Activities of the ICAN Technical Team

Roy Lowry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Adam Leadbetter (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), BODC, Liverpool, UK,
Declan Dunne(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Yassine Lassoued (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) , Coastal and Marine Research Centre (CMRC), Cork, Ireland,
Tanya Haddad (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Oregon Coastal Atlas Project, USA,
Liz O’Dea (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) State of Washington Department of Ecology, USA

ICAN Cookbooks

The last issue of the ICAN newsletter (Volume One, Number 1, March 2012) outlined the need for technical training material for costal web atlas developers in the form of cookbooks, and how the NETMAR project has produced cookbooks to contribute to this training material. In June 2012, the NETMAR team has revised and updated these cookbooks based on feedback. The cookbooks explain key information behind NETMAR’s ICAN demonstration pilot. Central to these cookbooks is material to help atlas developers connect to the International Coastal Web Atlas (ICWA) prototype. It is a prototype atlas mediator that provides a common interface for accessing distributed local atlases, such as MIDA (Marine Irish Digital Atlas), OCA (Oregon Coastal Atlas), Washington Coastal Atlas (WCA), etc. It uses a knowledge organization system to improve data discovery by exploiting the semantics of keywords and allowing users to search data by “meaning” rather than by “mere keywords”.

Four cookbooks are included which covers key material concerning the technologies and standards utilised by the ICWA prototype:

• Understanding Semantics;
• Understanding Metadata;
• Establishing a CSW metadata catalogue with GeoNetwork; and
• Connecting your Atlas to the ICWA prototype.

The “Understanding Semantics” cookbook provides a tutorial for those who wish to investigate and make use of semantic web and knowledge organization system technologies. These technologies fall broadly into three groups: vocabularies, thesauri and ontologies. This cookbook includes material explaining how to deploy semantics that are required by the ICWA prototype, utilising the NERC Vocabulary Server (NVS) infrastructure.

The “Understanding Metadata” cookbook provides a tutorial for those who wish to understand metadata. Included is a description of metadata and why we need it, metadata standards in use today, description of different metadata hierarchy levels, and a list of some metadata editing tools available. The section also references example metadata records aimed at system developers who are familiar with ISO 19115/19119 metadata implemented in ISO 19139 XML. These metadata examples include semantic keywords which are registered in the NVS.

The “Establishing a CSW metadata catalogue with GeoNetwork opensource” cookbook provides a tutorial for those who wish to understand CSW (Catalog Services for the Web) metadata catalogues. Included is a description of a metadata catalogue, the CSW standard, and a list of selected CSW servers. The document also contains initial pointers to establishing a CSW server using GeoNetwork open source and examples of selected CSW query operations aimed at system developers. GeoNetwork is recommended and used by the NETMAR project.

The “Connecting your Atlas to the ICWA prototype” cookbook provides a step-by-step guide explaining how to connect a local atlas as a node in the ICWA prototype utilising technologies and standards described in the other cookbooks. This cookbook specifies the ICWA connection requirements including metadata (ISO 19115/19119/19139), CSW metadata catalogues (CSW 2.0.2, ISO Metadata Application Profile version 1.0.0), and supported ISO 19139 encoding forms for semantic keywords.

The four cookbooks are available in a single PDF file that is currently located at: http://netmar.nersc.no/sites/netmar.nersc.no/files/D7.9.2_ICAN_semantic_cookbooks_r2_20120731_0.pdf

Please get in touch with Coastal and Marine Research Centre (CMRC) if you wish to give feedback.

International Coastal Web Atlas prototype

The Geomatics team of the CMRC, University College Cork (UCC), in partnership with the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC), are currently developing the third version of the International Coastal Web Atlas (ICWA) prototype as part of the EU FP7 NETMAR project. ICWA 3 will replace the current ICAN prototype and aims to become an operational web application that allows seamless and semantically enabled access to the ICAN atlases.

