Spatial modeling and data management of the Persian Gulf wave atlas

Abstract

During the last few years, many coastal and offshore infrastructures are being constructed or planned for oil and other marine industries in the Persian Gulf area. Long term wave data is important for the design of coastal structures and for the calculation of sediment transport rates. In this study a third-generation wave model has been used to generate 10 years (1992–2001) of wave climate atlas for the Persian Gulf. The European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) wind field data after some modifications, and compiled bathymetry data from few sources, were employed as the input data of the model. In situ and satellite wave datasets were used to calibrate the model, and the validation of the results. The results show that the higher waves have a better accuracy over the whole Persian Gulf, and the overall accuracy is more than 80% for all simulated data. All the datasets (input and output data) were stored in a GIS-based software that was developed to provide a user friendly environment for data visualization and extraction. A multidimensional data model was developed for data management and visualization of numerical model results in the GIS environment. The integration of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), and commercial GIS components used for data management and software development.