OWEASIS combines environmental and energy data with integrated spatial analysis tools to support environmental assessment of designated offshore wind areas in Korea.
Environmental assessment of offshore wind development requires consideration of both environmental conditions and energy infrastructure. This study presents the Offshore Wind Environment Assessment Support & Information System (OWEASIS), a GIS-based platform developed to support environmental assessment of designated offshore wind development areas in the Republic of Korea.
OWEASIS integrates environmental spatial datasets with energy sector information. Environmental and marine-use data include marine protected areas, seabird habitats, fisheries, shipping routes, coastal landscapes, and marine spatial plans. Energy data include substations, transmission lines, grid capacity availability, and existing and planned offshore wind farms. The platform provides interactive maps, integrated analysis tools, and report support functions. By analyzing environmental and energy data together, these tools help users examine environmental constraints alongside energy infrastructure and grid capacity availability within a common spatial framework.
Designed for developers, regulators, and environmental experts, OWEASIS supports the identification of potential conflicts and the preparation of evidence for environmental assessment of designated areas. Integrating data access and analysis in one platform is intended to improve the consistency and transparency of offshore wind environmental assessment.
Dr. Taeyun Kim is a Chief Research Fellow in the Environmental Assessment Group at KEI. His work includes reviewing EIA statements and conducting research on renewable energy and coastal environment.