Oil spill environmental sensitivity mapping of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The current case study focuses on oil the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil—a region at risk from petroleum sector pollution. By mapping 981.5 km of coastline and classifying it in 10 oil sensitivity indices, we integrated biotic resources, socioeconomic factors, and geoenvironmental diversity into a geodatabase. Results reveal high oil sensitivity of the bay, with approximately 89 % of shoreline scoring ESI 8 and ESI 10, representing estuarine and solid substrate habitats, respectively. Notably, numerous manufacturing and oil handling plants, along with intensive urbanization, also contribute to the bay's oil sensitivity. Additionally, the rich biotic diversity in the study area, particularly in protected areas housing 79 conservation units, further amplifies its environmental vulnerability. This study aims to serve as a reference for detailed ESI mapping of coastal zones with high population density, urban development, and high significant environmental diversity. •ESI mapping of a large urbanized coastal region was performed at a detailed scale.•Geoenvironmental mapping approach characterizes a wide range of coastal habitats.•Brazilian and U.S. guidance for coastal habitat classification was revised.•GIS was crucial for multi-thematic data integration in oil sensitivity assessment.