Task 6: Field Surveillance

 

Guided by the findings of Tasks 2-5, KAUST and its partner, The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), will undertake field surveillance for a number of sites in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.  The sites, will be selected in consultation with NCEC on the basis the findings of the Hotspot Analysis (Task 4).  Currently, it is assumed that areas within NEOM and the Red Sea project will be targeted for the surveillance.

Surveillance works initiation:

Prior to the commencement of the surveillance work, the team will prepare a detailed surveillance work project execution plan which will outline:

  • Names and credentials of any subconsultants for field surveillance and laboratories for data analysis;
  • High-level approach and schedule for monitoring each location;
  • Equipment and instruments that will be utilised in the field (including their respective QA/QC procedures and calibration requirements);
  • Laboratory analytical techniques benchmarked against international standards;
  • Sampling techniques and approaches benchmarked against international standards;
  • Detailed task breakdown and timelines for the monitoring activities;
  • Personnel to be employed at each location; and
  • Health, Safety and Environmental considerations.

Field Surveillance:

The team will undertake one-time monitoring at each of the identified hotspots as below:

6.1      Water Quality:

a. In-situ water quality monitoring

Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, chlorophyll and total suspended solids.

b. Real-time continuous total suspended solids (TSS) monitoring
c. Ex-situ water analysis

Ammonia, BOD, COD, fluoride, heavy metals (Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, Nickel, Phosphorous, Lead, Vanadium, Zinc, and Mercury), chlorinated phenols, nitrate, nitrite, oil & grease, phosphate, sulphide, total chlorine, total cyanide, TDS, total organic carbon, total petroleum, hydrocarbons, total phosphorous and TSS.

d.  Analysis of the microbial contamination of costal water.

6.2      Marine Sedimentation

Ex-situ Marine Sediment analysis
  • C5 - C10, C10 – C40 and Polycyclic
  • Aromatic Hydrocarbons,
  • Volatile Organic Compounds,
  • Polychlorinated biphenyl,
  • Phenols, Carbonate,
  • Water Soluble Chloride, Total Nitrogen,
  • Cyanide, Total Organic Carbon,
  • Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium,
  • Cobalt, Chromium, Copper,
  • Nickel, Phosphorous, Lead,
  • Vanadium, Zinc, Mercury

A report will be prepared for each sampling location, to which the following will be appended:

  • Selected site photographs;
  • Latitude and Longitude coordinate for each site; and
  • Other relevant documentation.