The University of Guyana’s Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) officially launched the Guyana Coastal Analysis System (G-CAS) on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, marking a significant milestone as part of efforts to strengthen coastal monitoring, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development in Guyana.
The simple launch was held at the University’s Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus, and saw the attendance of representatives from some key national agencies, UG staff, and students.
The G-CAS platform is a cutting-edge, web-based tool designed to analyse and track dynamic coastal processes in near real-time. Developed through collaborative research led by Professor Temitope Oyedotun from FEES, the system integrates geospatial datasets, satellite imagery, and machine learning to support informed coastal zone management and climate resilience in Guyana.
In her opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin hailed the platform as a major achievement for the University and the country. “This is a beautiful project—one that reflects the incredible work of our researchers and partners. I am particularly delighted that training opportunities will accompany the platform’s launch, allowing not only our students but also members of the private sector and governmental agencies to understand and use this tool effectively.”
The VC urged that as development continues along our coastlines, “we must ensure safety, science, and sustainability. This project demonstrates just that, and I look forward to hearing from other stakeholders who wish to join future workshops or collaborate further.”
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Mr Jagnarine Singh, commended the University for its commitment to national development and knowledge-sharing. “The work of the University must not only meet academic standards but respond to national needs. With G-CAS, we are seeing research evolve into a national tool for planning and collaboration. I encourage government agencies to take advantage of this platform, and I look forward to future demonstrations and partnerships to strengthen our national coastal resilience.”
Dean of FEES, Mrs Linda Johnson-Bhola, described the initiative as both timely and transformational. “This is a very significant event. G-CAS aligns squarely with our faculty’s vision of advancing environmental resilience and innovation. Developed through collaborative research led by Professor Oyedotun, it provides a practical, science-based solution to the challenges affecting our coastal zone,” she said.
Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Col. (Ret’d) Nazrul Hussain, welcomed the development and expressed full support for the initiative. “This kind of tool is exactly what our country needs. We cannot work in isolation. We must build partnerships, and this project is a testimony to the power of collaboration. I applaud the University, FEES, and everyone involved. The CDC stands ready to support this work and to continue building resilience together.”
Dr Judit Ungvari, Co-lead, Research & Innovation of Future Earth, representing the grant funder, in her remarks said: “The Programme for Early-stage Grants Advancing Sustainability Science (PEGASuS) seeks to increase knowledge, promote innovation, and establish evidence-based solutions to the world’s most difficult sustainability challenges. With PEGASuS, we bring together researchers from across borders and it was our delight to support the proposed project, as it is our goal to generate self-sustaining research projects that will have real impacts on the health and well-being of human societies.”
The developed Guyana Coastal Analysis System (G-CAS) is a free, open-access web platform developed to address the challenges of coastal monitoring in Guyana. It utilises Google Earth Engine (GEE), geospatial datasets, and advanced modelling to analyse shoreline changes, coastal squeeze, bathymetric change, and flood detection/modelling. The development of the platform benefits from PEGASuS (Programme for Early-stage Grants Advancing Sustainability Science) 5:1 “Take it Further Grant”. PEGASuS is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Science Programme and administered by Future Earth. The system offers stakeholders—from researchers to local authorities—a reliable tool for disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, and long-term coastal planning.
The event also featured a live demonstration of the G-CAS platform by Professor Oyedotun, who showcased its real-time monitoring features, analytical capabilities, and potential applications across sectors. He used the Shoreline Analysis Tool within the Guyana Coastal Analysis System (G-CAS) to demonstrate the significant advancement in the monitoring and management of Guyana’s dynamic coastline during the live demo.
The real strength of the Shoreline Analysis Tool, Professor Temitope noted, lies in its ability to translate raw satellite imagery into meaningful, decision-ready information. By automating the process of coastline delineation and integrating statistical outputs compliant with the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) standards, G-CAS was demonstrated to empower environmental analysts, planners, and policymakers to assess shoreline change with clarity and precision. The outputs—including detailed transect data and change metrics—were demonstrated to be exportable in multiple formats for further analysis or integration into other GIS systems. This capability not only supports long-term coastal planning and disaster risk reduction but also enhances national efforts to build resilience against climate-driven coastal impacts, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Bush Lot area in Region 5, where the tool was tested during the live demonstration.
The G-CAS project team includes researchers from:
- University of Guyana – Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Prof. Temitope D. Timothy Oyedotun (Principal Investigator)
Mr Esan Hamer
Lieut. Col. Gordon A. Nedd
- Spatial Informatics Group
Dr Karis Tenneson
Dr Ate Poortinga
Mr M. Warizmi Wafiq
Mr Weraphong Suaruang
Ms Andréa Puzzi Nicolau
- UCL – Department of Geography
Professor Helene Burningham
The University of Guyana and its Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences remain committed to harnessing research and innovation for national and regional development. With G-CAS, Guyana now stands at the forefront of technological solutions for coastal resilience and environmental sustainability.
Please see link to the G-CAS platform: https://gcas.gy/
