NuCoast – Arctic Coastal Erosion Monitoring & Modeling Support

The Nunavik mapping project (Atlas) is a project to map the backshore of the coast, with a focus on identifying sensitive habitats and valuable coastal areas. The work involves mapping land use and land cover across the entire Nunavik coast in northern Quebec, producing datasets that highlight areas that need protection, particularly in the case of a maritime incident such as an oil spill.

The mapping was carried out using satellite data and artificial intelligence models to generate land use / land cover maps. The project covered a very large geographic area—thousands of kilometers of coastline—and was designed to be reproducible and accurate, allowing the mapping to be updated over time. This enables future assessments to identify changes in habitats, the appearance of new zones, or areas that may require additional protection.

The project was conducted in collaboration with academia, and the outputs are used by the Quebec ministry responsible for identifying sensitive habitats. These organizations use the data to develop intervention plans, which guide decision-making and response strategies in the event of maritime incidents.

This region needs to be mapped because it contains valuable and sensitive habitats along a vast and remote coastline. By identifying these areas in advance, authorities can ensure that intervention plans prioritize protection of the most important habitats, and that responses to incidents are informed by accurate, up-to-date information.