ICWA 3, which will be released by the end of October 2012, will include the following features and improvements since version 2:

• a standardised semantic resource structure based on SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System);
• an advanced thesaurus browser that displays term hierarchies, related terms, definitions, synonyms, etc. (Figure 1);
• smart search;
• the ability to connect an atlas without requirements for ontology development;
• improved storage and management of ontologies with faster access;
• a standardised semantic web service (SWS) will allow external applications to interact with the ICAN thesauri;
• support for Catalog Service for the Web (CSW) 2.0.1 and CSW 2.0.2 nodes,
• support for CSW 2.0.2 queries; and
• improved search performance.

Irish Government releases Integrated Marine Plan

On 31 July 2012, the Taoiseach [Prime Minister of Ireland], Enda Kenny, launched an integrated marine plan titled “Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth”. Of interest to ICAN members is the inclusion in the plan of actions for developing marine Information and Communication Technologies and Marine Spatial Planning. For more information on the plan visit: http://www.ouroceanwealth.ie/Pages/default.aspx

The Coastal Marine Research Centre (CMRC) at University College Cork, home to our Irish ICAN members, responded to the plan by saying “CMRC is well placed to play a part in implementing the plan’s goals. Over the last ten years we have augmented research expertise in the chief sectors outlined in the plan, principally fisheries, tourism, oil and gas, renewable ocean energy and marine technology.”

Scotland's Marine Atlas Joins ICAN

Martyn Cox,
Marine Planning and Policy, Marine Scotland
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Introduction

Scotland is developing marine planning to provide integrated management of the Scottish marine environment and to manage the activities that take place there. The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 introduces this and also requires an evidence base to be developed to support the development of our first National Marine Plan.
A tool for marine planning and an assessment of the seas Scotland’s Marine Atlas, published in March 2011 (hard copy, HTML and pdf) is that “Information for the National Marine Plan”. It is also an assessment of the condition of Scotland's seas, which is based on scientific evidence from data and analysis, supported by expert judgement.

The Atlas is an innovative publication which, for the first time, brings together and maps a huge range of information about Scotland’s seas.  It takes on a coffee table atlas approach with spreads of information. The contents range from temperature, salinity and ocean acidification to habitats and species, from the value of fish landed to biotoxin monitoring and potential sites for marine renewables.  The information is presented in a colourful and easily accessible way, with signposts to further information, and centres around maps to provide a spatial dimension.

Figure 1: Cover of Scotland's Marine Atlas

A collaborative effort

The Atlas was a significant collaboration between Marine Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland. This collaboration ensured that all appropriate data collected by government and its agencies were included and allowed each section to be authored by the most appropriate expert.  Material from over 100 authors was reviewed by non-Scottish bodies.

The data source and reference Annexes demonstrate the breadth of information used to present this comprehensive report (including non-Government bodies such as the Marine Conservation Society, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Royal Yachting Association). 

Presentation of the data

The data are categorised against the elements of the Scottish Government’s vision for the seas – clean and safe (hazardous substances, biological effects, eutrophication etc); healthy and biologically diverse (protected areas, species and habitats, etc); and productive (full range of economic activities). In addition there are more general sections on physical characteristics (waves, tides etc) and climate change.  In this way, the Atlas provides a valuable report on the current state of the marine environment, the main pressures and impacts upon it and the value the seas provide to the national economy.  As many data sets as possible are mapped based and presented with graphs around for them for ease of making spatially aware conclusions.

 

Developing a web based version

A web-based GIS version is now under development to provide interactive maps and downloadable data sets based on those in the Atlas. At this stage the exact requirement for marine planning both in terms of data sets and its presentation are not known. We are taking an evolutionary approach by starting with making the Atlas available in a simple interactive tool and then asking stakeholders what more is required for marine planning at both the national and regional levels.

The National Marine Plan interactive (NMPi) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/seamanagement/nmpihome version of the Atlas will have two key aims – to underpin the new statutory system of marine planning (nationally and regionally) and to educate and inform the wider public. To do this, it will bring together the large range of evidence used in the Atlas on-line for the first time.  This includes data which are already relatively accessible (e.g. monitoring data required to report against European Directives) and other data, some of which have been commissioned specifically or analysed differently.

