Atlas Project
The Atlas project is a collaboration with academia focused on mapping the backshore of the coast of northern Quebec (Nunavik), with particular attention to sensitive habitats along the coast. The purpose of the project is to identify valuable habitats in coastal areas, especially for use in intervention planning in the case of maritime incidents such as oil spills.
The mapping work was carried out across the entire Nunavik coast, from Kangiqsualujjuaq to the north of Labrador, covering thousands of kilometers of coastline. The project used satellite data combined with artificial intelligence models to produce land use and land cover maps. These maps were designed to be reproducible and accurate, allowing them to be updated over time to assess change, identify new habitats, or determine new zones that may require protection.
The outputs of the Atlas project are used by the Quebec ministry responsible for identifying sensitive habitats. This ministry uses the intervention maps to develop plans for maritime incidents, ensuring that sensitive areas can be protected when incidents occur.
The project is important because the region contains valuable and sensitive coastal habitats that need to be identified and protected. The mapping provides a way to support intervention planning, helping authorities assess where protection is needed in the event of incidents such as oil spills, and ensuring that decisions are based on accurate information about coastal ecosystems.
