Visualizing avian migration across Norway supporting sustainable coastal and offshore wind energy development

Norway is committed to significant developments of wind energy to promote sustainable development of the energy system. One major potential cumulative conflict between coastal and offshore wind energy development and wildlife arises from the large numbers of migrating birds crossing the North Sea and flying along the elongated Norwegian coastline. This aspect is, however, neglected in (cumulative) environmental impact assessments due to a lack of knowledge on migration corridors. The main objective of VisAviS is to map corridors for bird migration in Norway (mainland and adjacent marine areas) to support (strategic) environmental impact assessments, and ensure optimal coastal and offshore wind-power plant siting with minimal environmental costs. VisAviS will utilize state-of-the-art radar technology combined with visual observations to map migration patterns, species-specific migration behaviour and differences in timing of migration. When and where bird migration takes place will be presented visually using a dynamic and interactive online tool. VisAviS will be developed with a strong involvement and an active participatory strategy from industry and authority partners, thereby ensuring that the tool will be used. VisAviS will result in new insights and approaches, and also ensure and enhance interaction with potential users by providing online tool for knowledge transfer. VisAviS’s activities will generate spatially explicit knowledge and innovative visualizations to reduce migration-related risks as a basis for policy design and facilitate sustainable utilization of wind energy resources. The project’s outcomes will thus help reduce environmental barriers, fostering practical solutions to such risks through innovative tools, and facilitating engagement in the transition to a low-emission society.

Norway is committed to significant developments of wind energy to promote sustainable development of the energy system. One major potential cumulative conflict between coastal and offshore wind energy development and wildlife arises from the large numbers of migrating birds crossing the North Sea and passing along the elongated Norwegian coastline. This aspect is however neglected in (cumulative) environmental impact assessments due to a lack of knowledge on migratory flyways. The main objective of VisAviS is to map avian migratory flyways in Norway (mainland and adjacent marine areas) to support (strategic) environmental impact assessments, coastal and offshore wind-power plant siting with minimal environmental costs. VisAviS will utilize state-of-the-art radar technology combined with visual observations to map migration patterns, migration behaviour and species-specific phenology. The spatio-temporal patterns will be visualized using a spatio-temporally dynamic online tool. VisAviS is strongly emphasizing an active participatory strategy of industry and authority partner involvement, thereby increasing the probability that they will adopt the solutions. VisAviS will result in new insights and approaches, and also ensure and enhance interaction with potential users by providing online tool for knowledge transfer. VisAviS’s activities will generate spatially explicit knowledge and innovative visualizations to reduce migration risk as a basis for policy design and facilitate sustainable utilization of wind energy resources. The project’s outcomes will thus help reduce environmental barriers, fostering practical solutions to such risks through innovative tools, and facilitating engagement in the transition to a low-emission society.