Simulation Data for an Ecosystem Based Environmental Impact Assessment

This dataset accompanies the manuscript titled An Ecosystem Based Environmental Impact Assessment Framework for Sustainable Hydraulic Suction Systems in Deep Sea Mining, submitted to Discover Oceans. The dataset supports a simulation-based methodological study that develops and evaluates an integrated ecosystem-based environmental impact assessment framework for hydraulic suction systems used in deep-sea mining. The proposed framework links sediment-plume modelling, cumulative ecological stress assessment, adaptive operational thresholds, habitat-sensitive spatial controls, feedback-regulated pump operation and tamper-evident regulatory records. The simulation represents a 100 km² Clarion–Clipperton Zone analogue nodule field over a period of 180 simulated days. Two operational configurations are compared: Conventional Practice, consisting of fixed no-mining zones, constant nominal pump operation and periodic monitoring. CEA-Driven Framework, consisting of dynamically updated risk zones, adaptive ecological thresholds, feedback-controlled pump operation and continuous monitoring. The deposited materials include the simulation input parameters, baseline assumptions, parameter ranges, uncertainty assumptions, comparative model outputs, source metadata and a detailed data dictionary. The comparative outputs include modelled sediment-plume exposure, biodiversity-retention indicators and operational-control responses under the two simulated management configurations. Under the reported simulation conditions, the adaptive configuration produced an approximately 38% reduction in time-integrated sediment-plume exposure relative to conventional practice. The modelled benthic-integrity index was approximately 92% under the adaptive configuration and approximately 74% under conventional practice. These values are outputs of the numerical simulation and must not be interpreted as field-observed or externally validated ecological measurements. The dataset is intended to support transparency, reproducibility, methodological evaluation and further research on adaptive environmental governance for deep-sea mining. It may also be used for sensitivity testing, model comparison, teaching and the development of alternative environmental assessment and operational-control scenarios. The deposited files include: Simulation_Inputs.csv containing the principal simulation inputs and baseline values Simulation_Outputs.csv containing comparative model outputs Parameter_and_Uncertainty_Ranges.csv containing parameter ranges and uncertainty assumptions Data_Dictionary.xlsx defining the variables, units, data types and interpretation Source_Metadata.csv documenting the published sources used to inform model assumptions README.txt describing the dataset structure, scope and appropriate use No human participant data, personal data, confidential information or new field observations are included. The study is entirely simulation based. The hydrodynamic, sediment and ecological parameters are literature informed and illustrative. The results depend on the stated assumptions and require site-specific calibration and independent field validation before they can be used for operational or regulatory decision-making.