Since 2014, we have been working on behalf of the Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG) to digitise, standardise and quality assure chemical and macrobenthic data collected during what is thought to be one of the world’s longest running seabed monitoring programmes.
 
To date, this has involved the extraction and standardisation of data from over 10,000 samples collected during 29 separate monitoring surveys spanning from 1977 to the present day. It has also involved the creation of a bespoke relational database to act as a central location to store and interrogate this extensive dataset. To accompany the database, a chronological review of changes to survey strategy, sampling design and methods of analysis was also undertaken summarised in a well-received report submitted to SOTEAG committee.