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National Coral Reef Institute Delivers Prototype Mapping Software to Improve Mapping, Monitoring, and Management of Coral Reefs
The National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), sponsored by the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR), recently delivered a prototype of mapping software to the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA). The Hybrid Mapping Tool (HMT) software uses high-resolution satellite imagery in unison with new feature recognition algorithms to automatically delineate benthic habitats. NCRI worked closely with CCMA and the Special Projects Office (SPO) to bring the package to this venue. The project is geared to support ongoing NOAA coral reef mapping efforts in U.S. territorial waters, particularly the Florida Keys. Presently, operators manually digitize features from satellite data; the HMT software seeks to provide a reproducible tool to complement the human intuition relied upon in the current method and enable faster feature digitization. The software is now being evaluated to determine if further refinement is essential NCRI is a Congressionally-directed program that is funded through a grant by CSCOR and is a core component of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. For more information, please contact David Hilmer (CSCOR) at (301) 713-3338 x 154 or David.Hilmer@noaa.gov, or Steve Rohmann (SPO) at (301) 713-3000 x137 or Steve.Rohmann@noaa.gov. [04S00112] (CSCOR) [04M00060] (CCMA)
Final Field Phase of Palau Benthic Habitat Mapping Project Complete; Maps Will Aid Coastal and Marine Managers in Resource Management
The Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA) conducted the final field phase of a project designed to provide resource managers and scientists in the Republic of Palau with digital maps and information about the Republic’s shallow-water habitat, for use in resource planning and management activities. During the field operations, February 5-23, 2006, scientists validated maps produced from satellite imagery by assessing habitat percentages by type from information gathered via underwater habitat camera surveys and visual observations. They also conducted training to transfer mapping technologies and protocols to local resource managers and coral reef and fish ecologists. In May, 2007, CCMA will hold a workshop in Palau to enable experts to review the maps and provide input, then will produce a CD-ROM and website with the maps and data. This NOAA project is being conducted in partnership with the Palau International Coral Reef Institute, the University of Hawaii, and Analytical Labs of Hawaii, and supports NOAA’s commitment to meet the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force recommendation to map all U.S. and Freely Associated States shallow-water coral reef ecosystems. For more information, please contact Tim Battista at (301) 713-3028 x171 or Tim.Battista@noaa.gov, or Russell Callender at (301) 713-3028 x162 or Russell.Callender@noaa.gov. [04M00061] (CCMA)