Where possible, data are presented at both a national and a regional scale, to aid planning at both these levels. Presenting data this way also creates challenges since many data sets have long established ways of being presented. Marine planning requirements will question the way some things are done.

 

 

Figure 3: The habitats assessment part of the overall assessment highlighting the traffic light approach to assessing the habitats

Figure 4: Screen shot of the developing national marine plan interactive

 

Challenges ahead

There will be many challenges ahead. The full breadth of requirement for marine planning is not known and the spatial tool will have to evolve. In doing this there will be many, no doubt competing, demands. In a time of government financial restraint the system will evolve as we establish what is required and what can be afforded.

Accessing data still remains an issue, not all sets can be openly shared without restriction yet, as does keeping any data sets up-to-date. The rapid rate of technological change will no doubt create a challenge as the possibilities are ever increasing. What we do know is that we need to do this: we have a legislative requirement and stakeholder expectations to meet.

Florida Atlas Programs Bring Water to the Web

The goal of this innovative web-based tool is to help the public understand our natural waters and to be a one-stop data warehouse for water managers. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), active web pages and web-enabled database management systems, the Water Atlas websites are designed to provide citizens, scientists, resource managers, and educators with water quality, hydrologic and ecologic data. In addition, they provide information about local conservation efforts, volunteer and recreational opportunities, and a library of scientific and educational materials on water-resource issues.

What is the Water Atlas?

The Water Atlas program is a collection of websites created and administered by the Florida Center for Community Design and Research at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Originally created as an atlas of Hillsborough County lakes in 1997, it has expanded both geographically and functionally, now including  eight county Atlases the Tampa Bay Estuary Atlas, and the Charlotte Harbor Estuary Atlas. In addition to lakes, it also contains water quality and hydrologic data for other types of waterbodies, including ponds, rivers/streams, bays, estuaries and inshore marine waters, as well as the watersheds that bind them together.

The mission of the program is to “provide a comprehensive information resource that helps citizens, scientists and resource managers make informed decisions concerning our vital water resources.” It does this by providing a spatially-organized view of water resource data. It has information from over 225 different data sets that is available to the public in multiple formats. It attempts to give that data meaning by providing “Learn More” articles that tell users how samples are collected and how to interpret them. Atlas users can display data in tabular form, graphically in tables and graphs, or their geographic context via interactive mapping applications. Researchers can download data for further analysis. Agencies can use the data to demonstrate compliance with federal and state stormwater regulations. Water resource managers can create water quality reports and maps to respond to constituents’ questions.

Public engagement is vital, giving citizens easy access to data amassed by government agencies using taxpayer funds. Citizens need not be mere consumers of Atlas content; volunteer monitors serve an essential role by submitting water quality samples, reporting on wildlife sightings, organizing group activities, reporting polluters, and sharing photos and history. Sponsoring organizations (counties, cities and regional agencies) use the Atlas for outreach, making available informational materials and posting notices on the Atlas events calendar. Recreational users can find information on waterbody location, size, depth, water quality, amenities, weather, and even fishing reports. A searchable Digital Library makes available environmental assessments, management plans, technical reports, research, historic information and links to other websites. Teachers can utilize the Curriculum component for exercises and explore links to external sites with water-related lesson plans and classroom projects.

Each Water Atlas is customizable by its sponsoring organization(s), and most contain resource pages for volunteer initiatives or other special-interest topics. These include Adopt-A-Pond, Macroinvertebrate Monitoring, Stormwater Education, Watershed Excursion, Habitat Restoration Mapping, Lake Management, Spring Resources, Stream Waterwatch, Seagrass Monitoring, Oral History, and Neighborhood Stewardship programs.

Meteorological drought in the Digital Climatic Atlas of Mexico

by Agustín Fernández Eguiarte

The new version of the Digital Climatic Atlas of Mexico (DCAM) includes the meteorological drought thematic using advanced technological tools and new methodologies for the cartographic processes that include the quality control of the data and the display of interactive maps in the Internet.

