COASTMAP is a globally re-locatable, integrated system for real time observation, modeling, and data distribution for estuarine, coastal, shelf, and ocean waters. The Windows, PC based system, has end-to-end capability; from data collection to distribution of data and products to users. The system collects data (observations and model predictions) either from its on line data storage system, via the internet from sources not served by its on line storage system, or through its own network of observation stations. COASTMAP's features an embedded geographic information system, ability to collect, manage, and analyze data from a wide variety of sources, linkages to environmental models (hydrodynamic, meteorological, oil/chemical spill transport and fate, search and rescue, atmospheric plumes from chemical releases, waves, crisis management systems) to provide nowcast and forecast capabilities, and access to incident command management systems for responding to emergencies. The system currently provides access to national hydrodynamic and meteorological models (NOAA/NOS, NWS, Navy), data bases (PORTS, COFS, USGS, NOAA/Co-oPS, CODAR systems) and satellite (Landsat) data. The system supports two major client types:

" Professional Client (Thick Client)
" Web-browser Client (Thin Client)

Professional Client
The Professional Client operates as a stand-alone PC based application and has been designed for high end users. The Professional Client typically obtains data from an on line data storage system via the internet and supports a wide variety of data specific protocols. The Professional Client can overlay geographically based data using the GIS, perform detailed analyses of the data, run a variety of environmental and management models and visualize observations and model predictions. Professional Clients are typically individuals who have responsibility for supporting emergency response, major water quality monitoring programs, search and rescue planning, and maritime security.

The Professional Client is available in 2 versions
This version is embedded in the ASA GIS. It contains data links to the COASTMAP Server and other metocean data sites and has time series analysis and gridded data display and animation.

The ASA GIS allows for fast drawing and excellent animations. It lacks the sophistication of the ArcGIS version and the ability to link to an enterprise GIS such as ArcSDE.

	The COASTMAP extension for ArcGIS drops into ArcGIS9 and allows the user to ingest metocean data from the COASTMAP server and other metocean data sites. The Time Toobar extension is also provided which allows the user to animate time series data (point source and gridded) in the ArcGIS framework
Example COASTMAP Professional (ArcGIS) Client screen showing GOOS satellite altimter data for the Gulf of Mexico.

Web Browser Client
The Web Browser Client has been designed to reach a larger audience. It features a GIS based interface, similar to the Professional Client but simpler, and allows the user to visualize model predictions and observations. The web-based system has limited data analysis and modeling capability. It can however be used to provide input to a model and visualize model output. www.coastmap.com provides a demonstration of the web-based system, as applied to Narragansett Bay and adjacent coastal waters.

 

Example COASTMAP Web-Client screen showing hydrodynamic model results and sea surface radar (CODAR) data for the southern end of Narragansett Bay and Block Island Sound.

COASTMAP is designed so a professional client user and a web-client can share the same GIS and metocean data servers via the internet. By using the COASTMAP ArcGIS extension version, this allows us to integrate with an ESRI-based enterprise GIS via ArcSDE and /or ArcIMS (see schematic on next page).

COASTMAP is designed to link to a variety of hydrodynamic models including models from ASA, other commercial models, or government models.

Architecture for COASTMAP in an enterprise GIS environment.

Example Projects

Client: US Naval Oceanographic Office
The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) has the responsibility of providing the US Naval fleet with daily operational ocean forecasts for specific theaters of operations. These models typically cover deepwater regions and not coastal regions such as the shelf and estuaries. In order to develop this coastal capability NAVOCEANO contracted with Applied Science Associates (ASA) to deliver COASTMAP to collect coastal ocean environmental data, including three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations.
The data collected by COASTMAP are used to develop initial conditions and environmental forcing for operational and rapid response coastal models to support homeland security activities within US waters and coastal warfare activities outside of the US. Environmental data which includes water level, river stream flow, meteorological, currents and temperature, is actively being collected, managed and analyzed for seven bays and harbors (Kings Bay, GA, Mayport, FL, San Diego, CA, Norfolk, VA, San Francisco, CA, Puget Sound, WA, and Charleston, SC) within the continental United States. Data from various regions around the world, including the US East and West Coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, the Yellow Sea and the Persian Gulf, are also being actively collected and managed. The numbers of sensors within all worldwide locations totals 275. These data are being used in the development of local and regional hydrodynamic models. The outputs from these hydrodynamic models are to be linked through the COASTMAP system with meteorological forecasts/data for use with constituent transport models, also linked with COASTMAP, in support of operational planning and action for special warfare, coastal insertion of ground forces, response to potential terrorist activities and potential environmental accidents.

Client: United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has purchased COASTMAP as part of the Tampa Bay Integrated Coastal Models project.

The USGS Tampa Bay Study responds to the need to use an integrated science approach for studying the interrelations between geological, biological, chemical, and hydrological components of estuarine systems, and the impact of natural and anthropogenic change to all components of estuarine systems. The USGS Geological (GD), Biological Resources (BRD), Water Resources (WRD), and National Mapping (NMD) Disciplines are working together with other federal, state, and local partners to develop and implement an integrated, multidisciplinary science strategy for estuarine research. Results from this research will enable scientists and resource managers to better assess the fate of our estuaries in the future.

This project is applying a variety of models for
" Navigation
" Environmental
" Rescue
" Research
issues.

The models being evaluated include
" DHI Mike 3D, MikeFM
" Delft3D
" Derivatives of POM
" UnTRIM
" EcoLab, DHI MT
" Canalys (oceanmodels.com)
" SPECIES interfaces
" CHEMMAP (ASA)

COASTMAP will be used to integrate these hydrodynamic and pollutant transport models with observational data and provide an integrated platform for data distribution and analysis.

Client: SPAWAR, Northrop Grumman, IOOS
ASA has recently been awarded a project to deliver and customize COASTMAP as part of an IOOS initial capability demonstration (ICD) that will validate portions of the IOOS DMAC (Data Management and Communication) architectural concepts, validate the DMAC component design and implementation (framework), and serve as the basis for User Outreach and feedback. COASTMAP will be the basis of a framework to normalize and fuse data from disparate systems, with specific integration of available ocean observation data from the US Navy and NOAA. This project will result in a "proof-of-concept" demonstration that validates the DMAC framework to produce products from data pertaining to Naval Sea Basing and Marine Mammal Avoidance.
The ICD project will use COASTMAP to meet the following specific objectives:
" The ICD will focus on integration and interoperability of existing data and services, identify gaps, and demonstrate the benefits of integrating data and services.
" The ICD will demonstrate the ability to use the DMAC framework that will focus on retrieving data, services, and products for the requisite applications:
" Naval Sea-Basing: On a global basis, predict when and where Oceanographic conditions indicate a hindrance to Naval Sea Basing, and
" Marine Mammal Avoidance: In U.S. coastal waters, predict when and where ship traffic should be re-routed to avoid potential interactions with protected marine resources.
" The ICD will provide an IOOS DMAC capability that is PC (Intel) based.
" The ICD will demonstrate interoperability with external agencies and organizations (e.g., Navy, NOAA, GOOS, etc.).

Click here to visit the COASTMAP webserver.