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Imagine sailing from Newport to Block Island next weekend and you want to know the weather and ocean conditions for your trip. Or if you are helping to direct cleanup activities from an oil spill in the East Passage and need to know where the spilled oil will be heading over the next 24 hours and what sensitive resources are at risk. Both of these scenarios can be aided by a new computer software system now entering its prototype phase called COASTMAP.
ASA
and the Ocean Engineering Department at the University of Rhode Island (URI) are
leading the development of COASTMAP, a marine environmental monitoring, modeling
and management system. COASTMAP provides an integrated linkage among real time
and historical observations, modeling, and data distribution for shelf, coastal
sea, and estuarine waters anywhere in the world.
COASTMAP is the natural evolution of ASA's modeling, GIS, and data software. COASTMAP combines remote data access, real-time data downloads anddistribution, data analysis, GIS, and predictive modeling into a single PC-based software application.
COASTMAP can be employed as a framework customized for each client for any monitoring and modeling project by providing direct links to oceanographic and meteorological sensors, large-scale models, as well as localized models.
As an example, a COASTMAP user will begin by seeing a GIS-based map for his or her region. When they log on, COASTMAP will automatically connect via the internet to the COASTMAP Data Server to access the latest available data for the region. This data may include:
- sensor data from the client's deployed instruments
- meteorological and oceanographic data from government programs such as NOAA's PORTS, NOAA/NOS
-
weather data from the National Weather Service
- road weather information from road monitoring sensors
- model data from large scale meteorological or oceanographic models.
 Impact from Hurricane Lili on offshore oil development, BP platform. |
The user may view, analyse, and compare this data as well as data that they may locally store on their PC. The user may drag and drop data into graph windows for data comparison and analysis. New technology has allowed ASA to incorporate a variety of MatlabÓ based data analysis tools directly into COASTMAP. In addition, hydrodynamic, oil spill, chemical fate and transport and other pollutant and water quality models may be run directly from COASTMAP by simply listing real-time or historical data into the model as initial or boundary conditions for predictions.
Dr. Malcolm Spaulding has been instrumental in combining the efforts of the URI, ASA, and other key players "To realize this vision of an integrated system for data collection, analysis, and distribution with numerical models is very exciting. The ability for modelers to link directly to real-time data for boundary conditions, data assimilation, and model validation is a major step forward."
ASA is currently using COASTMAP for an integrated observing and 3-D hydrodynamic and pollutant transport model for Narragansett Bay and adjacent southern New England coastal waters to provide high-resolution hindcasts, nowcasts, and forecasts. This project is funded by the National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP).
ASA is also working with the US Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO) to implement Coastmap in support of special warfare, mine warfare and contaminant dispersion tracking activities.
Developments for the first quarter of 2003 will allow the COASTMAP module to be linked to a number of ASA systems including OILMAP, CHEMMAP, and HYDROMAP. This will allow users to automatically obtain current weather and ocean data and link to forecasts for improved emergency response predictions.
Hurricane
Lili photo courtesy of John T. Robinson at Shell International Exploration and
Production, Inc.
SIMAP
ASA's spill impact model SIMAP, a three-dimensional model that estimates physical
fates and biological effects of oil, now incorporates a variety of different spill
response options such as mechanical recovery, dispersants and in-situ burning.
Response options are needed because oil spills have the potential to cause problems
not only for the environment, but also for the people who live in the area and
for personnel who respond to clean up the spill.
CHEMMAP
Chemical incidents and produced water discharge have raised many questions such
as: What is the expected fate and concentrations of chemical in water? What are
the ecological hazards to aquatic biota? A way to address these questions is to
look at Hazard Quotients, (i.e., concentration divided by a threshold of concern),
which is analogous to Predicted Effects Concentrations divided by Predicted No
Effects Concentration (PEC/PNEC). A Hazard Quotient value greater than 1 signifies
this area is potentially impacted, the larger the number the greater the contamination.
ASA' s chemical dispersion model, CHEMMAP now readily calculates Hazard Quotients.
CHEMMAP provides the Predicted Effects Concentrations (PEC) for chemical products
that include floating, sinking, soluble and insoluble chemicals. It can be used
as a forecast, hind cast or in probabilistic mode to determine the area where
the Hazard Quotient will be greater than 1 in the water column or air.