With the aim of generate and integrate in version 2.0 of the DCAM the cartographic displays of continental basic climatic variables (temperature and precipitation), bioclimatic parameters, extreme climatology and meteorological drought periods in Mexico, the data of over 5,200 meteorological stations were processed from the daily climate databases (1902-2011) of the Mexican Weather Service (abbreviated to SMN in Spanish) of the National Commission of Water (CONAGUA). This was done as part of a joint project between the SMN and the Informatics Unit for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences (UNIATMOS) of the Center for Atmospheric Sciences (CCA) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

The drought in Mexico

The meteorological drought is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when the precipitation in a region, and during a determined period, is lower than the reference average established from measurements in a typical 30-year period. If the decrease of the precipitation is severe and goes on for extended periods, then the type of drought that impacts agriculture and hydrology is generated, which is characterized by the negative effects on the economic sector of the region or directly to people in the affected communities.  The drought in Mexico is one of the natural phenomena that more severely affects the economy, since large cultivated areas and livestock are lost when it happens.

The main cause of the drought is the lack of rain; however, there are factors that contribute to generate it such as changes of the general circulation of the ocean-atmosphere system related to alterations in the sea surface temperature, to changes in the atmospheric pressure and to increases in the carbon dioxide concentrations, among others. The Drought Fascicle by García F., Fuentes O. y Matías L. G., (2002), published by the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) of the Mexican Government, incorporates a historic review of the droughts that occurred in Mexico, including the months and places where it happened. The drought periods which are registered and documented in this publication are: 1998-2000, 1993-1996, 1970-1978, 1960-1964 and 1948-1954.

From the daily climatic data base of the SMN, that includes information for the period 1902-2011, and according to the methodology described in the DCAM documents (http://atlasclimatico.unam.mx/atlas/uniatmos.html) on the processing of climatic surface maps, and the quality control of the continental climatic information and its validation, the monthly accumulated precipitation (see figure 1) was calculated for the Mexican Republic corresponding to the months impacted by drought that are reported in the above mentioned publication, as well as its respective anomaly, which is the difference between the accumulated precipitation during a given month, for example, January 2000, and the average accumulated precipitation of all the Januaries of the  period 1902-2011 (see figure 2).

Afterwards, the obtained anomaly was normalized and a monthly map of the percentage of accumulated precipitation with respect to the average of the reference period 1902-2011 was created (see figure 3). In this map, it is possible to consult the rain percentage that have occurred above (positive) or below (negative) the historic average in any location, so that the meteorological drought may be visualized, quantified and evaluated in all the states and municipalities of Mexico. 
Currently, there are 213 maps of meteorological drought processed. These maps were generated at a very high spatial resolution (926 m), taking into account the topographic effect.  The information is available through the “Map server”, “Maps online”, “KML, data and metadata” and “WMS  Service” options of the DCAM (see figure 4). (http://uniatmos.atmosfera.unam.mx).

Marine, coastal and continental climatology

The DCAM provides users with inter-institutional information on climate, extreme climatology, climate change, droughts and bioclimatic parameters for the continental zone; also, sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, climatological surface winds, absolute dynamic topography, sea level anomaly and geostrophic velocity over the ocean, as well as sea level in the coastal zone.

Additionally, the DCAM is a platform that allows to display and visualize the maps in an interactive mode, and offers decision-makers the quantitative elements to submit proposals that contribute to design new policies towards the reduction of vulnerability and the increase of adaptation capabilities to face the climate change and disasters linked to natural hazards in different geographic regions, as well as in the costal, agricultural and hydraulic sectors.

The “Map Server” component of the DCAM allows the visualization of thematic maps with different approaches. Specific information may be requested regarding the cartographic compositions displayed, and it is even possible to combine the thematic display of any map with reference information such as municipal, state and national boundaries, as well as hydrologic basins, rivers and lakes of Mexico and Central America. Urban and rural localities, as well as the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mexico and the countries located in the geographic area covered by the Atlas may also be incorporated. The Digital Elevation Models Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) serve as topographic and bathymetric base for the above process.

The “Maps online” option allows a faster visualization of integrated maps and also to obtaining climatic information in any geographic location, to compare thematic layers in a clear and quick way, and to do transparencies of the thematic layers with the topography, which, in this case, comes from data of the  Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER).

