in economic consequences if
fisheries need to be closed. Traditionally monitoring for harmful
algal blooms has entailed collection of samples for species
identification or toxicity analysis. However, in situ
monitoring is expensive and, where sampling is infrequent,
detection may only happen once the bloom is established. PML
Applications works closely with the scientists at Plymouth Marine
Laboratory who have developed techniques for the early detection of
harmful algal blooms from satellite data and mapping the extent of
blooms using computer vision techniques.
The English Channel has long been recognised
as an area of high maritime risk and has been designated as part
of the Western European Waters Particularly Sensitive Sea
Area (PSSA), and thus in need of special protection. As a rule,
prompt action to monitor potential pollution effects is required to
inform ongoing management decisions and overall to minimise the
impacts of any maritime incident. PML Applications can provide
support to ensure comprehensive expertise through an integrated and
multidisciplinary approach, combining chemical and ecotoxicological
measurements as well as modelling, to characterize and/or
investigate maritime pollution incidents.
PML Applications Ltd offers high quality 3D
software models that enable spatial elements of environmental risk
to be modelled, communicated and assessed.
3D visualisations linked with GIS type data
(e.g. land-use type, energy and water services, flood maps) allows
you to fly through a landscape and turn and off different layers;
relationships between and patterns of different spatial elements
thus become apparent and where they may be greatest risk. For
example, you can view a modelled sea level rise and switch on a GIS
layer of coastal infrastructure. This could uncover issues such the
inundation of old landfill sites (contamination risk), for
example.
3D visualisations can also display spatial data outputted from
numerical research models such as progressive catchment flooding
under different scenarios. The numerical models provide the
scientific prediction while the visualisations allow the scenarios
to be communicated effectively. The 3D visualisations are very
specific as you can move to any point within the model, for
instance you could view a 100 year flood inundation for a given
house in a street (for instance, the water could be up to the
doorstep or windows). The impact and appreciation of risk of such a
visualisation on a home-owning member of the public for instance,
is a great deal more than simply showing a flood line on a map.
Since the visualisations are digital models, it is possible to
display the change in topography over time. For instance, the
resultant coastal erosion can be visually displayed for different
sea level rise scenarios and/or management actions. These are real
issues facing coastal stakeholders and the 3D models can allow the
extent and risks of coastal erosion to be shared and assessed
between all parties, the public and regulatory authorities.