SARMAP
The
latest version of ASA's Search & Rescue model incorporates the newest drift
data from the U.S. Coast Guard and search area calculations from the IAMSAR Manual
(International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, International
Maritime Organization, June 1999, updated July 2000). The model has been expanded
to include a Lagrangian particle solution so that search areas may be calculated
based on the traditional (automated manual) method or the Lagrangian particle
approach.
OILMAP
OILMAP (Arcview 8.0)
ASA is wrapping up development of the OILMAP
extension for Arcview 8.x improvements include better interface dialogues and
improved oil and current data animation. The same models including the surface
oil trajectory model, stochastic model and the chemical model (CHEMMAP) will be
available. The OILMAP Arcview 8.x version will be available in January 2003.
Real-Time Data Linkage
The real-time Coastmap weather forecast
module will be available within OILMAP next month. This module allows the user
to select from thousands of weather stations via the internet and automatically
run the oil spill model based on the latest forecasts.
CDOG
Deepwater Blowout Model
An interface for the deepwater blowout model
developed by Poojitha Yapa, Fanghui Chen and Li Zheng of Clarkson University under
joint oil industry funding has been added within OILMAP. The interface allows
the user to enter/edit all of the parameters for the model including OILMAP's
hydrodynamic databases. Visualization includes particle and plume animation in
plan and section view and full three-dimensional views with fly-through capability.
ADCIRC
Data linkage
OILMAP has added support for current data files from
this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydrodynamic model. This development was originally
completed for the dredge material re-suspension model that ASA and the Corps of
Engineers are co-developing.
CHEMMAP Haxmat photo courtesy of NOAA
Craig Swanson spoke on Impacts of Dredging at Quonset Point on Circulation and Water Quality to the senior project class in the Department of Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island on 20 September. The purpose was to give the students, who are studying various engineering and environmental aspects of the proposed port, some insight into how ASA performs an environmental analysis incorporating both field data collection and modeling studies.
In
August, PETROBRAS and ASA South America presented the development of OILMAP scenarios
along the Brazilian Coast in the "Innovations in Science and Technology Expo".
The Expo was sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology as a forum for
discussions about new technologies and scientific developments in the environmental
area. From left: Angelo Sartori, Jose Antonio Lima, Alvaro Maia, Manager of the
Scientific Methods Division at PETROBRAS/CENPES, and Eduardo Yassuda from ASA
South America.
On 8-12 July, Nicole Whittier traveled to the ASA South America office to train the office in the use of the chemical dispersion model CHEMMAP. Well there Eduardo Yassuda from the ASA South America and Ricardo Serpa, Jacqueline Dadian, and Francisco Lima from ITSEMAP met with CETESB the Environmental Management Agency for the State of S?o Paulo to discuss the evaluation of chemicals selected for modeling based on the localization with respect to the terminals. This evaluation will be used in the analysis of the how to respond to these chemical releases during emergency situations.
5 September Nicole Whittier visited Saint John, NB to present SIMAP model results regarding the Comparative Ecological Risk Assessment (CERA) of Spills in the Bay of Fundy. The CERA is part of the Environmental Impact Assessment to convert the Coleson Cove Generating Station to Orimulsion instead of heavy fuel oil. On 10 October the provincial government gave conditional approval for the conversion. For more information on this conversion you can visit http://www.gnb.ca/0009/0377/0002/0009-e.html.
East
Asia Response Private Limited (EARL) is an international Tier Three Oil Spill
Response Centre established in 1993 to provide rapid and efficient response to
oil spill incidents in the Asia-Pacific region. EARL responds to oil spills with
equipment and specialist staff to combat spills and provide technical support.
EARL recently purchased ASA's oil spill model (OILMAP) to assist with tracking
the weathering and movement of the spilled oil to assist the on-scene responders.
Mr. Sasha Zigic from our Australian office, gave a three day OILMAP training
session to 11 of EARL's personnel between the 15-17 October 2002.
Deborah French McCay, Nicole Whittier and Jill Rowe provided Anita George-Ares from ExxonMobil Biomedical training on SIMAP the 9-11 October. Dr. George-Ares worked with oil fates and effects models in hindcast mode, as well as physical, biological and toxicological data needs. Database tools, including importing GIS data, were also described during the training. Thus, it was a busy week for all involved!
The first week of August Deborah French McCay, Nicole Whittier and Colleen Dalton provided Ann Meador, Coke Coakley and John Hampp from Florida Power & Light their annual SIMAP training. FP&L uses SIMAP for emergency response, and determining oil fates and effects in hindcast and probabilistic mode.