The maps of the DCAM may be consulted in KML (Keyhole Markup Language) format, to be displayed and complemented with all facilities of the Google Earth system. Also, the data and metadata of the thematic maps may be downloaded freely and at no cost. Finally, the maps can also be accessed through the “WMS Service” (Web Map Service).

North Carolina COHAZ Decision Portal Conveys Critical Data and Useful Mapping Products

J.P. Walsh_1,2, Reide Corbett_1,2 and Tom Allen₁
1- East Carolina Univesity
2- UNC Coastal Studies Institute

The coast of North Carolina is at risk to a diversity of hazards (e.g., storm surge, sea-level rise), and these hazards potentially can have major consequences (financial and otherwise) for people who live, work, and recreate in impacted areas.  There has been much research conducted on coastal hazards affecting North Carolina and their ramification, but information is scattered and often hard to track down.  Also, it is typically not in a form suitable for public consumption.  To improve on these issues, a team of researchers from the departments of Geological Sciences and Geography at East Carolina University (ECU) has worked with others at ECU and around the state to develop a web-based information site on coastal hazards and related research; it is called the North Carolina COastal HAZards (NC COHAZ) Decision Portal.  At the site (http://www.coastal.geology.ecu.edu/NCCOHAZ/), a variety of information on coastal hazards in the state (particularly the northeastern portion) has been coalesced.

Visitors to the web portal are welcomed by a colorful banner at the top of the web page (Figure 1).  On the main entrance page, “news bytes” are regularly updated using an integrated blog; these short pieces communicate interesting hazard-related stories or information and usually feature a photograph, map or video.  The “Maps and Visualizations” page provides links to a variety of tools and products on topics such as current hazards, shoreline erosion and inlet-opening potential (Figure 2).  Several user-friendly mapping tools have been created to allow researchers, managers and the public to explore maps of immediate or potential hazards (e.g., sites of flooding, strong winds, large waves).  The approach used for presentation and validity of some of the tools can be argued (e.g., erosion projections).  Nevertheless, the creators believe it is better to have this information out and available where it can be considered, rather than hidden in hard-to-find journals or difficult-to-obtain reports. 

Please take some time to visit the NC COHAZ Decision Portal.  The developers have a variety of ideas on how to expand the site, such as plans for a more formal marine atlas.  But, if you have any suggestions or thoughts on information contained on the site or data you would like to see added, etc., do not hesitate to contact J.P. Walsh, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (252) 328-5431. Feedback of any kind is appreciated.  Hopefully, this site will improve communication and information on coastal data exchange around the state and beyond.  Ultimately, the goal of NC COHAZ is to help mitigate the effects of coastal hazards on the citizens of North Carolina, and this can only be accomplished through better sharing of knowledge, data and ideas.

Coastal and Marine Information System of Andalusia (Spain) - Environmental Information Network of Andalusia

by Alejandro Iglesias Campos, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Government of Andulsia / Regional Ministry of the Environment

Preparing a new atlas interface to be online soon!

The Environmental Information Network of Andalusia (REDIAM) will publish during 2012 a new coastal and marine atlas in Spanish and English with new functionalities and new contents. The new atlas interface will make easier all kind of search by citizens  and technician using the Coastal and Marine Information System of Andalusia in their daily work.

Looking for new projects with our Portuguese colleagues!

The Portuguese Geographical Institute and the Environmental Information Network of Andalusia (Spain) together with other partners from the Mediterranean have applied to the European Neighborhood Policy Instrument Call with  the AgoraMedGIS Project  to promote the sustainable and integrated planning and management of marine and coastal zones in the Mediterranean Basin, making available universal access to data and geographic information and improve knowledge, the sharing of information and articulation between stakeholders. AgoraMedGIS - Marine and Coastal Mediterranean Basin Information System, is based on the "Ágora" concept, symbol of ancient Greece direct democracy. "Ágora" was the place where the citizens use to meet and share and discuss ideas and issues that were important to all. In this sense, the tool that will be developed by the partners allows the searching for multidisciplinary information that exists about a certain place, enabling the user to filter it accordingly to his own interest or focus, or selecting data by project type, activity or thematic area and related to the Mediterranean Basin in general or to specific zones. AgoraMedGIS will transform the entire Mediterranean basin in a small village in the domain of data.

Erosion rates 1956 – 2007 in our sandy beaches!

The erosion rates constitute a very valuable indicator for understanding coastal dynamics and its effects produced by river regulations (mainly by damming them) and the construction of coastal infrastructures.

In  this  sense,  negative  erosion  rates  (regressive  coast)  show  more  vulnerability;  and  positive erosion rates (progressive coast) show less vulnerability. After calculating the erosion rates for the entire Andalusian coast during the periods 1956-1979 and 1979-2007, some stretches have been chosen and validated as being of special interest due to the intensity in coastal dynamics: the coast of Huelva, the beaches/barrier of the mouth of the San Pedro river, Velez river delta, Guadalfeo river mouth, Adra-Albuñol and Huarea rivers, as well as the coast of Campo de Dalias.

The first sector, located between the Huelva cities of Ayamonte and Punta Umbría, is characterised by having to highly changing zones at the mouth of the Guadiana and at the end of the Flecha de El Rompido and Flecha de Punta Umbría. In the sector between Mazagón and the mouth of the Guadalquivir river there is the beach and moving dunes complex of the Doñana National Park, one of the most characteristic examples of coastal progradation in Andalusia. On the other hand, the mouth of the Guadalquivir river is the most active stretch in this sector, reaching the positive rates of 10 m/year in the period 1956-1979 and up to 19 m/year in the period 1979-2007. In the province of Cadiz, in the beaches/ barrier of the mouth of the San Pedro river, it is worth remarking that the building of an industrial and port area altered completely the dynamics of the zone, which went from positive rates in the period 1956-1979 to erosion rates of up to -16 m/year in the period 1979-2007.
In the Mediterranean coast, at the mouth of the Velez and Guadalfeo rivers, there are two cases of deltas formed previously to the built-up of river mouth channels, which results in a general regression in almost all the stretches of both sectors.

The delta of Albuñol and Huarea rivers is different to the previous example, as the channelling of the mouth took place after 1956, and it does not have dams. For this reason an important progradation is shown in the first period.

The case of the Adra river, in the province of Almeria, is a “double delta” resulting from the artificial deviation of the original bed before 1956, which results, except in the oriental sector between 1956 and 1979, in negative rates in both periods. Finally, the case of the Campo de Dalias sector is highly singular, mainly because it is a stretch that receives no direct sedimentation from important river beds or watercourses. This, together with the urban growth of the 70’s, with the construction of ports and with the extraction of sand for greenhouses, has contributed to the fact the coast is, in both periods, mostly erosive.

Maryland’s Coastal Atlas Undergoes Face-lift and Rolls Out New Tools for Informing Coastal Planning and Decision-Making

By Jeff Allenby and Chris Cortina

Maryland’s Chesapeake & Coastal Service (CCS) is improving the State’s ability to access coastal data and tools that will help inform decision-making about coastal management with Maryland’s Coastal Atlas.  This online mapping and planning tool, developed to allow users to visually analyze and explore data for coastal and ocean planning activities, has recently undergone a number of exciting updates and enhancements that are slated for launch in March 2012.

Originally launched in June of 2008, the Coastal Atlas represented a significant overhaul from the Maryland Shoreline Online mapping portal supported by the Department of Natural Resources’ Chesapeake & Coastal Service (CCS).  Sparked by Governor O’Malley’s enthusiasm for GIS technology as a tool for improved transparency, accountability, and communication, the Coastal Atlas was developed shortly after the roll out of Maryland iMap – a centralized collection of the most commonly used Maryland data layers, tools and services hosted in an ESRI ArcGIS Server environment.  Maryland iMap makes these layers, representing the best data available to the public for free, accessible as web services so state and local governments don’t have to store or host data while ensuring the layers look the same across all state mapping applications.  Following the lead of the earliest Maryland iMap applications (like GreenPrint, AgPrint and StateStat), the Coastal Atlas was developed using ArcGIS Server and Adobe Flex technology allowing state and local officials to access the data/web services they want to display.

