What is Coastmap?
COASTMAP is a set of software components and services to integrate GIS, metocean
data, and numerical models. It comprises of the following compoonents that can
be used individually or as a suite:
Background
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 (Catalog
Server), 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.
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:
COASTMAP
Professional Client - ArcGIS Extenion
The Professional Client COASTMAP extension for ArcGIS 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 extension includes
support for NetCDF and OPeNDAP data in their native formats and allows for integration
oif this data with GIS data. Users of the Professional Client are typically
individuals who have responsibility for supporting emergency response, major
water quality monitoring programs, search and rescue planning, and maritime
security.
The COASTMAP extension for ArcGIS drops into ArcGIS9 and allows the user to ingest metocean data from the COASTMAP Data server via web services, OPenDAP servers, 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.
COASTMAP
Thin Client
The thin (web browser) Client has been designed to reach a larger audience.
It features a GIS based interface connected to an ArcIMS/ArcGIS Map Server.
It is 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.
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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.
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The COASTMAP Map Server is based on ArcIMS and ArcGIS Server and allows for integration of metocean data (NetCDF, GRIB, OPeNDAP) with the GIS. As opposed to most approaches that convert metocean data to GIS formats such as SHP files and relational databases, the COASTMAP Map Server access and renders the metocean data in its native formats.
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).
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.
COASTMAP Catalog
Server
The Coastmap Catalog Server has uses a database catalog to collect data from
a variety of sources (observation systems, regional data, satellite data, forecast
models), in different formats (GRIB, NetCDF, ASCII, other), and different transport
mechanisms (FTP, HTTP, SOAP Web services, OPenDAP). The catalog sources can
be customized to provide comprehensive coverage of oceanographic, meteorological,
and physical-chemical data types for various applications. An installation of
the program focused on Narragansett Bay provides one-step access to NOAA PORTS,
CO-OPS, and NDBC and Woods Hole ocean buoy data, as well as National Weather
Service weather and wind forecasts, sea surface radar and hydrodynamic and wave
forecasts for the Bay. These data can be viewed saved locally at the user's
request or at automatic intervals.
In addition to connecting to observed
data sources, Coastmap links to external data plots and images from any number
of sources. A coastal manager, official, or recreational user can view the latest
satellite images, radar for the region, web cam pictures, forecast maps, and
more.
Integrated Modeling
Capabilities
COASTMAP can link directly to ASA's oil (OILMAP) and chemical spill (CHEMMAP)
and spill impact (SIMAP) modeling applications, extending the real time observations
and hydrodynamic model predictions to predictions of oil and chemical advection
and dispersion hydrodynamic model predictions to predictions of oil and chemical
advection and dispersion both in the water column and in the atmosphere.
Example Oil Spill in the Arabian Gulf
Models are also available
for search & rescue (SARMAP), and atmospheric releases (AIRMAP).
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
issues.
The models being evaluated include:
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:
