Use of remote sensing and geographic information systems in the determination of high-risk areas regarding marine traffic in the Istanbul Strait

Istanbul Strait, Bosphorus, is one of the important waterways of the world due to its combination of natural beauty, human resources, and the high number of oil-carrying tankers passing through it. A considerable increase in the number of vessels over the past decade has indicated the high potential for oil spillage and fire hazards. This study aims to determine the coastal areas that are under an oil spill/fire/explosion risk in the Istanbul Strait by using geoinformatics. Remote sensing technology, providing relatively quick and low-cost analysis of large areas, is used for classifying the shoreline and land-use activities in the fore-scene and back-scene zones followed by assigning risk scores to various GIS data layers and suitability evaluation based on the weight of each score. The risk components are prioritized and layers are allocated according to their risk scores. Major components that classify risk-posing areas are accident likelihood, number of historical assets, human-use resources, population, and lack of critical facilities. Segment-wise risk levels that resulted in comparatively higher scores indicate the vulnerable areas along the Strait to draw the attention of the society and the decision-makers who are responsible for the policy implications. The study acts as a guideline for developing coastal management strategies and implementing corresponding human policies.