From October 2010 through March 2012, through funding from Maryland’s Coastal Zone Management grant and with the help of developers/programmers at Towson University’s Center for GIS and Maryland Environmental Service, CCS staff has worked to enhance the functionality and utility of the Coastal Atlas. A major overhaul to the Atlas’s three mapping applications (Ocean, Shorelines, and Estuaries) has allowed the addition of new tools that enhance the user experience and allow for easier modification to include future enhancements. 

The most noticeable enhancements to the Coastal Atlas are to the overall look and feel.  The Atlas applications were updated to the FlexViewer 2.5 template and a uniform user interface was created for all three applications (see photo).  The new interface allows for better organization of tools and icons clearing up valuable map space, contributing to an overall better experience.  Other enhancements worth highlighting include: the creation of the Add Mapservice widget, which allows users to import custom mapservices as well as import, from pre-defined lists, any layer from the other Atlas applications; addition of the eDraw widget (developed by Robert Scheitlin) allowing users to choose the size, color, font and emphasis of text labels for drawings as well as the ability to save and load these drawings for future sessions; a revamp of the existing Identify tool that allows the user to choose between identifying from all layers or from a specific layer - increasing the ability of the end-user to select only pertinent information while decreasing the “clutter” of the old Identify results; creation of a new CBNERR Sites widget to display location and links to basic information on Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Sites; creation of a new CELCP widget to display location and basic information about sites acquired through the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (property name, year established, acreage, project type); development of an “Offshore Wind Roses” widget which displays a small image of a wind rose diagram and link to larger image; and the adaptation of an “Elevation Profiles” widget (developed by Mark Deaton) that was modified to show bathymetric profiles along user selected paths of either a straight line, polyline, or freehand line.

The remainder of the updates and enhancements were of the general housekeeping variety, taking advantage of the FlexViewer 2.5 template and new user interface to more intelligently organize tools, icons, and buttons in the available mapping space and to optimize the overall user experience. Examples include:

• Developed a Splash Screen to display disclaimer information when each mapper is opened;
• Removed the Layer List widget and replaced it with the “Layers…” button next to the Map Switcher. Also incorporated increased functionality to adjust layer transparency, move each layer forward or backward in the map, and access metadata;
• Created a consistent user interface for all three mappers where the widget icons are all the same, in the same location, with the same instructions;
• Placed all custom geoprocessing tools in a dropdown menu located in the widget tray to clean up the user interface as well as to allow for a consistent user experience between applications despite the geoprocessing widgets being unique to each mapper.
• Utilized the Export Map widget (developed by Robert Scheitlin) to replace the existing Print widget.  This widget allows the user to export a map to .jpg file, which can be used in presentations or documents, instead of just printing it;
• Updated the “About” window to include information about our program and to include contact information and links to important websites; and
• Revised and created custom geoprocessing widgets that automatically turns a specific layer we wanted to highlight on and off when the widget is opened or closed and allows the user to view information about them.

In addition to the Atlas face-lift, CCS has created a more comprehensive

has also been produced for those who prefer click-by-click instruction from a narrated video. 

For more information on Maryland’s Coastal Atlas visit http://dnr.maryland.gov/ccp/coastalatlas/index.asp or contact Jeff Allenby with Maryland’s Chesapeake & Coastal Service at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..   Those interested in learning more about Maryland iMap and other mapping tools developed by the State should visit: http://www.imap.maryland.gov/portal/.

The Marine Irish Digital Atlas goes from strength to strength

The Marine Irish Digital Atlas (http://mida.ucc.ie) launched in 2005 is still increasing its user base. The figure shows how the total number of visits and the number of unique visitors increased into 2011. This is due to the ongoing effort of the MIDA team to ensure that the data in the atlas is up-to-date and that new data layers are being constantly added. This is in no small part due to the work of Ivan Portugues Molla and Hector Barco both of whom contributed to MIDA under funding from the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci programme, which offers graduates the possibility to get relevant work experience outside of their home country in another EU State.

