Grant Project Summary:
California State University,
Seaside
Integrated Spatial Data Model Tools Set for Classifying and Delineating
Species Habitat Maps
August 2002 to July 2003 
Project Summary
The Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University, Monterey, and the
NOAA Coastal Services Center entered a cooperative agreement to develop and
field-test a suite of spatial data modeling, image processing, and geographic
information system (GIS) tools that use a linked species/habitat preference
database to query hydrographic digital elevation models, sidescan sonar imagery,
and oceanographic data to help predict the distribution and abundance of a
given species under present and anticipated conditions, such as El Niño
or climate change.
NOAA Coastal Services Center's
Role
The NOAA Coastal Services Center worked with the Seafloor Mapping Lab to
identify and develop additional spatial data modeing tools to evaluate species
distribution data collected by the lab. The Center also helped link
a suite of GIS
and spatial data modeling
tools with a protocol for habitat and species mapping.
Grantee Overview
The Seafloor
Mapping Lab at California State University was established in 1986
and is part of the Earth System Science and Policy Institute at California
State University, Monterey Bay. The Lab houses 5 senior faculty members,
3 graduate students, and 8 undergrad's. The Lab specializes in high-resolution
acoustic remote sensing of coastal habitats. The Lab strives to combine
research and education with geospatial technology in order to provide unique,
hands-on experience to students while conducting professional habitat mapping
surveys for resource management and basic research along the continental
margins.
Back to Grant Page Summaries