On 9-13 September, Deborah French McCay and Jill Rowe attended the NOAA Damage Assessment Center's NRDA Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) Training Workshop hosted by NOAA at the Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine. Dr. French McCay presented: an overview of oil toxicity, use of modeling to estimate the fates and effects of oil spills, and results of restoration scaling for the North Cape oil spill. During the course of the workshop, there were numerous field trips to such places as the site of the Julie N spill and the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.
On 26-27 September, Deborah French McCay provided training on NRDA (Natural Resource Damage Assessment) modeling to Chrevron-Texaco's NRDA team, lead by Mike Ammann. The training was at Chevron Park in San Ramon, California. The discussions focused on the content in the NRDA models in US regulations and on use of SIMAP and CHEMMAP as NRDA tools for injury assessment.
On
18-20 September, Eoin Howlett and Eric Anderson attended MARTECH
2002, the 5th International Conference and Exhibition on Maritime Accidents "
Is Simulation the Answer?" held in Singapore. The conference provided a forum
for discussion on views, experiences and ideas related to safety, pollution &
simulation. Eric Anderson with Capt. Francis Wee and Theresa Pong from MPA.
Personnel from ExxonMobil and ERDC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg attended a two day workshop on HYDROMAP in September at ASA offices in Narragansett. HYDROMAP is ASA's re-locatable hydrodynamic model, which links directly to our oil, chemical, and sediment transport models. Dr. Michael Zelenka and Dr. Oleg Esenkov represented ExxonMobil, and Mr. Charles (Chuck) Dickerson represented the Army Corps. Dr. Billy Johnson, recently retired from the Corps' ERDC group, attended representing his new firm,Computational Hydraulics and Transport (CHT). ASA and CHT are working cooperatively to supply services in hydrodynamics and sediment transport to support dredging and port development projects.
Mr.
Eoin Howlett had a very successful training course and certification process
with a team from ExxonMobil's worldwide response team in Tampa, Florida on September
26, 2002. This first ever Oilmap certification focused on the appropriate use
of oil spill models in emergency response, environmental data issues, and analysis
of model results.
On 4-7 November, Eric Anderson will be attending Clean Gulf 2002 the 12th Annual Conference and Exhibition on Oil and Haz-Mat Spill Prevention, Response and Technology in the Gulf Coast Region. There will be discussion from both regulators and industry on true-life, real case histories, options and solutions for all segments of the oil and haz-mat spill.
Deborah
French McCay and Jill Rowe will be attending the Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) conference 16-20 November in Salt Lake City,
Utah. Dr. French McCay will be presenting a paper: "Probabilistic Bio-economic
Modeling of Oil Spill Impacts in San Francisco Bay". Ms. Rowe will be providing
instruction in spatial interpolation techniques and non-point source pollutant
load estimation as part of the "Application of Geographic Information System
(GIS) Technology to Water Quality Problems" short course.
David Mansbach is a scientist/ programmer with Applied Science Associates,
Inc. He received his Bachelor of Art in math-physics/international relations from
Brown University. He has been working on programming and model testing of our
oil spill systems. In his senior research project he examined chaotic dynamics
in atmospheric circulation models as well as in rectangular double-gyre ocean
models.
Claudia Santos Suárez a scientist at Applied Science
Associates, Inc has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University
Fermin Toro in Venezuela and has experience with PDVSA, the Venezuelan national
oil company. Ms. Santos has been working on oil spill prediction modeling and
also as a liaison with Spanish speaking clients and potential clients, both in
Latin America and Spain.
Paul
Hall is a hydrodynamic modeler with Applied Science Associates, Inc. He received
his Bachelor of Arts in Physics from the College of Wooster in 1995 and will be
completing his Ph. D. in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island in the
spring of 2003. Paul has extensive experience with the development and application
of numerical models to study the dispersion of thermochemical plumes in a variety
of environments. In addition to his modeling background, he has considerable experience
with oceanographic fieldwork, having participated in a number of hydrographic
surveys of estuarine flow.
Weddings
Our warm congratulations to Jill Jennings, one of our biologists, who married Greg Rowe on July 27 in Birmingham, Michigan. The couple took a short, but relaxing, honeymoon to Petoskey, Michigan where they were able to enjoy Little Traverse Bay and views of Lake Michigan.