A sunnier climate eventually called Iban and Hector back home to Spain and while we miss them greatly, we are delighted to welcome David Roig Cervera, who started a MIDA internship under the European Socrates Erasmus programme in March 2012. This year is shaping up to be equally exciting as Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Ireland (CMRC) received funding from IODE for a MIDA facelift and technology upgrade, and subsequent transfer of this technology package to ODINAFRICA. The ODINAFRICA-IV project will use this technology for Coastal Web Atlas development and upgrade in many coastal countries of Africa contributing to the African Marine Atlas.

Overview of the Caribbean Marine Atlas

The Caribbean Marine Atlas (CMA) is a regional project involving several countries within the Wider Caribbean Basin in a joint effort to promote sound decision-making through access to high-quality coastal and marine spatial information. The purpose of the CMA is to identify, collect and organize available spatial datasets into an atlas of environmental themes for the Caribbean region. The project is currently under the sponsorship of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's (IOC) International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) and Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) Programmes.  The embodiment of the goal of the project is an online mapping and data management application available to environmental managers and other users both within and outside of the Wider Caribbean Region.

In addition, using the skills obtained through the capacity building component of the CMA project, participating countries are in the process of developing national marine atlases based on the structure and functionality of the regional atlas but focused on the national coastal/marine area management priorities of the respective states. Thus the CMA will, through its products and services available at the national level, directly contribute to the sustainable development and integrated management of marine and coastal areas in the region.

All programme activities under the project have been developed and conducted with the above factors as their raison d’être. As a result the CMA programme has the potential to be one of the most significant recent advancements in coastal area management through the development of tools and processes which promote actual fact-based decision making.

Accomplishments

The CMA project is currently in its second phase which began in late 2009 and has already achieved many of its primary goals. These include capacity building within the sphere of marine data management, the production of developer and user resource materials for CMA technologies, and the development of a basic web-based mapping application. Specific achievements and/or activities under these project areas are outlined below.

Capacity Building

A network of Caribbean data managers benefitted from IODE training courses in ocean data management, data mining and web atlas development conducted during phase 1 of the CMA.

Specific training was given for atlas developers via the CMA Training Course on PostgreSQL, PostGIS and OpenLayers for Web-Based Atlas Development in Bridgetown, Barbados in April of 2011.

The development of web-based mapping applications has resulted in the exposure to and growing familiarity with several coding languages (Javascript, PHP, HTML, XML) and software platforms (GeoServer, GeoNetwork).

Development of Resource Materials

The main CMA website www.caribbeanmarineatlas.net is host to information on all of the training courses, planning meetings and national stakeholder meetings conducted as part of the CMA project.

A user manual for the mapping application has been developed and is also available on the main site
Resource materials directly related to national atlas development efforts and other developer-specific materials are available in a section of the main website not open to the general public.

Mapping Application Development

The CMA mapping application has been constructed from three components:

The web map server (GeoServer) http://geonetwork.iode.org/geoserver/web/ hosts the data available under the CMA project (and other IODE projects), publishes the data as a web map service (WMS) for use by the CMA mapping application, but also for any interested party.

The metadata catalog for CMA data (GeoNetwork) http://geonetwork.iode.org/geonetworkCMA/srv/en/main.home hosts the metadata information associated with published CMA datasets, allows users to search for datasets (and any other spatially enabled content) by geographic area.

The mapping application user interface (accessible via the Map Page tab on the main CMA site) allows users basic GIS control over available spatial datasets including query functionality, legends and links to metadata records.

Current Status of the CMA Project

There are several activities relating to the development of both the regional atlas and national atlases are currently being conducted, including:

• The development of a code template for national atlases,
• Improving the functionality of the regional atlas,
• Formatting and uploading additional datasets, and
• Data gathering for national atlas development projects.

Future of the project

Between 2012 and 2013, several activities are expected to be completed to fulfill the goals of the CMA project, these include:

• The rollout of several national coastal/marine atlases based on the CMA,
• Additional national stakeholder meetings,
• The improvement of functionality for both national and regional atlases,
• Atlas user and developer training,
• National-level atlas promotion, and
• The development of an atlas sustainability strategy