Press Room

ABS Consulting Implements Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for LNG Waterway Suitability Assessments

August 12, 2005

In helping clients perform Waterway Suitability Assessments (WSA) for proposed LNG terminals, ABS Consulting has applied its expertise in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The GIS approach implemented by ABS Consulting's WSA team allows integration and visualization of marine navigation, population, critical infrastructure, sensitive populations (e.g. schools and hospitals), and other geographic information.

This visualization helps the WSA team identify appropriate safety and security measures for the LNG carrier transit. The interactive maps provided by the application of GIS allow the "Zones of Concern," as defined in the Sandia National Laboratories LNG carrier report and outlined in the US Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular on WSA (NVIC 05-05), to be viewed by the team while conducting the assessment. Using the population data, the WSA team can focus on the areas where the Zones of Concern potentially could affect large populations by indicating where the Zones of Concern overlap with census blocks representing high and medium population areas.

"The need for GIS support for the review of transportation of LNG in U.S. waterways has allowed us to bring to bear expertise that ABS Consulting has typically employed in the government-sponsored risk analysis, external hazard consulting and emergency response planning areas of our operations. Our LNG clients are now seeing the same benefits that GIS capabilities can bring to their projects. The readily available high quality geographic information contributes to better informed risk-based decision-making," said Myron Casada, Vice President—Marine, Offshore, Ports and Terminals, ABS Consulting.

For more information on Waterway Suitability Assessments, visit ABS Consulting's LNG Services Overview.

About ABS Consulting

ABSG Consulting Inc. is a leading independent global provider of risk management services, combining industry specialists, risk modeling and practical engineering and technology solutions to help business, finance, industry and government manage risk. Through a comprehensive and integrated risk management approach, ABS Consulting is committed to helping clients reduce business interruption and manage catastrophic, operational, and security risks. ABS Consulting's headquarters is located in Houston, Texas. (www.absconsulting.com)

For more information, contact:

Myron Casada
Vice President
1-281-673-2911 | mcasada@absconsulting.com