United States Coastal Mapping Program

United States Coastal Mapping Program
Name	United States Coastal Mapping Program
Caption	Coastal mapping operations
Jurisdiction	United States
Parent agency	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Formed	20th century

United States Coastal Mapping Program

The United States Coastal Mapping Program conducts systematic mapping of the United States coastline to support navigation, safety, and resource management. It integrates efforts across agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Geological Survey, and the United States Coast Guard while engaging academic institutions like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The program informs policy makers in entities including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of the Interior.

Overview

The program produces nautical charts, shoreline delineations, and bathymetric models used by stakeholders such as the United States Navy, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, coastal states like California, Florida, and Louisiana, and municipalities including New York City and Miami. Outputs support initiatives led by the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Coastal Zone Management Act-related agencies. It coordinates with international partners such as International Hydrographic Organization, Canadian Hydrographic Service, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization programs. The program’s remit intersects with projects at research centers like the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Texas A&M University, and University of Washington.

History and development

Origins trace to early hydrographic surveys by the United States Coast Survey and figures including Matthew Fontaine Maury and later institutions like the U.S. Coastal and Geodetic Survey. Expansion accelerated after events such as the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 and the Atlantic hurricane season impacts, prompting investments from the National Science Foundation and legislation such as the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. Modernization surged following disasters including Hurricane Katrina, leading to partnerships with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modernization efforts and stimulus funding tied to acts like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Advances paralleled developments at laboratories such as the Naval Research Laboratory and initiatives like the Integrated Ocean Observing System.

Organizational structure and partnerships

Operational leadership often resides in agencies including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with technical support from United States Geological Survey and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Field operations involve the United States Coast Guard and academic partners like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, San Diego, and University of Miami. Commercial contractors from firms such as Fugro, Draper Laboratory, and private survey companies perform surveys under contracts influenced by procurement rules from the General Services Administration. Data stewardship aligns with repositories like the National Centers for Environmental Information and standards bodies such as the International Hydrographic Organization and the Federal Geographic Data Committee.

Technology and methods

Survey techniques include multibeam echosounder systems developed by manufacturers used by the Royal Netherlands Navy and institutes like Scripps Institution of Oceanography, airborne lidar bathymetry platforms akin to those used by NASA programs, and satellite remote sensing from platforms such as Landsat and Sentinel-2. Geodetic control uses networks tied to North American Datum of 1983 and reference frames like International Terrestrial Reference Frame. Data processing leverages software from vendors and projects such as CARIS, ArcGIS, and open-source tools from the Open Geospatial Consortium community. Quality assurance follows standards from International Hydrographic Organization and testing protocols used by agencies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Data products and dissemination

Primary deliverables include nautical charts comparable to NOAA Nautical Charts, digital elevation models similar to National Elevation Dataset, high-resolution bathymetry mosaics, shoreline vectors used by state coastal programs, and tide-corrected soundings used by the United States Navy and commercial shipping lines such as Maersk. Data are archived in systems like the National Centers for Environmental Information and published through portals inspired by Data.gov and initiatives like the Digital Coast platform. Metadata standards reference schemas from the Federal Geographic Data Committee and interoperability with international datasets such as GEBCO.

Applications and uses

Maps and models support maritime navigation for operators including Matson, Inc. and military task forces, coastal hazard assessment for agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency, habitat mapping for organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, and engineering projects conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Data underpin scientific studies at institutions like Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, inform climate assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and enable commerce at ports such as Port of Los Angeles and Port of New York and New Jersey. They also assist conservation programs run by the National Marine Fisheries Service and regional efforts like the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.

Challenges and future directions

Challenges include addressing changing coastlines due to sea level rise, storm impacts exemplified by Hurricane Sandy, and subsidence in regions like the Mississippi River Delta. Funding pressures involve allocations from Congress of the United States and prioritization amid competing demands from agencies including Department of Defense (United States). Future directions emphasize integration with satellite altimetry from missions such as ICESat-2, expanded use of autonomous platforms similar to projects at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and adoption of machine learning frameworks developed at centers like MIT and Stanford University for automated feature extraction. International collaboration with bodies like the International Hydrographic Organization and data harmonization using standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium will guide the program’s evolution.

Category:Coastal mapping Category:Oceanography Category:United States federal environmental programs